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NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks yesterday reported no one, not even Glen Sather, knows what the Rangers would do if Mats Sundin should decide he wants to play for them this season. Brooks denies rumors that Sather is working on a salary dumping trade to fit Sundin under the salary cap.
SPECTOR'S NOTE: The only way Sather could fit Sundin under the Rangers salary cap would be to dump considerable salary prior to the start of the upcoming season. That's why it'll be surprising if Sundin does sign with the Rangers.
Report: Mats interested in joining Rangers Sunday, August 17, 2008
Free-agent center Mats Sundin has declared his interest in playing for the Rangers this season, well-connected sources have told The Post.
J.P. Barry, who represents the elite, 37-year-old former Toronto pivot, has been in constant communication with Rangers front-office personnel this week, The Post has learned, though the conversations have not reached the stage of a contract negotiation.
There have been no numbers exchanged between Sundin and the Rangers, who have approximately $2 million of cap space to spend on the 2008-09 roster.
We're told Sundin, who recorded 78 points (32-46) last season, has no interest in returning to the Maple Leafs, who have offered him a one-year, $7M contract to re-up. Sundin apparently has negligible interest in joining Montreal, which has been chasing him since February, or Vancouver, which has offered a two-year, $20M deal.
Indeed, sources report that No. 13's second choice is Philadelphia, whose GM, Paul Holmgren, has been aggressive in his pursuit of the first-line center who could swing the balance of power in the East.
The Rangers would love to have Sundin, there is no question about that. He could team with Markus Naslund and Nikolai Zherdev while Chris Drury shifts to left wing to play with Scott Gomez and perhaps Ryan Callahan.
But GM Glen Sather faces a daunting challenge in reconstructing the roster in order to fit Sundin under the cap, and would almost certainly have to dilute his defense in order to do so.
Report: Mats interested in joining Rangers Sunday, August 17, 2008
Free-agent center Mats Sundin has declared his interest in playing for the Rangers this season, well-connected sources have told The Post.
J.P. Barry, who represents the elite, 37-year-old former Toronto pivot, has been in constant communication with Rangers front-office personnel this week, The Post has learned, though the conversations have not reached the stage of a contract negotiation.
There have been no numbers exchanged between Sundin and the Rangers, who have approximately $2 million of cap space to spend on the 2008-09 roster.
We're told Sundin, who recorded 78 points (32-46) last season, has no interest in returning to the Maple Leafs, who have offered him a one-year, $7M contract to re-up. Sundin apparently has negligible interest in joining Montreal, which has been chasing him since February, or Vancouver, which has offered a two-year, $20M deal.
Indeed, sources report that No. 13's second choice is Philadelphia, whose GM, Paul Holmgren, has been aggressive in his pursuit of the first-line center who could swing the balance of power in the East.
The Rangers would love to have Sundin, there is no question about that. He could team with Markus Naslund and Nikolai Zherdev while Chris Drury shifts to left wing to play with Scott Gomez and perhaps Ryan Callahan.
But GM Glen Sather faces a daunting challenge in reconstructing the roster in order to fit Sundin under the cap, and would almost certainly have to dilute his defense in order to do so.
Brooks is a moron period. He has crummy line combos also. Gomez and Zherdev will be on the top line mark those words even if some way Sundin takes less to play with the Rangers.
One thing for certain is Sundin lands here in NY Rozsival will be on the move as i can see him and Prucha on the way to the Kings.
Money could be there.
__________________ N.Y Rangers news and Forums. Ranger Nation
AGENT DENIES REPORT ON SUNDIN'S INTEREST IN RANGERS 8/17/2008 5:16:19 PM
Mats Sundin's agent is denying a report in the New York Post that says his client wants to join the Rangers.
The newspaper article says well-connected sources have stated that Sundin has expressed his interest in playing for the Blueshirts. The Post report went on to say that Sundin's agent, J.P. Barry has been in constant communication with front-office personnel from the Rangers.
When contacted by TSN, Barry denied there have been any increased discussions with the Rangers. He told TSN that he has spoken to both the Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers but also has had long discussions with Maple Leafs general manager Cliff Fletcher and Vancouver Canucks general manager Mike Gillis. Barry said there are six teams interested in Sundin's services for next season.
Barry also said his client has not made a decision on playing this coming season.
"Everybody has been calling regularly trying to get an idea of when his timetable is. Mainly I have just told them we have talked about everything and right now it's just for him to decide," Barry explained to TSN on Sunday.
