Here are 13 why reasons that Mats Sundin should sign with the Habs:
1. Sundin has a Stanley Cup drought of 17 years and the Hab have a drought of 15 years. They are in a position to help each other out.
2. Sundin would put himself to not only win a Stanley Cup, but to win it in the greatest hockey city on earth. When you win a cup in Carolina, you get a ring. When you win a cup in Montreal, you become a legend. You are immortalized and remembered for all time.
3. Montreal does not have a #13 in the hall of fame.
4. Montreal does not have a #13 currently on their roster.
5. If Sundin signs a two-year deal, Montreal can catch up to the Yankees for the most North American major league sports titles with 26.
6. Montreal finished first overall in their conference without a bona fide top line centre. Imagine how much better they will be with the addition of Sundin and Tanguay!
7. George Laraque will ensure no funny business happens to him.
8. Brisebois is no longer on defence.
9. Sundin would get to play AGAINST the Leafs next year. That will pad his points total.
10. There is still Tim Hortons coffee available in Montreal.
11. The most enthusiastic fans in Montreal are hockey fans, not soccer fans.
12. Carey Price can only perform better after the quarter finals last year.
13. Who really wants to be remembered as a Toronto Maple Leaf?
Some good comments, like the 1st one, and the 12th. The rest are just bandwagon bashing. Seriously Habs fans, try harder. Anyone and everyone (including lots of Leafs fans, myself included, the GM and the Coach) knows the Leafs will stink next year. Thanks so much for pointing out the obvious. You all forget one thing, and that is something pointed out on HB already. Mats is a loyal man. If he goes to the Habs, or Vancouver, then he is doing it for the cup a la Ray Bourque. If not, it's because he wants to remain a Leaf, and that is waht is important to him. One thing that is absolutely certain, regardless of his decision, is that he will enter the HOF in a Leafs jersey.
Sundin signing for 2 years would be a disaster. period.
Winning in toronto would make him more of a legend... considering it hasnt happened in so long. Secondly it is actually funny how every year habs fans are always talking about which star is gonna sign with them this year, and how they are goin to win the cup. Briere, lecav, hossa, jagr, st louis, ovechkin, sundin... by this it makes me consider 2 things. Habs fans feel they NEED a star player to sign with them to win a cup... and 2 perhaps these players don't have the same faith that the fans do that the habs are close to winning a cup.
In response to winning in Toronto making Sundin a legend...I guess it's possible...not having seen a cup won in Toronto in my lifetime makes it hard to know. I do know that Toronto does not have the same reverence for their alumni.Please everyone, there was about 13 seconds of thought put into this blog. One thought though for Leaf fans though, if you can't take a joke it's going to be a LONG next five years for you...regardless of where Sundin signs.
I like those reasons, all very good for Mats, but as for blurr1974, Mats will never enter the HOF in a leafs jersey, what has he done in Leaf land to get him into the HOF, take them to a couple rounds in the playoffs, but never to the Cup, that will nver get ya into the HOF, the only way he's entering is suiting up for the Habs and winning the cup next year.......Go Habs Go.
i dont understand why eveyone thinks sundin is just a leaf. he played for the nordiques for four seasons.
Just because he has never won a cup does not mean he is not one of the best players the league has seen.
cdavisSittler got into the HOF and he didn't win the cupSundin now has more points, more goals than him.I don't know WHY Sundin wouldn't make it in there
"2. Sundin would put himself to not only win a Stanley Cup, but to win it in the greatest hockey city on earth. When you win a cup in Carolina, you get a ring. When you win a cup in Montreal, you become a legend. You are immortalized and remembered for all time"my opinion...joining his countrymates in big DET would be a more likely cup candidate
to ronnyweed Good luck to fit him under the cap...
With or without Sundin, I don't see the Canadiens beating the best in the West for the Stanley Cup.
Im not asking for sundin on DET, just pointing out that if he wanted a cup, signing there on july 1 would have been his best bet, and best fit as it is team sweeden.
Two points(questions):(1) If a Cup was so important to Sundin, and Montreal is a key contender - why'd he veto a trade to Montreal last Winter?(2) How many immortal heroes from the Habs 1993 cup can you name? I'm curious how many are still revered in Montreal?
