By NICK KYPREOS

Sportsnet.ca

I think I know a little about contemplating retirement.

When I suffered my concussion it was recommended by experts that I stop playing hockey, but the one thing I want to make perfectly clear is in no way was I medically forced to retire.

Simply, the onus was on me to weigh the pros and cons of continuing to play. I can look back at many reasons why I retired and they are all valid reasons, but the No. 1 thing beyond anything else - including medical status - is losing one's jam to play the game. That's why Brett Favre is still setting records right now for the Jets. He might have lost a step or two, but he certainly didn't lose his mojo to play. I admit I lost mine.

We all watched my interview with Mats Sundin Sunday night on Sportsnet (if you missed it, watch again tonight on Connected) and what you saw and heard was neither the look nor sound of a man struggling to find his "jam" for the game.

There are some key symptoms when a professional athlete knows he's at the end of the line: sombre mood; sagging body language; low energy and plenty of reminiscing of what once was. Did we witness any of that coming from Mats in our Hockeycentral Season Preview show? Just the opposite, in fact. We saw hardy laughs, coy smiles, all with a twinkle of an eye as he discussed what might lie ahead. Not behind, but ahead.

We saw an exuberant confidence that rolled off his back and right into the Baltic Sea. Who wouldn't be dripping confidence when you've been offered the richest average salary in NHL history? Mats didn't have the look of a man with retirement on his mind, but rather the look of a man with a game plan.

Is there a magic number of games he'd play this year? You bet there is. Which is it Mats? A 65-, 60-, 57-game season? Forget answering that; I've already tried. The man has the best poker face going right now. But trust me on this, we'll know soon enough.

After visiting with him I'm more convinced than ever. The question is no longer "if" Mats will play again, but "when."