Sundin has been one of the most sought-after free agents this summer. The Canucks have reportedly offered Sundin a two-year, $20 million contract, while the Maple Leafs are said to be offering a one-year deal worth $7 million.
The 37-year old Sundin is coming off a very productive campaign with the Leafs, recording 32 goals and 78 points in 74 games.
AGENT DENIES REPORT ON SUNDIN'S INTEREST IN RANGERS
8/17/2008 5:16:19 PM
Mats Sundin's agent is denying a report in the New York Post that says his client wants to join the Rangers.
The newspaper article says well-connected sources have stated that Sundin has expressed his interest in playing for the Blueshirts. The Post report went on to say that Sundin's agent, J.P. Barry has been in constant communication with front-office personnel from the Rangers.
When contacted by TSN, Barry denied there have been any increased discussions with the Rangers. He told TSN that he has spoken to both the Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers but also has had long discussions with Maple Leafs general manager Cliff Fletcher and Vancouver Canucks general manager Mike Gillis. Barry said there are six teams interested in Sundin's services for next season.
Barry also said his client has not made a decision on playing this coming season.
"Everybody has been calling regularly trying to get an idea of when his timetable is. Mainly I have just told them we have talked about everything and right now it's just for him to decide," Barry explained to TSN on Sunday.
Sundin has been one of the most sought-after free agents this summer. The Canucks have reportedly offered Sundin a two-year, $20 million contract, while the Maple Leafs are said to be offering a one-year deal worth $7 million.
The 37-year old Sundin is coming off a very productive campaign with the Leafs, recording 32 goals and 78 points in 74 games.
Does Mats Sundin want to play for the New York Rangers?
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reported Sunday sources close to former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin claiming the center declared his interest in playing for the New York Rangers next season. Brooks also reported Sundin has "no interest" in returning to the Leafs, negligible interest in Montreal and Vancouver, and his second choice would be the Philadelphia Flyers.
TSN.CA/TORONTO STAR: reported Sundin's agent quickly dismissed the Post report, claiming his client has yet to decide if he'll still play next season, let alone where.
SPECTOR'S NOTE: The Leafs are believed to have offered Sundin a one-year, $7 million contract, while the Canucks have a two-year, $20 million offer on the table. No word on the Canadiens offer but it's rumored to be around $8 million for next season. Brooks reported the Rangers might move defenseman Michal Rozsival for make room for Sundin but as the Star noted that would leave the Rangers dangerously thin on the blueline. If the Rangers or Flyers want Sundin they must clear considerable cap space to sign him. And no, I don't believe he'll consider playing for less than $3 million to fit under the cap of the Rangers or Flyers. He gave the Leafs a hometown discount last season and I don't see him accepting even less to play for those two teams.
I have to agree with Spector here. Although I highly doubt that Sundin's driving force is money, he won't play at that huge of a discount.
Don't Count the Habs/Nucks out YET for Sundin...
Today @ 2:04 PM ET
so lets see...
This weekend reports came out that Mats wanted to be a Ranger...these reports were quickly squashed by JP... although for the first time we learned officially that the Rangers and Flyers were actually talking to the Sundin camp..
So what does this all mean...
On TSN, the most telling quote from JP and the biggest clue was this one...
"Everybody has been calling regularly trying to get an idea of when his timetable is. Mainly I have just told them we have talked about everything and right now it's just for him to decide," Barry explained to TSN on Sunday.
how do you interpret this?
My initial reaction was that this quote gave MORE credence to the Rangers and Mats being almost done. When an agent says that they have "talked about everything and right now it's just for him to decide" I start to think that the deal is in place, the team has been decided, and now its up to Mats.
However, a source of mine in Sweden who has been very spot on, told me that he was told last night that it "has been decided and it was Montreal." The source said that the Canadiens have "led pole to pole here."
Still another said that in the next few days the Canucks are getting a "day in court" moment when they will be able to make their case for one last time. The source also added, "The Canucks players are definitely making some in-roads in the convincing department."
The six teams...pretty clear now...Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, NY Rangers, Philly, and....I believe the Avalanche.
So I can see all the comments now... Everyone is bored by the Sundin situation. Well so am I, but I do admit that it gets more and more interesting in some ways when you start to talk to people "off-the-record." There will be a great story to tell about all of this as soon as a conclusion is come to and people lift the "off-the-record." aspects to all of this.
The Mats Sundin watch...
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