Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Categories: 1971 births | Quebec Nordiques players | Swedish ice hockey players | Toronto Maple Leafs players
Mats Sundin
Mats Johan Sundin (born February 13 1971, in Bromma, Sweden) is a professional Ice Hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL). A 6'5, 231 pound Centre, he is the current captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Originally drafted by the Quebec Nordiques with the first pick in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft (from the Swedish Elite League club Djurgarden), Sundin was the first European in league draft history to be chosen with the first overall selection. On June 28th, 1994, Mats was traded by the Nordiques to Toronto in a blockbuster deal involving then-Leafs Captain Wendel Clark. Mats has played his last 9 seasons for Toronto. Statistically, Sundin's best season came during the 1992-93 campaign with the Nordiques when he combined 47 goals with 67 assists for 114 points.
Mats is considered to be one of the NHL's elite pivots, combining point production, his overwhelming size and strength, quiet but capable leadership abilities, and a fair amount of grit to his all-around game. Sometimes criticised by the Toronto media for what appears to be a lacklustre attitude to the game, he has never lead his team to the Stanley Cup. Mats is nonetheless respected around the NHL as one of the best leaders in the game. Sundin is also one of the highest paid players in the league and earned $9 million (U.S) during the 2003-04 NHL regular-season.
He has represented Team Sweden at various international competitions, such as the World Cup of Hockey and the Olympics, and has held the position of team captain for the national squad for the better part of the last decade. Sundin is widely recognized as one of the top players in the world in these international competitions, and has added a highly impressive list of accomplishments to his credentials as a result of his outstanding performance in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
Sundin has used his off-time during the current 2004-05 NHL lock-out to relax and enjoy life in his native Sweden. In March of 2005, he announced that he will not participate in the upcoming World Hockey Championships, set to take place in Vienna/Innsbruck, Austria. In 1,086 NHL regular-season games, Sundin has 465 goals and 624 assists for 1,089 points. In 83 career NHL post-season matches, he has 35 goals and 39 assists for 74 points. Mats has also made the NHL All-Star Team in nine consecutive seasons and been a Second All-Star Team Centre twice (2002 and 2004).
Career Achievements
2003-04 NHL - Second All-Star Team (Centre)
2003-04 Played in NHL All-Star Game
2002-03 Played in NHL All-Star Game (Injured)
2001-02 NHL - Second All-Star Team (Centre)
2001-02 Played in NHL All-Star Game
2001-02 Olympic Tournament - All-Star Team
2000-01 Played in NHL All-Star Game
1999-00 Played in NHL All-Star Game
1998-99 Played in NHL All-Star Game
1997-98 Played in NHL All-Star Game
1997-98 Elitserien (Sweden) - World All-Star Team
1996-97 Played in NHL All-Star Game
1995-96 Played in NHL All-Star Game
1993-94 Elitserien (Sweden) - World All-Star Team
1991-92 Elitserien (Sweden) - World All-Star Team
1990-91 Elitserien (Sweden) - World All-Star Team
| Preceded by: Doug Gilmour |
Toronto Maple Leafs Captains | Succeeded by: (current captain) |
See also: List of Swedes in sports
External link
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