Sundin says groin is fully healed
Newest Vancouver Canuck credits time off with injury recovery
Last Updated: Saturday, December 20, 2008 | 5:28 PM PT
CBC Sports
Mats Sundin, here finishing out his final game with the Toronto Maple Leafs last March, says he is fully recovered from a groin injury that ended his season last year. (J.P. Moczulski/Canadian Press) Mats Sundin says the groin problems he suffered last March will not be a factor as he prepares for his debut with the Vancouver Canucks.
The former captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who signed as a free agent on the west coast this week, told Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday he's in top shape and ready to go.
Much of that had to do with the rest taken this summer while trying to decide whether he was going to play again, Sundin said in the interview with host Ron MacLean.
"For me, it's [been] working a lot of the muscles around my groin area, and working on the glutes, keeping my hips mobile and making sure everything works," he said.
"The groin is going to be under tremendous pressure when you are a hockey player and you play an 82-game schedule — you play every other day and that's one of the places where you do a lot of work."
Sundin, who was an unrestricted free-agent, is expected to join the Canucks on Dec. 27, when the NHL's holiday roster freeze expires.
The big centre played the last 13 of his 17 NHL seasons with the Maple Leafs, scoring 555 goals and 766 assists for 1,321 points in 1,305 games since he was drafted first overall by Quebec in 1989.
A nine-time all-star, he is Toronto's all-time leader in goals (420) and points (987).
MacLean's full interview with Sundin will be shown Saturday night between the early and late games at approximately 9:45 p.m. ET.
