Hockey Trades, Rumors & SigningsThe NHL always has a very active trading rumor-mill. Who is the next player to be shipped out? And who will be the next big free agent signing? Discuss NHL trade rumors and free agents.
If the Rangers really wanted Mats Sundin, they shouldn't have ridiculously overpaid Wade Redden AND Michal Rozsival... Redden a lot more so.
They are complete idiots for even getting as close as they are to the salary cap and we're not even at training camp time yet! You want to leave some cap room so you have the flexibility you need at the next trade deadline without having to trade or release key players just because salary dumps are needed to acquire somebody else. That's why teams like Phoenix are really looking great right now. They have the players to contend in the West this upcoming season (FINALLY) and they can add one or even two big-time impact players with the cap room they've got (roughly $14 million).
Sundin is not worth bringing to New York at this stage of his career and for the kind of money he's asking. Sound familiar Rangers fans? An all too familiar tune during their 7-year playoff drought in overpaying for "past their prime" players. They don't want to slip back into that mode.
That "past his prime" player outscored every prime player on the Rangers last season. Hurt, and with crap on his wings, and before you say anything about me being a Sundin fan, I wish he would retire already.
I also think that once the league gets assurances that the PA won't revisit the CBA next year and gives the clubs the OK on the 5% cap excemption for players over 35, you'll see Sakic, Sundin and Selanne all sign in Colorado.
I don't think Sather wants to alter his course enough to make room for Sundin, either cap wise or on the roster. No matter how much Mats' wifey wants to live in New York.
I can't see the Flyers making room for him either. Who are they going to move? No one's going to do them any favours and take their ridiculously overpaid bags like Gagne, Knuble, Hartnell or Hatcher. GMs will want Carter. Would you trade Sundin for Carter at this point in Sundin's career?
I think there is huge rift between Sundin and Fletcher that means he won't be going back to Toronto. Unless the Leafs suddenly announce they've hired Burke, he won't be a Leaf again.
I think Mats has too much pride as a Maple Leaf to sign in Montreal.
I think Mats is nuts to turn down 20 mil for 14 months worth of work, no matter how much he has already made or how much travel would be involved in playing in Vancouver. Take 3 or 4 mil per and use the rest to build a school somewhere. Or drop it all out of a hot air balloon. But to turn down that kind of money is just stupid, no matter who you are. But again, wifey probably doesn't want to live in rainy Vancouver for the better part of two years.
Of the rumoured teams, that leaves the club he started his career with, the Avs. Who also happen to have almost 13 million of free cap space and only 10 NHL forwards under contract AND have already signed two of Mats' good buddies in Tucker and Raycroft.
But who knows? Tomorrow we'll likely wake up and find out that Gretz lured him to Phoenix or that wifey forced him into signing with the Kings.
Per the Flyers, in their defense, Gagne is overpaid because he can't stay healthy. He is a beast when he's out there and worth the contract if he's playing.
I think Mats is nuts to turn down 20 mil for 14 months worth of work, no matter how much he has already made or how much travel would be involved in playing in Vancouver. Take 3 or 4 mil per and use the rest to build a school somewhere. Or drop it all out of a hot air balloon. But to turn down that kind of money is just stupid, no matter who you are. But again, wifey probably doesn't want to live in rainy Vancouver for the better part of two years.
I can't agree with that. At some point in a player's career, money isn't everything, especially when you've already made your millions. Sundin is not hurting for money and absolutely doesn't feel the need to go where the most money is, especially not with a team that missed the playoffs last year and depending on who you're talking to (Canucks' fans or others), a team that may or may not have marginally improved in the off-season. Proof? He's considering retirement right now, so money can't be too tight.
__________________ "Too bad for Mats, he could have been playing here" ~ Robert Lang.
I can't agree with that. At some point in a player's career, money isn't everything, especially when you've already made your millions. Sundin is not hurting for money and absolutely doesn't feel the need to go where the most money is, especially not with a team that missed the playoffs last year and depending on who you're talking to (Canucks' fans or others), a team that may or may not have marginally improved in the off-season. Proof? He's considering retirement right now, so money can't be too tight.
Yeah. Sundin was making 9 million a year for a score of years before the lockout, and was still making almost 7 milliuon a year since the lockout.
At this point, he has the money. He will probably pull a Kariya and take a big discount to go somewhere to make his Ray Bourque run for the cup.
I can't agree with that. At some point in a player's career, money isn't everything, especially when you've already made your millions. Sundin is not hurting for money and absolutely doesn't feel the need to go where the most money is, especially not with a team that missed the playoffs last year and depending on who you're talking to (Canucks' fans or others), a team that may or may not have marginally improved in the off-season. Proof? He's considering retirement right now, so money can't be too tight.
