I'm starting to really lose my patience with Sundin. 10 million is on the table, what is there to think about? You either take it or you don't. Hes had the whole summer.
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Sundin personally denies Larry Brooks' article stating Mats chooses the Rangers
On top of JP Barry denying the NY Post story as truth, now Sundin is following suit. From HockeyExpressen.se: No real negotiation Brooks refers to sources within the Rangers while he points out that some genuine negotiations are not underway between the parties. Sundin, who is still at home in Sweden on holiday, feel no pressure to give any information about his future and he claims that the information contained in the New York Post is not the case.
But Montreal won their conference last year, they have improved in the off-season so they certainly are better contenders... and that coming from someone who cheers for both teams.
If Kovalev shows as much interest this season as he did last season, which is a rarity...
If Koivu stays healthy...
If their young goalies play to potential...
If their powerplay is as good again this season...
If, as a team, they avoid the injury bug...
All teams have 'ifs' or question marks. Just don't say I didn't tell you so when the Habs are fighting for a playoff spot in March.
Can you imagine the Flyers beginning the 2008-09 season with Mats Sundin, Daniel Briere, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter as the team's top four centers?
Paul Holmgren can.
The Flyers general manager acknowledged Monday he has spoken with J.P. Barry, the Calgary-based agent for Sundin, who remains the most sought-after player on the NHL's free-agent market.
"The only thing I can say is we inquired about his availability," Holmgren said of the 37-year-old Swede. "Until Mats decides whether or not he's going to play, it's a moot point."
Holmgren characterized his conversations with Barry as exploratory and said he was given no indication of whether Sundin wanted to play this season or what it would cost to sign him.
Barry did not return a message left Monday at his office. He told Canada's The Sports Network on Sunday that the Flyers, Rangers, Maple Leafs and Canucks are among the teams interested in signing Sundin, who made $5.5 million with the Leafs last season while recording 32 goals and 46 assists in 74 games.
The Canucks reportedly offered Sundin a two-year, $20 million contract, while the Maple Leafs reportedly offered $7 million in a one-year deal. The Rangers reportedly are willing to pay Sundin $5 million this season.
The Flyers are currently about $1 million over the NHL's $56.7 million salary cap. To make room for Sundin's salary, Holmgren would need to make major changes to the club's roster, possibly moving Briere or Carter to create salary space for Sundin.
The Flyers already possess three of the league's highest-paid centers in Briere ($6.5 million), Richards ($5.75 million) and Carter ($5 million).
"You have to look at the implications of the future," Flyers president Peter Luukko said.
"When you add a player like Sundin, you want to do it as a piece of the puzzle that gets you to the next level, not as something that changes the core of your team."
Holmgren said Monday he would "wait and see" if Sundin wants to return for an 18th NHL season before determining what moves he would make to clear salary space for the NHL's all-time leading scorer among Swedish-born players (1,321 points in 1,305 games).
"Mats is a good player, and certainly we would be interested," Holmgren said. "But until he decides whether he wants to play, there's not much to talk about."
Sundin is not the only high-profile veteran who remains unsigned. Former Rangers winger Brendan Shanahan, 39, is contemplating his future after recording 23 goals and 23 assists in 73 games in New York last season.
Inquirer Staff Writer
Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren didn't sound like a man on the verge of signing free-agent center Mats Sundin yesterday.
Sundin, 37, an eight-time all-star, has drawn interest from several teams, including the Flyers.
Holmgren's interest seemed exploratory, and it remained a long shot that the Flyers, already about $1 million over the NHL's $56.7 million salary cap, would be able to afford Sundin.
"Personally, I'd like it to all go away," Holmgren said of the rumors that the Flyers were in the mix for Sundin. "What's the sense when we don't even know if he's going to play yet?"
Holmgren has had conversations with Sundin's agent, J.P. Barry, and the general manager said the agent still wasn't sure if Sundin would play again. Sundin will decide this month, Holmgren said.
"Everyone is kind of waiting," he added.
Sundin scored 32 goals for Toronto last season. He has scored 555 in his career.
"He's a good player, and it certainly doesn't hurt to look," Holmgren said.
Holmgren said emphatically that the Flyers would not deal any of their core players, such as Danny Briere or Jeff Carter, to free cap space to acquire Sundin.
The New York Rangers, who have only about $2 million in cap space, the Maple Leafs, and the Vancouver Canucks are also among the clubs showing interest in Sundin.
Sundin has reportedly been offered a two-year deal for a total of $20 million by Vancouver, but there is speculation he wants to play for a Stanley Cup contender.
If you hate hearing about him so much guys then stop choosing to read about him. God that's a simple solution to an avoidable problem.
The more you guy read about Sundin and his indecision the more the newspapers will write about it. if you collectively stop reading it then they will stop printing it, maybe focus on another guy who can't make up his mind like Joe Sakic.
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The Mats Sundin watch... finally over!
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