Elliotte Friedman Connects Mats Sundin to Potential New Role with Maple Leafs

With Brendan Shanahan not having his contract renewed by the Maple Leafs, the team is currently running without a Team President. While not the end of the world, it would help bring things together a bit more at the executive level.

Elliotte Friedman speculates the team might look into franchise icon Mats Sundin for a role with the club.

It would be fitting for the team's biggest icon to come in and make a change, even if it might just be a consulting role and not necessarily President as Friedman notes, but it could give the team a new look from someone dedicated to the franchise.

Sundin is the team's all-time leading scorer, and with Auston Matthews set to pass him this coming season, what better way to pass the torch than to be a part of that team and give him the pieces necessary to succeed.

If he doesn't end up with a more executive position, especially given the news that Toronto isn't going to run with a Team President for 2025-26, he definitely could be an asset nonetheless.

He hasn't really been around in recent years due to his living overseas, but there's nothing that says he can't be talked into coming back.

Nicklas Lidstrom is currently VP of Hockey Operations for the Detroit Red Wings but also lives overseas, so it's even more feasible to see Sundin take a long-distance role with the club.

Even if it's just a consultant or international scouting role, who better than Sundin? Known for being a brilliant player, he knows what intangibles it takes to make it in the NHL and can look to give his advice on who Toronto needs to target.

You're also adding a Hockey Hall of Fame recipient, one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players', and someone who has a ton of respect and admiration in the city.

Toronto fans might be more privy to see what the team has in store without Mitch Marner knowing the passionate and dedicated Sundin is part of things.

He's the franchise leader in goals (420), assists (567), points (987) and has his iconic #13 retired by the team and has always praised Toronto in his career; and is one of the few who managed to navigate the media no matter how hard they pressed.

He wouldn't bring immediate success to the team, and it's unknown what his exact role would be with the team, that's just the reality of the situation.

But adding Mats Sundin, a name synonymous with the Toronto Maple Leafs to their organization could bring them back to the glory days of when Sundin had a bit more success.