Should the Canucks give Sundin a deadline?

From Brad Zeimer of the Vancouver Sun:

All this puts Canuck GM Mike Gillis in a tough spot. How long does he give Sundin to make up his mind? At some point Gillis may have to turn to Plan B, which would likely involve trading away one of his defencemen -- maybe Kevin Bieksa -- for some offence from a team that is up against the salary cap. If he hasn't already, Gillis needs to tell Sundin and his agent J.P. Barry that the Canucks' very generous offer of $20 million over two years has a deadline. Give him until the end of the month. If Sundin still hasn't decided by then, the Canucks need to turn the page and move on.

Read the entire post from One-Timers here.

If the Canucks give Sundin a deadline, I'm not so sure how well that would go over. He has already stated his intention to decide which team he wants to play for within the next two weeks. Imposing a team deadline on Sundin would probably eliminate any chance the team has of bringing Sundin to British Columbia.

Sundin will make decision in two weeks

From the Toronto Sun:

Mats Sundin expects to announce within the next two weeks where he will play next year. And the Maple Leafs remain an option - should he return to the NHL.

"I will make a decision in the end of July or beginning of August," Sundin told Stockholm's Aftonbladet newspaper yesterday.

"If I am going to play it's for the full season and I want to be there from the beginning of August."

Sundin went on to suggest that he'll either play for the Leafs or Vancouver Canucks in 2008-09. "The Maple leafs are not out of the picture if I decide to play," he said.

Read more about Sundin's timeline here.

So there you have it. Start the countdown clocks now.

False report: Sundin has not signed with Canucks

From TSN:

A Swedish newspaper nearly started an international incident on Sunday as they reported that Mats Sundin has agreed to play for the Vancouver Canucks, a claim that Sundin's Swedish representative denies.

Sundin's Swedish based representative Claes Elefalk claims the story in the Daily News is completely false, claiming that reporter Dusan Umicevic contacted him seeking a quote. Despite Elefalk telling the reporter that his information was incorrect, Umicevic published the story anyway.

Read the entire report here.

This report must have gotten Canucks fans pretty darn excited.

Habs still have money for Sundin

From Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette:

While the terms of the pact were not revealed, the deal leaves the Canadiens with more than $7 million to pay Sundin if he decides that he wishes to continue his career in Montreal.

Read the entire story here.

If the Habs do add Sundin to their squad, they would have to be considered the Eastern Conference favorite heading into next season.

Wondering if the Rangers could still be in the Sundin sweepstakes

From Steve Zipay of Newsday:

And meanwhile, in the background, waits Mats Sundin, the veteran center. I'm puzzled about his reluctance to sign with Vancouver for $10 million a year, or Montreal. Today marks two full weeks since July 1. Why hasn't he gone for the gusto? I can't believe he's ready to retire or go back to the Leafs, but.... Can the Rangers possibly still be in the hunt?

At least two things would have to happen: the Rangers would have to shed around $3 million plus in salary (Purely for math's sake, let's say Petr Prucha ($1.6), Betts ($615,000) and Paul Mara ($1.95 million) or Dmitri Kalinin ($2.1 million) or Patrick Rissmiller ($1 mil) and Sundin would have to accept far, far less, perhaps $5 million. And then the Rangers would need another defenseman.

Read the entire entry here.

I just don't see Sundin going to NY but Rangers fans can dare to dream.

Looking at the remaining free agents

From Kevin Allen of USA Today:

Jaromir Jagr is going to Russia. Marian Hossa left $50 million on the table from other suitors to play one season for the Detroit Red Wings for $7.45 million. The Tampa Bay Lightning have changed a third of their roster.

The league has changed dramatically since the start of free agent signing season, but there still are desirable players:

•Pavol Demitra: At 33, he is a proven scorer who can play center and wing. He's going to produce points, and he has several teams bidding for him. "We are weighing a couple of different situations," said his agent, Matt Keator. "Like with all veteran free agents, winning, style of play and his family come into play."

Read the entire article here.

Almost all the significant free agents remaining are veteran players who have been through the wringer over the years. A couple of them may still be game-changers (Sakic, Selanne, Sundin), but most will be solid players who provide more "name recognition" than actual on-ice value.

Is Sundin still in Canucks' plans?

From Elliot Pap of the Vancouver Sun:

Another interesting day in Canuck-ville with rookie GM Mike Gillis maintaining he still has a shot at landing Mats Sundin, the 37-year-old reluctant superstar who is mulling a $10-million-a-season offer. Gillis has given Sundin two choices: a one-year deal or two-year deal. Gillis has also been talking directly with Sundin and not just leaving it up to agent J.P. Barry.

Read more from One-Timers here.

