The Maple Leafs GM search is frozen until Mats Sundin picks up the phone
Photo credit: Per Haljestam-Imagn Images
Mats Sundin has been linked to the Maple Leafs for a front office job, but apparently things aren't going to move until he answers their call.
For weeks the news around town has been that the Toronto Maple Leafs were eyeing former captain and franchise icon Mats Sundin as someone to take a role in their front office, be it a GM, President or advisor.
However, it sounds like Sundin may have been just a person of interest that the team was scouting and there was no real emphasis on hiring him, it was more due diligence on behalf of MLSE to make sure they asked whoever they could.
Or maybe, it was trying to nail down a proper role for a very invested Sundin because according to new information — things aren't budging without him.
Mats Sundin holding all the cards in Maple Leafs GM search
Elliotte Friedman noted that the Maple Leafs GM search is being put on pause for the meantime while they wait for a word on Sundin and whether he wants to be involved with the team in a prominent role; but that role has yet to be made publicly known:
I think what we're kind of waiting to see how this is going to work out is Mats Sundin's decision...I winder if he's still contemplating a bigger role. I believe he is.
Everyone's hoping to get an idea of where he's leaning and considering. I think once we know where Sundin falls on the list, we'll get a clear idea of how the Maple Leafs front office will look.
Everyone's hoping to get an idea of where he's leaning and considering. I think once we know where Sundin falls on the list, we'll get a clear idea of how the Maple Leafs front office will look.
Clearly the Maple Leafs are highly interested in bringing in Sundin as an executive, and the fact they are essentially waiting for his call shows they are banking on his reputation and hoping he decides to give them a call back.
Obviously you don't want to paint Sundin as the bad guy, but the longer he draws things out to decide his future, the more anxiety the Maple Leafs and their fans are going to have. It would be great if all parties could come to some conclusion by week's end.
Why Mats Sundin is so important to the Maple Leafs front office shakeup
Well, it's not hard to see why considering that before Auston Matthews, it was Sundin who reigned supreme atop the all-time leaderboards for the franchise, and had 420 goals as the gold standard before Matthews eclipsed him this year.
But he's someone who has been around during arguably the team's most successful run and was part of the group that was the last one to make the Eastern Conference Finals, and one that harkens back to a time where fans felt proud to wear the jersey, not paper bags on their heads.
Sundin has always cared deeply for the team, even if he hasn't been involved with them for almost 20 years. He shows up for alumni events, he's a great ambassador, and he loves the fans as much as they love him. There's a reason that no one wears #13 anymore.
By putting in Sundin wherever — as long as it's a prominent spot — is only going to benefit the team. You have a beloved and respected legend who cannot only swing the trust back to the front office, but someone who wants them to win by any means necessary.
The phone is ringing Mats, it's just a matter of picking up sooner than later.
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