in their division, only this time, their Captain, Mats Sundin was asked to waive his no-trade clause to try and advance the team's hopes of the playoffs, and a more promising 2008–2009 season. Sundin declined, acknowledging that from his perspective the Leafs still had the chance to make the playoffs, and that he did not want to be a "rental player" to a playoff bound team. The other glaring factor, though rarely discussed, was the obvious contractual obligation both parties had entered into when Sundin's contract was originally written—the no-trade clause. It is widely speculated that culmination of these events soured Leaf fans and also strained relations between Sundin and the Toronto organization. Ultimately, Toronto did not make the playoffs during the 2007–2008 season, and Mats Sundin was an unrestricted free agent, contemplating retirement from the NHL. Following approximately 9 months of contemplation, Mats Sundin returned to the NHL signing with the Vancouver Canucks. Mats cited his decision to return to the NHL was based partly on "having a chance at winning the Stanley Cup". Toronto faced Vancouver two times during the 2008–2009 season, losing in both showdowns, most notably during a shoot out decision on February 21, 2009 where Mats Sundin was honored at the ACC. He also scored the winning goal to defeat Toronto. On November 29, 2008, the Maple Leafs hired Brian Burke as their 13th non-interim, and the first American, general manager in team history. The acquisition ended the second Cliff Fletcher era and settled persistent rumours that Burke was coming to Toronto. On June 26, 2009, Burke made his first appearance as the Leafs GM at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, selecting London Knights forward Nazem Kadri with the seventh overall pick. On September 18, 2009, Burke traded Toronto's first- and second-round 2010, as well as its 2011 first-round picks, to the Boston Bruins in exchange for forward Phil Kessel. On January 31, 2010, the Leafs made another high-profile trade, this time with the Calgary Flames in a seven-player deal that brought defenceman Dion Phaneuf to Toronto. The Maple Leafs finished 29th in the NHL in 2009–10, ahead of only the Edmonton Oilers, despite a 13-10-3 run in their last 23 games. In finishing 29th, the Bruins got the second-overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft. On June 14, during the off-season, the Leafs named Phaneuf captain after two seasons without one following Sundin's departure.