I don't think that Sundin will end up on the West Coast but it doesn't hurt for Gillis to keep trying.

Rangers pursuing Sundin and Naslund as package

From John Dellapina of the NY Daily News:

Three years after emerging from the lockout with a Czech-centric team, one league source who should know insists the Rangers are pursuing both Mats Sundin and Markus Naslund. Perhaps Glen Sather’s plan is to stock up on as many players as possible from the reigning World Cup or Olympic champions.

Read more about the Rangers here.

Naslund has slowed down the last few years, but playing with Sundin may make him do a 180. This would be quite the dynamic duo for the Rangers and probably wouldn't be as risky or expensive as some other moves the team could make.

Wings looking at Sundin and Bertuzzi

From the Detroit Free Press:

Holland told me has spoken to representatives for both Todd Bertuzzi and Mats Sundin. Sundin is one of the most coveted free agents on the market, though, so unless he badly wants to come to Detroit, he’s probably going to go out of price range.

Regarding Bertuzzi, whom the Wings traded for in February of 2007 and tried to re-sign last summer, Holland said he would “stay in touch” with Bertuzzi’s agent. “I was happy with the job he did here,” Holland said of Bertuzzi. “We’re exploring.”

Read the entire article here.

Ken Holland is a very smart GM. He knows Sundin would fit in perfectly in Detroit but won't overpay for him. As for Bertuzzi, he looks like a prime buy-low candidate and Holland is smart to give him a look. The pressure he'd face in Detroit would be minimal.

Canucks offer Sundin 2 year, $20 million

From TSN:

James Duthie just announced on TSN that Vancouver has offered Mats Sundin a 2
year deal worht $20 million.

Well, this contract can work both ways. A two-year deal does not pose a lot of risk to the Canucks--except for if Sundin were to retire after one season. However, a $20 million deal is far too high. Sundin wasn't worth that in his prime, so he surely isn't worth that now. I'm sure the NHLPA is pushing Sundin to take this deal and increase the salary scale for top forwards in the league.

Sundin is getting huge offers

From Darren Dreger of TSN:

Sources tell TSN as many as four teams have table offers for the 37 year old, including one undisclosed team who has offered a whopping 10 million per year on a multi-year contract.

Read the entire story here.

Who is giving Sundin $10 million per year??????? That is completely and totally ridiculous.

Sundin to decide between Rangers and Red Wings?

From Larry Brooks of the NY Post:

It is believed that Sundin will ultimately choose between the Red Wings and Rangers, though he is not expected to make a commitment today.

A meticulous man, Sundin essentially will decide whether he'd like to complete his career playing for hockey's Swedish-North American franchise in Detroit - and the NHL's model organization - or playing in America's most glamorous city.

Sundin for weeks has been telling his friends in Sweden that he wants to live in New York. But the defending champion Red Wings clearly give the 37-year-old pivot his best chance to win the first Stanley Cup of what has been a distinguished 17-year career.

Read the entire article here.

Who knows if this is true, but I agree that Sundin will probably not make his decision today. The long-time Leafs standout seems to like to take his time when making decisions.

Sundin and Habs to talk over weekend

From Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette:

Sundin talks continuing: The negotiations between the Canadiens and Mats Sundin are becoming as tiresome as a Russian novel. The latest news is Gainey emailed Sundin yesterday and the two will talk during the weekend.

There are continuing reports the New York Rangers are waiting for Tuesday to offer Sundin a contract, but their interest might wane if Jaromir Jagr sticks around. He has been offered megabucks by the new league in Russia, but the Rangers, who seemed anxious to dump his contract last season, have a renewed interest in his services.

Read more about the Habs' off-season plans here.

The more I read, the more it looks like Sundin will wait until July 1st to guage how much interest there really is in his services. I wouldn't count out the Habs if July 1st hits, however, their chances of signing him are probably not very high at this point in time.

If not Habs then Rangers?

From Mike Boone of the Montreal Gazette:

Pierre McGuire, on Mitch Melnick's show this afternoon, says if the Canadiens
have not signed Mats Sundin by July 1, he's going to the Rangers.

Read more from Habs Inside/Out here.

Pierre McGuire is about as much of an inside source as there is in NHL circles. If he believes this to be the case, then it almost certainly is. If the Rangers were to get Sundin, and re-sign Jaromir Jagr, they could very well leap to the top of the favorites to win the Eastern Conference next season.

Are Sundin and Habs going separate ways?

From Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette:

TSN's Bob McKenzie, who has as good a handle on these things as anyone in the media, believes Sundin will wait until he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1 before he makes a decision, and that's not good news for the Canadiens.

