Maple Leafs Interviewing Franchise Icon for Executive Role

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reports that the Toronto Maple Leafs are meeting with Mats Sundin in person to discuss bringing him back in some kind of advisory role (could also be VP of Hockey Ops). Those reports also suggest they want him to be part of the new management group.

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Chris Johnston is also reporting: “Mats Sundin is in Toronto to meet with the Leafs about a potential role in the new management structure, per sources.” Darren Dreger notes, “Credit to @FriedgeHNIC Mats Sundin is in Toronto today to meet with Keith Pelley and the MLSE hiring team. It’s believed, Toronto has interest in bringing in their former captain in a prominent role in Hockey Operations. No title is being attached at this point.”

Sundin’s legacy as a Toronto Maple Leaf is that of a franchise icon and one of the greatest players in team history.

Acquired in a 1994 trade from the Quebec Nordiques, Sundin played 13 seasons in Toronto (1994–2008), serving as captain for 11 of them — the longest-serving non-North American captain in NHL history at the time. Until Auston Matthews broke the record this season, Sundin held the Maple Leafs’ all-time record for goals (420). He still holds the record for most points (987), among several other scoring categories.

He never won a Stanley Cup with the Leafs, but he earned deep respect for his work ethic, his ability to play through injuries, and his on-ice production. His number 13 was retired by the team in 2012, the same year he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

To this day, he’s widely regarded as one of the top 5–10 greatest Maple Leafs ever, alongside legends like Börje Salming, Darryl Sittler, and Dave Keon.

Next: Maple Leafs Quick Hits: Bowen, Ralph, Pelley & Matthews