Whether or not money is tight is not the point. Do you think Bill Gates has stopped making money just because he already has a few billion in his pocket?
Obviously Sundin has the ability at this point in his career to go where he'll feel he's the most comfortable. But that doesn't mean he'll play for peanuts. He might take less to play in New York if that is where him and wifey want to go the most, but that doesn't mean he'll take a paycut to play in Montreal or Toronto.
Taking the money in Vancouver would be more than just taking the money. You're asking a 37 year old who has played on the other side of the country hi whole career to come west and take on the travel that comes with it.
Point is, there is a marked differenced between a player sitting there and emanding 10 million per season when the best offer he is getting is 7 and being 37 years old, unsure if you want to physically commit to another grind and having a team offer you 10 mil per.
Look, at this point I could care less if signs in Vancouver or not. While it would be great to have a player of his calibre here, we will be just fine without him.
But if I'm Mats and I'm looking at my last pro contract as a hockey player, and I'm unsure if I want to my body through another NHL season, if I do decide to come back I'd take the money. That way if I come back and I blow out a knee or tear my Labrum in half, coming back has been worth the effort and pain.
Again, IMO, he'd be stupid not to take the money. It's guaranteed. It's a great city (if your rich)with a moderate climate and the team has a legitimate chance to contend right away with Mats in the lineup. And he's not Hossa with another 5 to 8 years of prime earning potential in front of him.
If nothing else, from a union point of few, he owes it to his union brothers that are coming in to the league as he makes his way out of it.
All I got to say at this point is if he signs in Van he'd better be in shape cause what's up at this point really? Is he working out? Is he skating? Does a guy who isn't sure he wants to continue even work out in the summer? Dangerous territory IMO and Gilly must know something we don't cause he hasn't pulled the offer. If I were he, I'd be paying top dollar for info regarding his whereabouts and habits these days. If he's sitting in a coffee house in Amsterdamn eating space cake I'm out. If he's running or doing something to prepare, I'll have the answer I am looking for.
RB
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If common sense is so common, how come so few of us have it?
Point is, there is a marked differenced between a player sitting there and emanding 10 million per season when the best offer he is getting is 7 and being 37 years old, unsure if you want to physically commit to another grind and having a team offer you 10 mil per.
I fail to see where he is "demanding" a 10 mil contract, Vancouver is the one that has offered that stupid amount, if anything he will (if he plays) catch in the order of 6-7 mill.
No Sundin is not demanding 10, it is just another case of an owner/GM forgetting exactly why they locked out the players for over a year...........
Whether or not money is tight is not the point. Do you think Bill Gates has stopped making money just because he already has a few billion in his pocket?
Obviously Sundin has the ability at this point in his career to go where he'll feel he's the most comfortable. But that doesn't mean he'll play for peanuts. He might take less to play in New York if that is where him and wifey want to go the most, but that doesn't mean he'll take a paycut to play in Montreal or Toronto.
Taking the money in Vancouver would be more than just taking the money. You're asking a 37 year old who has played on the other side of the country hi whole career to come west and take on the travel that comes with it.
Point is, there is a marked differenced between a player sitting there and emanding 10 million per season when the best offer he is getting is 7 and being 37 years old, unsure if you want to physically commit to another grind and having a team offer you 10 mil per.
Look, at this point I could care less if signs in Vancouver or not. While it would be great to have a player of his calibre here, we will be just fine without him.
But if I'm Mats and I'm looking at my last pro contract as a hockey player, and I'm unsure if I want to my body through another NHL season, if I do decide to come back I'd take the money. That way if I come back and I blow out a knee or tear my Labrum in half, coming back has been worth the effort and pain.
Again, IMO, he'd be stupid not to take the money. It's guaranteed. It's a great city (if your rich)with a moderate climate and the team has a legitimate chance to contend right away with Mats in the lineup. And he's not Hossa with another 5 to 8 years of prime earning potential in front of him.
If nothing else, from a union point of few, he owes it to his union brothers that are coming in to the league as he makes his way out of it.
Not everyone thinks like a businessman.
Believe it or not *Gasp*. Some things are more important than money to some people. Every NHL player grows up dreaming of winning the big one. If they have not by a certain age, then they might do things a money only player would not. Sundin also has little desire to play outside of Toronto. He only considers it because it may lead to his childhood dream of a cup. With or Without Sundin, the Canucks do not look like contenders. Why would he even bother going to a new city all that way from his home if they truly are not contenders?
Gretzky turned down a 15 million 3 year deal with the Blues to go to the Rangers 2 year 8 million. Obviously to some people, there is more to the game than money.
The Mats Sundin watch...
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