Mats Sundin was in a familiar place. Everything was also very different.

It was February 2009. The former captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs was back in his second home 香蕉视频直播� only this time as a member of the opposition.

Sundin had signed with the Vancouver Canucks after 13 seasons under the brightest of spotlights in hockey香蕉视频直播檚 biggest media market.

The Swedish centre jolted out of his hotel bed that cold Saturday morning. Sweat dripped down his brow. In his mind香蕉视频直播檚 eye, a scenario had just played out in the Leafs香蕉视频直播� locker room. The crowd was roaring. His team needed him.

And Sundin香蕉视频直播檚 skate laces kept breaking.

香蕉视频直播淔or a team captain, there香蕉视频直播檚 no worse feeling,香蕉视频直播� he writes. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 my perfect nightmare.香蕉视频直播�

That scene opens Sundin香蕉视频直播檚 book 香蕉视频直播淗ome and Away,香蕉视频直播� which tracks a path that began with his parents and two brothers outside Stockholm and eventually led to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

He dives into the pressures and anxieties of being the first European selected No. 1 overall at the NHL draft, getting traded by the Quebec Nordiques to Toronto for franchise icon Wendel Clark, and the turbulent end to his time with the Leafs.

It香蕉视频直播檚 those campaigns with the Original Six club 香蕉视频直播� including the last 11 as captain 香蕉视频直播� that make up the bulk of Sundin香蕉视频直播檚 engaging prose alongside co-author Amy Stuart.

香蕉视频直播淭he Maple Leafs香蕉视频直播� history is long and storied and complicated,香蕉视频直播� he writes. 香蕉视频直播淟eafs Nation is bigger than hockey. It香蕉视频直播檚 its own universe.香蕉视频直播�

Sundin arrived in Toronto in 1994 after the trade for the hard-nosed Clark. Things didn香蕉视频直播檛 go according to plan early. There was a feeling in many hockey circles back then that teams with an abundance of European talent couldn香蕉视频直播檛 win.

香蕉视频直播淭he first years were a shock,香蕉视频直播� Sundin said in a phone interview from Stockholm. 香蕉视频直播淲endel Clark, the most popular Leaf at that point 香蕉视频直播� being traded for him. A lot of challenges to try to earn the respect of the fans.香蕉视频直播�

That respect would eventually come.

Sundin ended up as the Leafs香蕉视频直播� all-time leader in goals (420) and points (987), although current captain Auston Matthews is on course to smash both marks. His 1,349 points across 18 NHL seasons ranks 30th in league history.

Team success, however, would never truly materialize with Toronto.

There were a few memorable playoff runs and a trip to the 2002 Eastern Conference final, but Sundin wasn香蕉视频直播檛 able to get a club with a Cup drought dating back to 1967 over the hump.

And then with his career winding down and Toronto nowhere close to contending in the winter of 2008, uncomfortable questions about his future started to swirl. A media circus ensued.

Sundin had a no-movement clause in his contract. General manager Cliff Fletcher, who made the deal for Clark in 1994, was back with Toronto and aiming to retool the roster.

The veteran executive met with Sundin at the team香蕉视频直播檚 hotel before a game in Carolina and asked if he would agree to be dealt to a contender.

Sundin understood the situation, but the Leafs weren香蕉视频直播檛 that far out of a playoff spot. He declined management香蕉视频直播檚 request with the trade deadline looming.

香蕉视频直播淲hy it was even harder was that I had a really strong season,香蕉视频直播� Sundin told CP. 香蕉视频直播淎nd after 13 years with the team, 11 years as the captain, there was so much effort and will to try to win a Stanley Cup as a Toronto Maple Leaf.

香蕉视频直播淚t felt like the right thing to do.香蕉视频直播�

He also understood the business of the game.

香蕉视频直播淭oronto had a chance to get some youth,香蕉视频直播� continued Sundin, who now lives in Stockholm with wife Josephine and their three kids. 香蕉视频直播淏ut I always saw myself trying to win that Cup for the Maple Leaf fans.香蕉视频直播�

The club, however, failed to make the playoffs and Sundin missed the end of the season with an injury. He took the summer to contemplate his next move, which he thought was retirement.

But eventually the fire reignited, Sundin got back training and signed with the Canucks.

Fast-forward a few months later and he was receiving a standing ovation at Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

Later that night, the game was on his stick in the shootout. There was no chance Sundin would miss.

香蕉视频直播淚 spent 15 years imagining my last game in Toronto,香蕉视频直播� he writes. 香蕉视频直播淚n my dream version, my final game was playing for the Stanley Cup. We win the Cup in front of a home crowd, and an entire city unleashes before our eyes.香蕉视频直播�

Sundin played his final NHL season in Vancouver. The Cup never materialized, but that night was special, if not strange.

香蕉视频直播淚 did score the winning goal,香蕉视频直播� he adds later. 香蕉视频直播淏ut it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 the dream ending. There香蕉视频直播檚 no Cup to hoist, only a flight to catch.香蕉视频直播