Top-flight company awaits Leafs’ Sundin

When Mats Sundin came to Toronto in exchange for local legend Wendel Clark in 1994, he likely didn’t think at the time he would surpass Clark in Maple Leaf lore. Sundin hasn’t only established himself as one of the great all-time Leafs, he also entered this season primed to put himself into some rarified company among NHL greats. Should Sundin lead the Leafs in scoring this season, it will be the ninth consecutive season he has done so. That will break the Leafs mark set by Darryl Sittier from 1972-73 through ‘79-80, and according to the Elias Sports Bureau, Sundin will join Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretzky and Dale Hawerchuk as the only players in NHL history to lead one team in scoring nine straight times. Sundin, who finished fourth in scoring with 41…

Coach follows in father’s footsteps

Considering his dad spent nearly two decades in coaching, David Cunniff has bloodlines that say he should pursue the same path. But David took it an extra step. He began preparing for a job in coaching before he had barely stepped on the ice. “I remember when I was a little kid, maybe eight or nine, and we’d be on an airplane (he and his late father, John) and he’d say, ‘OK, let’s make up drills,’ and I’d start drawing,” Cunniff said. “I’ve been studying the game and learning the game for a long time.” Now he’ll have a chance to teach it. Cunniff was hired by the San Jose Sharks to be assistant coach with the American League’s Cleveland Barons. John Cunniff, Dave’s father, died at age 58 May 10 after succumbing to…

2002 NHL FINAL PRE-SEASON STATISTICS

Trio adds depth, balance to Capitals

Washington Capitals coach Bruce Cassidy came to work and found he had inherited “a 1212 foot hockey player weighing nearly 500 pounds.” More precisely, center Dainius Zubrus ended his month-long holdout and the Capitals obtained right wing Mike Grier from Edmonton. Not a bad day’s work. “All of a sudden we’re adding three top end forwards to our mix,” said Cassidy, who included center Jeff Halpern in that company. Halpern is almost recovered from a groin problem. Zubrus and Halpern give the team better balance and size up the middle, but caused a minor roster shuffle on the eve of the season opener. “We were short down the middle,” Cassidy said. “Obviously we’re adding a big guy in Zubrus and Halpern is one of our better faceoff guys so we’ll use him more in…