Surprisingly, I’ve never feasted on crow. Not sure what my hat is going to taste like either. And I don’t really know what type of ice cream I should put on my humble pie.
But memo to Mike Gillis: I’m sorry, I was wrong.
Not that I made my comments about Mats Sundin public. Although privately, I thought that anyone who believed Sundin was coming to Vancouver was completely off their rocker.
I boldly predicted to friends, family and acquaintances that this Sundin Saga was just a charade; a smoke screen to deflect attention away from the fact that the Canucks couldn’t land a big free agent in the off-season.
No way, no how was Mats going to put up with the Canucks travel schedule or the intense media spotlight in Vancouver.
He was going to stay in the east and shine under the bright lights of Broadway.
Money didn’t matter. If it did, he would have jumped at the Canucks’ two-year, $20-million check right away. He was just playing the team. Using the Gillis offer to get a better one somewhere else.
Remember we are talking about a franchise that started things off behind the 8-ball by losing a turn of the roulette wheel — which handed Gilbert Perreault to the Buffalo Sabres and gave sweet nothing to the Canucks.
Also don’t forget, Wayne Gretzky was close to signing here as well, but then jumped overboard off John Macaw’s yacht.
Our big catch turned out to be a hockey player masquerading as Mark Messier. A fish the Canucks should have thrown back.
To me, it has always seemed like this team was cursed; destined to be second best; a runner up; not a winner of the Stanley Cup. So maybe, just maybe, the Canucks’ fortunes have changed.
I know Mats Sundin’s “fortune” has changed — but if you ask me, he doesn’t seem like the type of player who just takes the money and runs. Are the Canucks guaranteed to win Lord Stanley’s mug? No. But they are a much better team now than they were a few hours ago.
So once again, Mike Gillis, I apologize for not taking you at your word. You were right. Mats Sundin was serious about his interest in coming to your hockey team.
And I wonder now if you have a Canuck hat to spare, seems to me that might taste a lot better then my plate of humble pie.