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 91裸聊视频� 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 hockey91裸聊视频檚 biggest media market.

The Swedish centre jolted out of his hotel bed that cold Saturday morning. Sweat dripped down his brow. In his mind91裸聊视频檚 eye, a scenario had just played out in the Leafs91裸聊视频� locker room. The crowd was roaring. His team needed him.

And Sundin91裸聊视频檚 skate laces kept breaking.

91裸聊视频淔or a team captain, there91裸聊视频檚 no worse feeling,91裸聊视频� he writes. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 my perfect nightmare.91裸聊视频�

That scene opens Sundin91裸聊视频檚 book 91裸聊视频淗ome and Away,91裸聊视频� 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.

It91裸聊视频檚 those campaigns with the Original Six club 91裸聊视频� including the last 11 as captain 91裸聊视频� that make up the bulk of Sundin91裸聊视频檚 engaging prose alongside co-author Amy Stuart.

91裸聊视频淭he Maple Leafs91裸聊视频� history is long and storied and complicated,91裸聊视频� he writes. 91裸聊视频淟eafs Nation is bigger than hockey. It91裸聊视频檚 its own universe.91裸聊视频�

Sundin arrived in Toronto in 1994 after the trade for the hard-nosed Clark. Things didn91裸聊视频檛 go according to plan early. There was a feeling in many hockey circles back then that teams with an abundance of European talent couldn91裸聊视频檛 win.

91裸聊视频淭he first years were a shock,91裸聊视频� Sundin said in a phone interview from Stockholm. 91裸聊视频淲endel Clark, the most popular Leaf at that point 91裸聊视频� being traded for him. A lot of challenges to try to earn the respect of the fans.91裸聊视频�

That respect would eventually come.

Sundin ended up as the Leafs91裸聊视频� 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 wasn91裸聊视频檛 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 team91裸聊视频檚 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 weren91裸聊视频檛 that far out of a playoff spot. He declined management91裸聊视频檚 request with the trade deadline looming.

91裸聊视频淲hy it was even harder was that I had a really strong season,91裸聊视频� Sundin told CP. 91裸聊视频淎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.

91裸聊视频淚t felt like the right thing to do.91裸聊视频�

He also understood the business of the game.

91裸聊视频淭oronto had a chance to get some youth,91裸聊视频� continued Sundin, who now lives in Stockholm with wife Josephine and their three kids. 91裸聊视频淏ut I always saw myself trying to win that Cup for the Maple Leaf fans.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淚 spent 15 years imagining my last game in Toronto,91裸聊视频� he writes. 91裸聊视频淚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.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淚 did score the winning goal,91裸聊视频� he adds later. 91裸聊视频淏ut it wasn91裸聊视频檛 the dream ending. There91裸聊视频檚 no Cup to hoist, only a flight to catch.91裸聊视频