NHL

By Mike Brophy

SPORTSNET.CA

Consider this a warning: The next person who asks me where Mats Sundin will end up is going to get a kick in the shins.

Sundin's indecision and indifference has become downright boring. Imagine the fuss if we were talking about a superstar and not just a point-per-game guy. Don't get me wrong; I'm certain the 37-year-old Swede could still help a number of teams, but let's be honest; we're talking about a player whose best years are long gone. And if his uncertainty about whether or not he'll continue playing is any indication, you have to wonder if his heart will ever be in the game again.

Never mind the $20 million for two years he turned down from the Vancouver Canucks. When you thumb your nose at Bob Gainey and the Montreal Canadiens, who are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders and will be celebrating their 100th anniversary season this year, it says a lot about your desire to win.

I loved what Gainey said to Sundin when they met last week: "If you are not sure if you want to play or not, then play. The passion will return." The point Gainey was trying to make was very simple: Don't quit until you are absolutely certain you have lost your passion to play.

But when Sundin failed to make up his mind, the Habs acquired Robert Lang. Bye-bye Mats.

Some have speculated Sundin will take part of the year off and then return to the Leafs mid-season. If that is the case, then what was all that nonsense about the journey being important to him when he refused a trade to a contender last season? The Leafs are in a rebuilding mode and are long shots to even make the playoffs. There will be no significant journey this season.

You have to wonder why the Leafs would even want him back. If building through the draft is the way they have set their sights, and the Leafs are to have a shot at adding John Tavares or Victor Hedman, then re-signing Sundin would be counter-productive.

GM Cliff Fletcher says he is open to having Sundin return if he gets the desire to play again, but I get a sense he says that because he doesn't want to be known as the guy who shut the door on Mats. New coach Ron Wilson claims Sundin has lots to offer the team's young players in terms of leadership, but again I get a sense he'd rather move forward minus Sundin. Wouldn't it be better for everybody involved if Fletcher and Wilson united and said the team was no longer interested in having Sundin return? Thanks for the memories, Bub, good luck with your future.

I have always admired Sundin as a player, but I do not view him as a future Hall of Famer. He was a very good player. That's all. With only one 100-point season to his credit and no major awards, not to mention any championship, it is silly to consider placing him in the Hall of Fame.

Also, I have never bought into the notion that he is a great leader. Too often during his tenure as captain of the Leafs there were negative forces inside the dressing room that Sundin sat by quietly and allowed to wreak havoc. A true captain would have put certain third- and fourth-liners in their place for the good of the team. Sundin was never a rah-rah kind of guy.

Mats Sundin can do whatever he wants. It's his life. According to hockeyzoneplus.com, Sundin has raked in more than $74 million in his 17-year career, so unless he's been hanging out in Vegas with Jaromir Jagr, you'd have to think the man is financially set for life. If he decides to resume his career, it likely isn't for the money.

And that is a good thing because with each passing day, his potential to sign a big contract decreases. Teams have to make roster decisions based on the salary cap and very soon there won't be much money left, at least not with a Stanley Cup-contending team.

Vancouver still needs scoring, Anaheim still has to trade defenceman Mathieu Schnieder to make room to sign Teemu Selanne and Chicago will in all likelihood move goalie Nikolai Khabibulin. There will always be a team willing to make room for Sundin, but a contender?

So as 46-year-old Chris Chelios gears up for his 24th NHL season, still brimming with enthusiasm for the game, Sundin sits and twiddles his thumbs.

Take Gainey's advice Mats; just play.

Veteran hockey writer Mike Brophy joins sportsnet.ca as a regular hockey columnist.