A memorable moment in a busy week.
One of the highlights, of course, was Sundin’s speech to the team before the win against Detroit. General manager Brad Treliving, president Brendan Shanahan, coach Sheldon Keefe and their management team made the request for Toronto’s all-time leading scorer (987 points) during the Hall of Fame’s presence at a staff dinner at the Astoria restaurant, near the team hotel, on Thursday.
“I was honored to do it,” Sundin said Saturday while attending Maple Leafs practice with his daughter Bonnie and sons Julien and Nathanael. “We were talking about flashbacks and stories from when we were playing.
“I miss the moments, of course. But I don’t miss work.
Sundin plans to be in Toronto for the 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend, February 2-3. When asked if he would ever consider returning to take a job with the Maple Leafs, he was much less committed.
“It would be difficult to go back there permanently,” he said. “You never know the future, but that’s unlikely with kids and family here. We will see.”
For the Maple Leafs defenseman Marc Giordanojust having Sundin on the team this week has been a pleasure, especially since he and the Hall of Famer have a common historical connection.
Giordano was a member of the Calgary Flames when Sundin scored his 500th NHL goal, completing a hat trick with a short-handed overtime winner in a 6–5 Toronto victory at Scotiabank Arena on October 14, 2006.
“I had a good night too,” Giordano said. “I scored a few in that game, including my first NHL goal. It was my first career NHL goal and his 500th. He showed me pretty well.
Giordano said Maple Leafs players didn’t know Sundin would be in their locker room Friday.
“We didn’t know about it until it came, so it was pretty cool,” Giordano said. “For me it meant a lot. Growing up in Toronto, watching Mats play for a long time, he obviously had an incredible career, but for me it was pretty special.
Just like Saturday, Julien Sundin’s minor hockey team, SDE, sat in the stands at Maple Leafs practice chanting “Nee-lan-der, Nee-lan-der.”
Just like the hundreds of fans who braved the cold several hours later to get Nylander’s coveted signature.
And just like the entire week has been for the entire Maple Leafs team, who can end their memorable experience here on an even more positive note with a victory against the Wild on Sunday.
