Mats Sundin retires after nearly 20 seasons in NHL

by woodpeck | September 30, 2009 at 07:20 am

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Former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin is retiring from hockey after nearly two decades in the NHL.

"It was a tough decision," Sundin said at a news conference at Stockholm's Grand Hotel on Wednesday. "It's sad to tell you today that my career as a pro hockey player is over."

The 38-year-old Swede, who said he reached the decision this fall, played for the Vancouver Canucks last season after spending most of his NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He spent 13 seasons with Toronto, becoming the longest serving European captain in NHL history, and he gave special thanks to the Maple Leafs organization.

Averaging just over a point a game during the regular season almost assures Mats Sundin will be a Hall of Famer. If it doesn't, the 13 years as a Maple Leaf and being their captain sure will! This news also confirms he will not be playing at the 2010 Winter Olympics. One of the most consistent performers of the last 20 years not to win a Stanley Cup.

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