Players lost pride in wearing the Maple Leafs jersey and the Sundin plan is designed to fix exactly that
Photo credit: John Sokolowski-Imagn Images
It felt like everyone didn't have as much passion for the crest during the Maple Leafs' 2025-26 season, and the hiring of Mats Sundin is meant to remedy that.
There was a time when you wore a Toronto Maple Leafs' jersey with a sense of pride. Walking around with your favourite player, number, or personalized outfit meant a lot to people; especially kids growing up who idolized and saw these players as larger than life.
However now it seems like the second you wear anything Toronto you're bound to be laughed at, as the team' downfall this season as well as their long-discussed Stanley Cup drought has combined to make things as bad as it's been in the Auston Matthews era.
But with the team looking to make several changes to the roster, coaching staff and front office — there has to be an onus on bringing back the passion and joy felt wearing the blue and white.
Friedman said the pride in wearing the Maple Leafs jersey fell this season and Sundin is the only person who can restore it
Enter Mats Sundin.
Brought up as a name for weeks with regard to a potential front office role, we're essentially just waiting for his approval and then presumably he'll be brought in as VP or President of Hockey Operations; bringing John Chayka along as GM.
But he's a guy who already has big ideas about how to fix the team, and is one of the most recognizable and passionate Maple Leafs players of all time. Sundin led the team with grace, humility, and an immense level of talent. He knows what it means to play for a city who goes wild for you; and actually had the most success recently.
It's something that Elliotte Friedman noted in his 32 Thoughts podcast, stating the team felt like the loss of pride in the fanbase is a crucial hole that Sundin is expected to help fix:
Many in the organization did believe that; that the pride in wearing the jersey had fallen and hopefully bringing in Sundin will start to rebuild that.
It makes perfect sense considering not only was Sundin the last person to lead Toronto to the Eastern Conference Finals, but someone beloved by literally everyone in the fanbase and the respect he commands is bar none.
Chayka builds the roster while Sundin rebuilds the identity and that combination is what this franchise has never had before
But with a Chayka and Sundin partnership in tow, there's a lot to get excited about. Sundin can focus on making fans and players feel honoured to wear the jersey, and he's going to be vocal and most of all — present.
All credit to Brendan Shanahan but he's nowhere near as loved as Sundin in Toronto, and no doubt you'll be finding him at games, pressers, and events a lot more often than Shanahan would have. He genuinely loves the city and the team, and he knows how important having that connection is.
Chayka meanwhile can do the number-crunching and focus on adding players Sundin believes not only improves the culture and reputation of the team, but the on-ice product. Sundin's 'big ideas' aren't yet known but if he's willing to blow it up then he can rely on Chayka to find the best deal.
Toronto has had President/GM combos before but it's been pretty hit and miss. Shanahan and Dubas were good, but there's also guys like Lou Lamoriello, Dave Nonis, and Brad Treliving who have come in and haven't brought the same level of passion despite a wealth of experience.
The Maple Leafs fans want someone who cares just as much as they do and Sundin is pretty much the only guy who can bring that level of passion. It's just a matter of when he's going to answer the call.
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Mats Sundin is buying a house in Toronto and the Maple Leafs GM coming with him is not who most fans expected
Mats Sundin is buying a house in Toronto and the Maple Leafs GM coming with him is not who most fans expected
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