TORONTO – As the Maple Leafs unveil franchise great Mats Sundin as Senior Executive Advisor and Wendy’s franchisee John Chayka as GM, Sundin is assuring fans that he is used to succeeding in Toronto despite being surrounded by unqualified co-workers.
“Is it odd that the league’s most valuable franchise is turning to a guy who amassed a sub-500 record and got suspended for violating the draft rules at his last job? Sure,” said the Leafs legend. “But if I could drag the Leafs into the Conference Finals with Jonas Hoglund as my right-winger, then I think I can help Chayka make some decent trades.”
“I really don’t think finding some decent players in the draft is going to be harder than accepting an outlet pass from Karel Pilar, getting a forecheck going while Darcy Tucker is flying around trying to kill people, or pulling Shayne Corson out of the bar at 2am.”
Sundin’s role is unclear at the moment, although sources say it will be a full-time position. Fans are certainly hoping he will be able to help get the Leafs back into the playoffs, or at least prevent Chayka from making a series of devastating trades and signings that sets the Leafs back a decade, like he did in Phoenix.
“I was pretty mad when I found out Chayka was going to be GM,” said one fan. “But then again, I was also pretty mad when I found out we traded Wendel Clark for some Swedish guy named Mats, and look how well that turned out. So even though those two situations have almost nothing to do with each other, I’m hoping for the best.”
“At the end of the day we just need to remember that Mats knows what he’s doing. And if he and Chayka struggle maybe we bring in Mogilny to help out. I mean it worked in 2002!”
