"I don't know what to compare it with, but obviously knowing that my experiences are limited going up against guys that are doing nothing else but playing (was tough). "It was pretty intimidating," said Sundin. Sundin recently signed an endorsement deal with and competed at a professional event in Barcelona.Ĭanadian player Daniel Negreanu was among those who gave him some tips ahead of time but that didn't take away the nerves once the tournament got going. It's also provided him the opportunity to focus on some new hobbies. With the added free time, he's enjoyed spending more time with his fiancee Josephine and relaxing. "They obviously care that you come in shape but it's not to the point where you worry about (it) the way you did when you were a kid coming into training camp." "Actually at the point of where I'm at with my career they don't put too much (emphasis on that)," he said. One thing Sundin didn't mind missing out on at training camp was the fitness testing NHL players are put through, although he quickly added that those exercises are nowhere near as stressful as they once were. The Montreal Canadiens, one of Sundin's primary suitors, dropped out of the running by acquiring Robert Lang earlier this month but other options remain if he wants to play. The veteran centre is still attractive to NHL teams because he's coming off a solid season - with 32 goals and 78 points - and is often thought of as one of the game's better leaders. He looked fit and tanned during that visit while indicating that he spent far less time worrying about his future over the summer than many others around the hockey world. Sundin was in the city earlier this month for a charity hockey game. I obviously consider Toronto as my home still." "I am going to go back to Toronto at some point," he said. No matter what Sundin decides about his playing career - and perhaps even if he doesn't make a firm decision - the 37-year-old won't remain in Sweden indefinitely. There has been a noticeably relaxed feel around the team during its first training camp without Sundin in 15 years. In many ways, the rebuilding Maple Leafs seem to have embraced life without Mats, although interim GM Cliff Fletcher has said several times that he'd love to have No. It hasn't changed with training camps starting and all that." "The question that I don't really have the answer for anyone at this point is whether or not I'm ready to play at the highest level and compete at the National Hockey League level. It's been the biggest part of my life my whole life. "There's always going to be a hockey itch with me," said Sundin. He's still struggling with the same internal question he's been trying to answer all summer - am I up for it? Even still, Sundin feels no added pressure to decide whether he wants to play again or not. Training camps are now open around the NHL and the regular season will get underway in less than two weeks. I'm going to follow them here as the pre-season goes on." They should be fun to watch with a lot of new faces and some excitement around the team. "I think the Leafs are going to have a good year. I saw some of them at the end of last year. "I think Leaf fans are going to be surprised about some of the younger players that are coming through the Leafs system. "I saw they won their first exhibition game so that was great," Sundin told The Canadian Press on Wednesday. He thinks everything will be just fine for the blue and white this season. The longtime Leafs captain remains undecided about his own future but has been following his former team from afar. Even as he continues his hockey hiatus in Sweden, Mats Sundin is keeping an eye on the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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