If Sundin were interested in playing for Montreal, there would be no reason to wait unless he was hoping the Canadiens would sweeten the pot in terms of salary or the length of a contract. Waiting makes sense for Sundin. We already know the New York Rangers have expressed interest in him, although they were not willing to make a deal for the exclusive negotiating rights. Sundin will be in a better bargaining position if the number of suitors increases.

Read the entire article here.

Waiting until July 1st isn't a good sign for the Habs; however, it does not necessarily mean that Sundin isn't interested in playing there. Sundin may just want to guage the market when free agency hits and then make his decision based on the offers and interest he recieves. I don't think his decision will be based on annual salary and term as much as it will be based on how close a team is to winning the Cup.

Sundin looks to be eyeing July 1st

From TSN:

The Montreal Canadiens currently own Sundin's exclusive negotiating rights until July 1 and Canadiens' GM Bob Gainey is prepared to go to Sweden to talk to Sundin directly, but so far the Toronto Maple Leaf captain has not agreed to any face-to-face sessions or encouraged Gainey to make the trip.

Could that change? Yes, perhaps, but sources close to Sundin say the big Swede has waited this long to become an unrestricted free agent that he appears inclined to wait another week and explore all options available to him.

Read the entire story here.

If Sundin wasn't for a trade at the deadline, then why would he be for one now? The bidding war will start next week.

Sundin headed to the Big Apple?

From Larry Brooks of the NY Post:

Glen Sather is seriously considering a 2008-09 go-for-it-now first line tandem of Mats Sundin and Jaromir Jagr , sources in Europe and North America have told The Post.

Sundin, the 37-year-old long-time Maple Leafs captain who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, has made it clear New York is his desired destination. Indeed, we're told that the New York Rangers have held conversations with both the centerman and his representative, J.P. Barry, after having received permission to do so by Toronto.

Read the entire article here.

Both players, though old, can still produce terrific numbers. If I were Glen Sather I'd be interested in the two as a tandem as well. The risk is minimal because both players won't be desiring long term contracts and the reward could be a Stanley Cup.

NHL Morning Papers: Special Post-Draft Edition

Here are the morning papers from the Northeast Division:

• Mats Sundin's days as a Maple Leaf are over, writes Damien Cox. Meanwhile, the Leafs were hoping to start a new chapter last night with the selection of Luke Schenn.
• Friday was a busy day for Bob Gainey, as he acquired Alex Tanguay from the Flames and word came out that he is negotiating a deal with Mats Sundin; Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette has all the details.
• Erik Karlsson was ecstatic to become a Senator last night, writes Bruce Garrioch. In other Sens news, see you later Ray Emery.
• The Bruins selected Joe Colborne last night, whose game has been compared to former Bruin Joe Thornton. If the Bruins want to make a big splash on the free agent market, they will need some cap space, writes Fluto Shinwaza.
• The Sabres are hoping Tyler Myers can live up to the Zdeno Chara comparisons.

More on Sundin possibly going to Habs

From Eric Duhatschek of the Globe & Mail:

Obviously, that wouldn't be an issue if Gainey can sweet talk Sundin into signing with them in the next 10 days, so that he could start the year in Montreal. Sundin didn't want to move, largely because Toronto has been his home all these years - and it's hard to imagine that he would ever consider one of the NHL's far-flung outposts: a Nashville, a Phoenix, even New York, as a destination of choice.

But Montreal? In the province where his career started? In Canada, not the United States, so it's a comparatively easy move on many levels, including financially. It might be an attractive alternative now that his Leafs career is almost certainly over.

"Mats has always been interested in Montreal. Montreal is trying to see if they can sign him now - and then we'll go from there," said Fletcher, adding: "It would be better if you guys hadn't found out."

Read the entire article here.

I still can't get over how odd it would be to see Mats Sundin in a Habs uniform. That being said, he'd be a terrific addition to that team. That Habs already acquired Alex Tanguay, so if they can add Sundin to that, then they may be the co-favorites to win the East next year with Pittsburgh.

Have the Habs traded their first round pick?

From Mike Boone of the Montreal Gazette:

Martin Lemay, who's at the draft for CKAC, says he's heard the Canadiens
have dealt their first-round pick.

Read the short entry here.

The draft is under an hour away, so we will find out soon enough if this report is indeed true. If the first round pick involves Sundin, it would have to be part of a larger package.

Update: From the Calgary Herald (Link here)

The hot rumour at this moment is that the Canadiens have traded their first pick (25th overall) to San Jose (which otherwise would be pickless in the first round) as part of a package for centreman Patrick Marleau. The Sharks have 10 days to move their captain before a no-trade clause kicks in and Marleau earns the right of veto. As luck would have it, the Habs and Sharns have neighbouring draft tables on the arena floor.