‘It’s A Very Special Group’: Maple Leafs Legend Mats Sundin Has High Hopes For Toronto In 2024-25 Season
Sundin was among the notable alumni in attendance at the Leafs’ training camp back in September.
When it comes to the Toronto Maple Leafs, few names command as much admiration as Mats Sundin. The Swedish superstar, who captained the Leafs for 11 seasons and played 13 years with the franchise, remains one of the club’s most beloved figures. With that, the Leafs sent an invitation to the 53-year-old to attend the 2024 training camp, which he helped oversee alongside another former captain, Wendel Clark.
On Tuesday, Sundin appeared on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast with Paul Bissonnette and Ryan Whitney to reflect on his experience at training camp and share his thoughts on the 2024-25 Maple Leafs. Sundin expressed optimism about the team, noting that his time with the players left him hopeful for the upcoming season.
“It was nice – Brad Treliving invited me to training camp,” Sundin explained. “I was there with the team for, I think, five or six days. I got to travel with the team to an exhibition game against Montreal and watch them at home against the Canadiens and it was really nice to get close with the group.”
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The Leafs’ camp offered Sundin a chance to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new ones, including head coach Craig Berube and general manager Brad Treliving. “I got to hang out with Craig Berube,” Sundin added. “I was very impressed with the management, the coaching staff, and the group of players they have there. It’s a very special group.”
Diving deeper into the depth of the roster, Sundin praised the Leafs at every position – goaltending, defense, and offense – and highlighted Auston Matthews' growth as a first-year captain, both on and off the ice.
“It goes right from goaltending with all three guys, even the Swedish kid (Dennis Hildeby). The goaltending, the fans, and the forward group, with (John) Tavares, (William) Nylander, (Mitch) Marner, and Auston (Matthews),” Sundin said.”
“You can tell just by being around the team, that he’s a natural leader, a great person off the ice. The stuff he does on the ice, not only scoring goals but the way he plays on both ends of the ice. I’m really looking forward to following the Maple Leafs this year. I think it’s going to be very exciting for Maple Leafs fans.”
During his appearance at training camp, Sundin said the current Leafs roster is “arguably the most talented” it’s ever been and he believes the future is promising. Despite the club’s lack of success, he believes that their wealth of experience will begin to pay dividends for a core group that is in its prime.
“I think the most important thing is experience, I mean, they're young. They've been a young group and they're all getting into their prime, if not in their prime right now,” Sundin explained at media availability in September.
“Every year you lose in the playoffs, you realize how hard it is to win in the playoffs. And I think that's the most important thing. And also, it's not only about the star players, right? It's about everyone, right down to the backup goalies, to all the defense, the whole group, if they're going to be able to push through. And I think when you're playing in a place like this, you realize that. Every year they're going to be a little better.”
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaqOIqQ_rbU[/embed]
Although Sundin hasn’t taken on an official role with the organization, he enjoyed working closely with the team during camp. His comments reflect confidence that the Leafs have the right pieces in place – and his endorsement only adds to an already positive outlook for the 2024-25 season.
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