“ There is another name here, although it’s not for general manager. I have heard that the Maple Leafs are meeting with one of the greatest players in franchise history, Mats Sundin, about bringing him back in what sounds like some kind of advisory role,” Friedman said during Friday’s edition of 32 Thoughts The Podcast. “ I don’t want to get caught up in titles here. I don’t know if he would be an advisor or he would be a VP of hockey ops, I don’t know. But he’s meeting with them and I believe he’s going to be meeting with ownership, and I think it’s a great idea.”
Friedman added that while he isn’t sure whether or not the candidates the Leafs have spoken with are aware of what is happening here, he does get the sense that it is part of their plan to have Sundin involved in the new management group regardless of what his position ends up being.
Sundin needs no introduction for a large contingent of Leafs Nation who grew up watching him lead the team to their most recent deep playoff runs. The Hockey Hall of Famer spent 13 seasons in Toronto and 11 as their captain, scoring 987 points (420 goals, 567 assists) in 980 games along with 70 points (32 goals and 38 assists) in 77 playoff games. He retired as the franchise’s all-time scoring leader and was their all-time goal leader until he was surpassed by current captain Auston Matthews on January 3.
“I’ve always had all the time in the world for him,” Friedman continued. “I just think that he really cares about the team, and the fact that he wants to be a part of it is a really good sign.”
Sundin has often spoken glowingly about not just members of the roster such as Matthews, Max Domi, and William Nylander among others, but has also referred to being back in Toronto as a homecoming of sorts. He has been one of the few players to not only not shy away from the pressures of the market, but openly embrace the challenges head-on as well.
“To me, coming to Toronto is coming home,” Sundin said to The Leafs Nation’s Arun Srinivasan on February 1, 2024. “I lived in Canada for almost 20 years so it feels like coming home. I love being here, I love the support. The fans the Toronto Maple Leafs have are very fortunate to have the city of Toronto and the fans behind them. It’s great. It’s (like) coming home!”
The Leafs are still in the process of conducting their interviews for their next head of hockey operations, as Friedman reports that they have spoken with the likes of Mike Gillis, John Chayka, Chris Pronger, Brandon Pridham, and Ryan Hardy among others. The most recent meeting with Gillis was via Zoom, though prior interactions have been in person.
It is worth noting that Gillis was able to convince Sundin to sign with the Vancouver Canucks instead of heading into retirement during the 2008-09 season, and he even took a pay cut for the team to have extra cap space in an attempt to bolster their lineup for a Stanley Cup push.
Gillis stated years later that he credited Sundin for helping reshape the fabric of the Canucks and elevating their internal professionalism.
While it remains to be seen at the time of filing who exactly will be the Leafs’ next head of hockey operations, it appears the Leafs want to have Sundin involved in some capacity.
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