For the next two days, we're running 13 of our top memories of Mats Sundin as a Maple Leaf. There are more to choose from but Sundin captaining Sweden to Gold in 2006 and his years as a Nordique won't make an appearance on the list. For help, I enlisted Mats Sundin's biggest fan Eyebleaf to help come up with and number the list. It's far from exhaustive and your mileage may vary on our choices but these were the 13 that came immediately into our minds so consider it a small token of our appreciation for one of the greatest Leafs of all-time.
In the 2002-2003 season Alexander Mogilny lead the Maple Leafs in scoring. This is obviously an odd choice for a list of memories of Mats Sundin but there is a method to our madness. It highlights a theme that you will no doubt remember from his career that will make numerous appearances on our list.
This is a video of highlights from the 2002-2003 season. For all of the talk of Mats Sundin's inept linemates what is lost is that for a couple of seasons he formed a pairing to rival Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul. After signing with the Leafs Alexander Mogilny slotted on Mats Sundin's line and the results were about what you'd expect. The first four goals in that video show the chemistry the two shared. But why pick this memory? Well, I'll let Eyebleaf take over:
Alexander Mogilny led the Toronto Maple Leafs in scoring during the 2002/2003 season. What does that have to do with Mats Sundin? It was the only season during Sundin's time in Toronto that he wasn't Toronto leading scorer. Sundin finished with 72 points to Mogilny's 79, and missed eight games. Throughout all his years in Toronto, Sundin always played more than 70 games, and always scored 70 points or more. Fiercely loyal, and remarkably consistent. That's how you should remember Mats Sundin.