Hi Doktor Dave,Thanks for reading...and for commenting. I love the avatar, it looks like a Leaf fan still complaining about the calls from Heaven!To address your points:1: I believe that Montreal and Toronto had worked out a tentative agreement of sorts before the season started of Sundin for Kostitsyn and two draft picks. After the breakout year Montreal had, the offer was no longer on the table. I believe ultiamtely Montreal bached at the deal as they were unwilling to part with top prospects without the assurance the player would sign. I don't believe Sundin was ready to sign a contract at the time, else a deal might well have been made involving Higgins.2: Obviously, St. Patrick is still revered by Habs fans. The organization was already heading for disaster when we won the cup in 1993, and the club handled their heroes like Carbs and Roy very poorly much to the dismay of most fans. Montreal fans also feel a strong connection to Muller, Leclaire and Desjardin for there Overtime heroics. That Leclaire-Desjardin-Dionne for Recchi is still one of the worst trades of all time. Who gives up 3 stanley cup final overtime goals in one trade?
doctordave///the answer is who cares...my memories of watching that Cup win are my most fondest memories in Hockey...What would be your equivalent hockey memory as a Leaf fan? Seeing Leaf Jerseys on sale for 2 for 1 in April? Those late season drive's for ninth? Just curious...Oh and don't throw in how bad the habs have been over the last ten years...we've sucked and rebuilt and the Leaf fans are still dreaming...
LEAFS FAN READ THIS: I am a true habs fan and I hate the leafs, but I think no one should insult a team as Cuppa tea does in his number 9 and 13.BTW cuppa tea. You are over confident... even if Sundin sign with us. You can't tell we'll win the cup. We would be strong for sure, but you seem to forget where Hossa went... So I agree with your numbers 1-2-6-7-11-12.
Man, you Leafs bashers just come crawling out of the wood work lately. Must be all that playoff success you've had lately. And that 1st place finsih in the East. Very impressive. Makes me think of the Ottawa and Buffalo dynasties of late. It's a slipperly slope friends, and the one great thing I think we can all agree on, regardless of who we're rooting for, is that no matter how good a team is over 82 games, they still have 16 more wins (or 4 straight losses, whichever comes first.) before we got to handing out the cup, let's remember that. And as far as the whole "what has Sundin done for the Leafs?" argument, if you don't know the answer to that, then you need to ask yourself why your team is hot and heavy for him in the first place, don't cha?
I find it laughable that Leaf fans can't take any criticism whatsoever...not an ounce....We pass an opinion, we are bashers...no negotiation...There are no parallels between the Habs and Leafs history of success...accept it and get over it...We're cocky because we're proud....yeah we sucked for a while but the team is greatly improved and at least has a chance to compete...And until you are near the top up the summit don't give me the slippery slope analogy...The Leafs are stuck sliding on the ice at the bottom of the hill and can't get near the top to get any perspective whatsoever....And yeah...we want Sundin...he's been great with the Leafs...imagine what he could do on a team that has a shot...it could be scary....
Ha Ha FuzE, you seem to be complaining about being labeled a basher, while tossing in more bashing...great logic. As for my own comments - no bashing at all...I'm just curious how some folks figure Sundin is so keen on Montreal or more specifically a Cup Run...given that he passed up a chance for both last season. I'm not sure that anybody can assume Sundin is thinking of a Cup run and/or targeting the Habs unless something has changed. Who knows what he's thinking? As for asking to have the heroes of 93 listed, I asked simply because I tend to think of Habs heroes from other eras, but rarely hear much reference to anybody from that team. As Cuppa mentions the Habs traded away the guys who did the most for them that year. To me, that doesn't really sound much different from any-other team in terms of how they treat their hockey heroes - the one exception might be Detroit - where guys like Chelios and Drake...even Osgood and McCarty were kept around or brought back.
If you call that bashing then you are just too sensitive...As far as that era...Patrick Roy made all the difference...that Habs team was good but not great...Roy was unbelievable stealing 10 straight in OT...the Habs stole a Cup that year...no doubt...He will be honoured from that era but no one else...Unfortunately as free agency has grown loyalty (as it is called) has changed things for every team...As for Sundin, who really knows what he will do...I have never once stated he is a lock in Montreal..Why would he come now? He's had time to think....If it is truly down to Tor, Van and MTL and a Cup is his objective thenMTL is the strongest of the 3...a shoe in for the Cup.?..of course not...I think Sundin is a great player that deserves his shot...I think it would be sad to see him stuck in the bottom 3rd of the standings as he ends his career and a return to the Leafs during a rebuilding phase will give him just that...
the guy who wrote this is a clown, the greatest hockey city on earth is toronto and most enthusiastic fans are soccer fans? youre an idiot. tfc has been around for what? 2 seasons? and all their fans are european soccer fans who live in toronto. yes the acc is quiet, BECAUSE OF THE SUITS. if you look at road games no team has more fans in other buildings and more wild and pasisonate fans than the leafs. 2 instances in which i will always remember the habs 1. ribeiro rolling on the ground like he was shot 2. kovalev getting a little hack on the glove and leaving the puck in the PLAYOFFS for murray to score on a breakaway, hahaha leafs for life