6. Mats Sundin, 1989
Easily one of the greatest captains if not players Toronto has ever had. Mats Sundin was always a thrill to watch, but he wasn’t always a Maple Leaf. Sundin was initially drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in 1989. At 17, Sundin starred for Djurgardens IF Stockholm of the Swedish Junior League. The following year he would join Nacka HK in Division 1 of the Swedish League. That year Mats would score 18 points in 25 games along with 8 playoff points in 6 playoff games. In 1989-90, Mats would help lead Djurgardens IF to a championship season for the main platform of the Swedish Elite League.
His first pro season would come the next year in 1990-91 with Quebec, he would score his first goal in his first game, along with 59 points in 89 games. Sundin’s highest point total came in his second last year with the Nordiques where he managed 114 points in 80 games played.
The next year the whole hockey world was shocked as well as Toronto and Quebec fans. This was because Toronto would trade former 1st overall pick Wendel Clark along with two other players and a first-round pick for Sundin. Toronto, however, would get a decent return as they would get an additional two players and a first-round pick as well.
Toronto had to wait a little bit longer to see their new star since the following year was locked out for half of the season. When he did arrive for the rest of the 1994-95 season, Mats would show the Leafs what he was worth by scoring 47 points in 47 games. The 1995-96 season was even better for Sundin and Leafs fans as he would lead in scoring again with 83 points in 76 games and help push Toronto into the playoffs. His totals didn’t stop there, though, as in the next two seasons he would put up 94 points in 82 games and 74 points in another 82 games despite missing the playoffs those two seasons.
The next 6 years for Mats and the Leafs were fantastic, he would lead the team in points every season. He would also help push the leafs into the playoffs each of those years too. After the 2004-05 lockout, Sundin would spend the next 3 years as the Leafs captain before signing with Vancouver. He spent one year with the Canucks before calling it a career in 2009. Mats still stands as the Leafs all-time leader in points (984) and goals (420).
When Sundin announced his retirement back home in Stockholm, he left the league with 564 goals, 785 assists for 1,349 points in 1,346 career games. His playoff totals are very good as well, 82 points in 91 career playoff games.
Mats would also do a lot more for hockey outside of the NHL. He would win three World Championship Gold Medals in 1991, 1992 and 1998. He’s got 1 Olympic Gold Medal for Sweden in his collection coming from the 2006 games. And it doesn’t end there for the fantastic Swede, Mats also owns 2 World Championship Silver medals and 2 World Championship Bronze Medals.
Mats was always meant to be a special player, and a very special player he was. Most Toronto fans would rank him number 1 all-time for the organization for all that he did during his years as a Leaf.
The top 5 is next, some of the best players the league has ever seen!