Mats Sundin is one of the greatest Swedish players ever to skate in the NHL. Sundin played against some all time greats. But when asked to name the toughest opponent he ever faced, he points to a fellow Swede.
Drafted first overall in 1989 by the Quebec Nordiques, Sundin became the first European player ever selected with the top pick. He made an immediate impact, finishing second on the team in scoring during his rookie season. His 59 points were surpassed only by the great Joe Sakic.
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Traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs
After four seasons with the Nordiques, Sundin was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he became an iconic figure. During the 1996–97 season, he was named team captain—the first European in Leafs history to wear the “C,” a role he held for eleven seasons. Sundin hung up his skates after the 2008–09 season, having amassed 1,349 points in 1,346 NHL games.
Over his 18-year NHL career, Sundin played against some of the greatest players the game has ever seen, including Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, and even a young Sidney Crosby.
Mats Sundin names his toughest opponent
Yet when Sundin is asked to name his toughest opponent, he once again chooses a Swede.
“I always say Nicklas Lidstrom—my fellow countryman whom I had to play against all the time when we faced Detroit. Nick had his own way. I don’t think he threw a hit in his 22-year career, but he was never out of position. He poked the puck away from the best forwards and was miserable to play against. You’d realize it didn’t feel like a hard game, but you still lost—and Nicklas was plus-four,” Sundin said while appearing on The Sheet podcast, hosted by Jeff Marek.
You can watch the interview below.
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