Alright, so as everyone and their mother knows, Mats Sundin finally made his decision after months of delay and became the richest man in professional hockey yesterday, signing a 1 Year, 10 Million dollar contract, meaning he makes $500,000 more than Alexander Ovechkin, and $1.3 Million more than Sidney Crosby. Heck, even going on the Canucks, he makes $3.3 Million more than the true top player on the team, Roberto Luongo. Basically, he went for the money instead of going fro a true chance to win the cup and he cashed in big. Before anyone says “BUT THE CANUCKS ARE KINDA SORTA CONTENDERS!”, Sundin has made the 3rd highest career salary of any NHL player, ever. Only Jaromir Jagr and Joe Sakic have made more. If Mats wanted a cup, he could’ve gone to the Sharks or Wings and said “I’ll take whatever you can offer me”. But this isn’t the point, the point is how the real losers in this in the long term are the Toronto Maple Leafs.

As we all know, the central focus for the Toronto Maple Leafs last year was the trade Deadline. John Ferguson Jr was fired, and Cliff Fletcher was brought in to clear the weeds. By the weeds, I mean the aging players, and most importantly, the “Muskoka 5″ - Mats Sundin, Tomas Kaberle, Bryan McCabe, Pavel Kubina, and Darcy Tucker.

What was the end result of the deadline?

After much hype, Mats decided he be staying in Toronto and using his NMC (No Movement Clause) to do so. He also threw some comments out there about “being a Torontonian” and a “True Leaf”, and that one must play for the team from “training camp to the playoffs”. Shortly after, Tomas Kaberle used his NTC, and so did Pavel Kubina. The thought is that Tucker did too, though that cannot be confirmed. McCabe had no offers on him.

And really, you can blame most of that on the original Sundin deal. Lets play a quick game of dominoes here.

Sundin Blocks Trade: The deal he blocked was one to the Montreal Canadiens, which would send him to the energetic young rivals for Christopher Higgins, Mikhail Grabovski, and their 2008 1st Round Pick (Which they traded for Alex Tanguay at the draft. Not saying we’d do the same, but throwing that out there). We would go on to trade for Grabovski after the draft, costing us our 2010 2nd Round Pick, and Greg Pateryn (who we just picked with a 5th Rounder).

Total Lost: Higgins, 1st Round Pick 2008, 2nd Round Pick 2010, Pateryn, Sundin

Kaberle Blocks Trade Shortly Thereafter: Obviously seeing what it means to be a “True Leaf” (aka, BS), Kaberle was next to block his no trade clause. He was going to be traded to the Philadelphia Flyersfor Jeff Carter, and the Flyers’ 2008 1st Round Pick. Carter had a beast of a playoffs, earning him a contract worth $5 Million per year (he wouldn’t have got anywhere near as much with us due to no playoffs, probably closer to $2.5 Million). Carter is currently in the Top 5 in the NHL in Goals For. Thanks Tomas. Really though, I think if Mats waives, Tomas waives too.

Total Lost: Jeff Carter, 1st Round Pick
Total Gained: Tomas Kaberle (who won’t get nearly as much of a return now)

Kubina Joins The Blocking Club: Though Cliff didn’t mention names in his after deadline press conference, everyone knows that the player who said he would waive and changed his mind after a win and dinner with teammates was Pavel Kubina. The San Jose Sharks were the team that made the offer, offering up Steve Bernier and a 1st Round Pick, the same offer as they gave Brian Campbell. Even after Campbell was acquired and Kubina had changed his mind, they offered Kyle McClaren and a 2nd Round Pick. Really though, the 1st offer is what we’re looking at as the one that should be in question. It was done clearly as a reaction to Mats and his best friend on the team, Kaberle, deciding to stay.

Total Lost: Steve Bernier, 1st Round Pick
Total Gained: Pavel Kubina (Who may still get a similar reward, but I’m not so sure)

With these guys gone, along with Belak, Gill, and Kilger, one could only assume we’d continue a downward spiral last year, especially if it turns out we could’ve got something for Tucker instead of buying out his contract. So instead of being 7th overall going into the draft, we could’ve been looking at much better, probably close to having the #1 pick. Lets say we pick 2nd and get Drew Doughty, rather than getting 7th, trading our 2nd Round Pick in 09, and a 3rd rounder in 2008.

In summation, here is my argument. Mats Sundin not waiving his trade clause by reasoning of being a true leaf and not a rental (only to leave the leafs and become a rental starting yesterday) lead to this in the large scope, while completely ignoring a potential deal that couldv’e been on the table for Tucker.

Toronto Gains:
Mikhail Grabovski, Pavel Kubina, Tomas Kaberle, Luke Schenn

Toronto Loses Out On:
Christopher Higgins, Jeff Carter, Drew Doughty, Steve Bernier, MTL 1st 08, PHI 1st 08, SJS 1st 08, TOR 2nd 09, TOR 2nd ‘10, TOR 3rd 08, TOR 5th 08 (Greg Pateryn)

See what happens when a teams culture ruins the scope of what’s necessary? I truly believe that Tucker would’ve gotten a return too, seeing as he signed for 600,000 less than he was making in Toronto. Even if ts a 5th rounder, we don’t have a cap hit for the next half decade. The team is much better set for the future and the present, and the rebuild is at least three years ahead of the current schedule.

And yet there are some people going “HOW COULD YOU BLAME MATS?”. Trust me, the people respect what he has done, but the final “blessing” will leave a sour taste in the mouths of Leafs fans for years to come. Really, both sides are right on the end result - Thanks Mats for what you did on the ice, but in my eyes, your legacy as a Leaf has a severe blemish on it.

Agree or Disagree, leave your comments below.