Newsworthy – 2012 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductions

2000-01 UD – Mats Sundin

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee – Joe Sakic

1992-93 O-Pee-Chee – Pavel Bure

1990-91 Pro Set – Adam Oates

Sure signs I’m officially old:

Item #1: I’m experiencing my third NHL lockout as a fan.  This one is just so ridiculous, it’s laughable.  I feel bad for kids who just want to watch hockey.  I was a kid in 1994-95 and it was awful.

Item #2. These four guys are in the Hockey Hall of Fame now.  Congratulations and thanks for all the great years to Joe Sakic, Pavel Bure, Adam Oates, and especially to Mats Sundin.  Mats, you deserved better.

Mats Sundin – A Hockey Card Tribute

Last night, Mats Sundin had his number 13 honoured by the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Today, I present to you a Mats Sundin Hockey Card Tribute.

Before Mats came to North America, he played in Sweden, where he may have been using Borje Salming’s gloves from a decade earlier.

1990-91 Score - Mats Sundin

In 1989, he was drafted first overall by the Quebec Nordiques, the first European ever to be drafted first overall.  They might have been going for a Euro-pose here, I’m not sure what this was about.

1990-91 Upper Deck - Mats Sundin

Early on, he had success.  This is evident by his being named to some wildly futuristic “Team 2000” by Pinnacle.

1992-93 Pinnacle - Mats Sundin - Team 2000

When he arrived in Toronto, Leaf fans had their doubts.  This mostly had to do with the weird bubble helmet that he brought with him.

1995-96 Upper Deck CC - Mats Sundin

Before too long, he looked more normal.  With all his Nike gear, he exposed a weak stick side on goaltenders, who were then reduced to mowing lawns and driving cabs.

1997-98 Pinnacle - Mats Sundin

For a long time, he had hair.

1997-98 Donruss - Mats Sundin

After we gave him the C, it started to disappear.

2000-01 Upper Deck - Mats Sundin 6th Sense

He led us well, and did what he could, often with questionable supporting casts.  He gave us great moments like this one, and then this one.

2002-03 O-Pee-Chee - Mats Sundin

Even when the jerseys looked like practice jerseys, the effort was there.

2008-09 O-Pee-Chee - Mats Sundin

At the end, he left us, and went to a faraway land and a team everyone hates.  Like Jordan with the Wizards, let’s just ignore this.

2009-10 O-Pee-Chee - Mats Sundin

Thanks Mats, for all the great years.