Leafs consider life without Sundin

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08:29 AM ET 08.06
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Coach Ron Wilson began looking at the Maple Leafs' first line center hole yesterday, with a big question mark where No. 13 used to be. "When I find out for sure about Mats Sundin, then I'll worry about life with or without him," said Wilson, in town for summer meetings with general manager Cliff Fletcher. "Cliff and I just roughed out some lines, but a lot can change between now and Sept. 19 (when training camp opens)." Sundin remains non-commital about playing or retiring, with agent J.P. Barry saying in recent days that the captain's indecision could be a hint he's not coming back. Refusing to get into specific candidates, Wilson said Sundin's winger Nik Antropov would be among "lots of guys" he hopes to audition at camp for the job should Sundin not play. As part of finding another 80 point-range leading scorer if Sundin retires, the Leafs need a new faceoff specialist. Though Sundin's overall contributions have been second-guessed in light of the Leafs missing the playoffs the past three seasons, last year he led the NHL in draws taken (1,713) and draws won (945), a 55.2% success rate. The only other Leaf with more than 1,000 draws was Matt Stajan (a 47.6% rating), while Antropov was 42.1% on 271 draws. Centre Dominic Moore was 51.4%, while other wingers Mark Bell and Alex Steen took almost 200 faceoffs, Bell at 41.3%, Steen at 33%.

Toronto Sun

Mats Sundin, Dave Sandford/Getty Images

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August 6, 2008 08:34 AM ET

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Oh my God. The worst nightmare. Two Swedes in one day.
T&R have lulled us into a false sense of security, and now this .....

Oilers: NHI

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August 6, 2008 09:09 AM ET

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F#$%^&ck u T&R

joefordnproud

Romulus, MI

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August 6, 2008 09:21 AM ET

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Oh my God. The worst nightmare. Two Swedes in one day.
T&R have lulled us into a false sense of security, and now this .....

Oilers4Ever

have we ever been subjected to these two guys back to back before?

BETTMAN IS A SNIVELLING NINNY

Spiny Norman

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August 6, 2008 09:29 AM ET

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Jesus Christ ...

BernieParent=JESUS!

Killadelphia, PA

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August 6, 2008 09:31 AM ET

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Isn't there a more relevant or exciting topic going in the NHL? Maybe like they changed the shade of red on the redline or the hue of blue in the goalie crease? Bettman is the suckiest suck that has ever sucked!

LGP: Stanley Cup…

Six Burgh, PA

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August 6, 2008 09:38 AM ET

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have we ever been subjected to these two guys back to back before?
BETTMAN IS A SNIVELLING NINNY
Spiny Norman

Only in our nightmares ........

I read somewhere that Colorado is one of the front runners for Sundin - which means that the Avs would have a brace of indecisive Swedes. Are they crazy?

Oilers: NHI

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August 6, 2008 09:48 AM ET

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read somewhere that Colorado is one of the front runners for Sundin - which means that the Avs would have a brace of indecisive Swedes. Are they crazy?

Oilers4Ever

might make for some interesting line changes?

Spiny Norman

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August 6, 2008 09:56 AM ET

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Looking at the title of this thread:
I wish T&R would do the same...life without Mats

BETTMAN S***S

Spiny Norman

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August 6, 2008 09:59 AM ET

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Get bent Sundin, get bent T&R.

santapig

Kansas City , MO

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August 6, 2008 10:01 AM ET

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I KNEW IT !!! a day without a Sundin thread and T&R had withdrawal.
They must have some halfwit writer addict in the back saying ....

must have sundin thread
must have sundin thread
must have sundin thread

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

mhwings

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August 6, 2008 10:22 AM ET

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T&R without Sundin? Too good to be true! Must've been getting the shakes!

DCruiser

Barrington , IL

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August 6, 2008 10:23 AM ET

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Is this the first Sundin thread this year??

TenRingsSTL

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August 6, 2008 10:25 AM ET

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Man considers ending life with too much Sundin.

santapig

Kansas City , MO

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August 6, 2008 10:29 AM ET

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I KNEW IT !!! a day without a Sundin thread and T&R had withdrawal.
mhwings

They are playing with us. First they drive us nearly demented with daily Sundin non-stories. Then, no mention for three whole days. At first we are a little anxious and wondering when the next thread will appear. We gradually relax and start to think that, just maybe, they will leave us alone until there is actual news to report. Then they administer the knock-out blow - Sundin and Forsberg on the same day.
You have to hand it to them, they have this torture malarkey nailed.

Oilers: NHI

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August 6, 2008 10:49 AM ET

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Let's face it! If it wasn't for Sundin and Frosberg, T&R has no hockey stories!

Consider the alternative! The could have a daily story about the most hated midget instead!

Yieks!!!!

DCruiser

Barrington , IL

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August 6, 2008 10:58 AM ET

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Consider the alternative! The could have a daily story about the most hated midget instead!

Yieks!!!!

DCruiser

but at least a Bettman thread gives us more to riff on!

BETTMAN S***S

Spiny Norman

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August 6, 2008 12:06 PM ET

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Bettman is the suckiest suck that has ever sucked!
LetsGoPens | 08/06/08, 09:31 AM

AWESOME!!!

rhmf93

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August 6, 2008 12:10 PM ET

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Ah the hell with Sundin and Forsberg. And T&R. And Bettman.

Oilers: NHI

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August 6, 2008 12:25 PM ET

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whatever happened to the strike on sundin stories. You guys too addicted to ignore these threads

joefordnproud

Romulus, MI

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August 6, 2008 12:30 PM ET

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whatever happened to the strike on sundin stories. You guys too addicted to ignore these threads

joefordnproud

Joe is right. No more posts on here for me. Except this one :)