The On Deck Circle

This article has been submitted by Handsome Paul O’Neill. 

Dear Mats,

I want to start off by saying that over my lifespan there hasn’t been another player in the National Hockey League that has meant so much to me, and taught me life lessons in leadership, perseverance and responsibility. Your dedication to your teammates and the pressure you placed on yourself to consistently perform at the highest level will be a measuring stick I doubt any future captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs will be able to live up to. When times were bad, you never blamed anyone but yourself, and when times were good, you were always the first one to credit your teammates. You truly are the greatest captain in the Leafs’ history.

I am writing this letter to you, to ask for advice. You see, I have a horrible internal dilemma: choosing between my favorite hockey team and my favorite hockey player. There is no doubt in my mind that if you were to waive your no trade clause, the Leafs would be better off. There is no other player on the market that exhibits all the qualities you possess. Your size, your reach, your knack for scoring timely goals (how could I ever forget game 6 of the 2002 conference finals?) and your ability to make those around you that much better.

What team wouldn’t want you? What team wouldn’t be a Stanley Cup favorite after acquiring you? If the Leafs were to trade you, it is not farfetched that the Leafs could receive two first round picks and a top prospect, or two prospects and two first round picks. Sure, we would be losing our best player, but does that really matter right now? We are tied for 28th in the NHL, we have no sure fire prospects besides Justin Pogge and have some of the worst contracts for underperforming players in the entire league. If the Leafs were to trade you, we would be able to clear up cap space and improve our chances of making the playoffs and winning the Stanley Cup in the future.

I’m sure you know all of this, and you’ve considered all of this before coming to your decision. I respect your decision and understand why you made it. The media basically put a gun to your head forcing you to leave a team and a city which you love. I understand you have no selfish or harmful intentions whatsoever, and it was your right to waive your no trade clause. I can’t argue with your intentions, but I differ in view on one of your comments.

You said, “It is my belief that winning the Stanley Cup is the greatest thing you can achieve in hockey but for me, in order to appreciate it you have to have been part of the entire journey and that means October through June.”

That is one of the most admirable and respectful comments one can make as a professional athlete. Your dedication to the team and winning a Stanley Cup with the Leafs makes me want curl up into a ball on Saturday night and cry. But, of all people, you should know professional sports are first and foremost a business. You may feel like your turning your back on your team and everything you’ve worked for, but you’re not. We WANT you to win a Stanley Cup. There is nothing that would have made me happier than the Leafs winning a Stanley Cup than seeing you hoist that cup over your head with another team.

Before you say you can’t appreciate it without having been part of the entire journey, October through June, I want you to ask other players how they felt being dealt at the deadline. Ask Doug Weight how he felt hoisting the cup in Carolina. Ask Jiri Slegr how he felt hoisting the cup in Detroit. Ask Alexander Mogilny how he felt hoisting the cup in Dallas. I’m sure they would tell you that their pride wasn’t hurt and that it was the greatest feeling they’ve had in their career.

I guess what I am trying to say is that I’ve lost all hope. The Leafs are in an absolutely terrible situation for the next few years. If they were able to trade you for some quality picks and prospects, I would at least have hope for the future. Now with the chance of you retiring at the end of this year, and the disdain the media has caused you, we may lose our best player for nothing. It makes me want to punt puppies and drown innocent doves. Now that you’ve made your decision and asked us to respect it, I have something to ask from you. Give us one more year. Give us some hope that I will see my favorite team and my favorite player of all time hoist the Stanley Cup together. You’re the best Mats, I’m going to miss you when you’re gone.

Sincerely,
Paul O’Neill

This article has been submitted by Handsome Paul O’Neill.