In Canada, Mats Sundin is bigger than Brett Favre
North of the border they have their own wishy/washy superstar who is holding teams hostage with a will he play/will he retire soap opera.
Apparently, longtime Toronto Maple Leaf captain Mats Sundin gave an interview in Sweden in which he said he would decide by Aug. 1. You know how the Swedish press loves to sensationalize! Just ask Anita Ekberg.
Here's what Sundin's agent told the Vancouver Sun:
"This whole Aug. 1 thing ... he did that interview in Sweden and everyone kind of pulled on that and, unfortunately, they pulled on a translation. He is not going to decide Aug. 1. People got stuck on the Aug. 1 and it was really just the month of August."
Here's the lead to a story from the Toronto Sun:
"As soap operas go, the Mats Sundin sudsfest is getting as loopy to follow as Coronation Street."
I have no idea what most of that means.
Newsday's Rangers writer Steve Zipay called Sundin to the Blueshirts a "longshot" in a live chat the other day.
"I think the ball's in Sundin's court," Zipay wrote. "He'll have to turn down a lot of money to play here. If the number is fiscally responsible in the Rangers' eyes, there could be a match, Otherwise, the Rangers aren't getting into a bidding war."
So what do you think is going to happen? Should the Rangers welcome Mats? Should/can the Islanders get involved?
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Comments (14)
No. The Rangers should not pick up Sundin for the following reasons.
1...another aging veteran center
2...he will cost way too much
3...he will only play for two more seasons at the most
4...he will take a spot from a younger player who deserves his chance in the NHL
5...Drury would have to play wing
No. The Rangers should not pick up Sundin for the following reasons.
1...another aging veteran center
2...he will cost way too much
3...he will only play for two more seasons at the most
4...he will take a spot from a younger player who deserves his chance in the NHL
5...Drury would have to play wing
6...the Rangers already started selling number 13 Zherdev jersey's
No for the Islanders. There's little long-term potential here, and this would work against the overhaul in favor of a quick fix that gets you to the eighth seed, a first round exit, and more of the same.
Besides, Mats, I'm sure, wants to join a contender. The Isles are not that this coming year.
If Sundin sign with NY Islanders. Islanders will hire coach Scott Gordon or Paul Maurice. NY Islanders will buy out or trade with Bill Guerin. Bryan McCabe will join with NY Islanders and friend's Sundin. Sundin jersey 13.
I would endorse a one year deal for Sundin. (overpriced as it will be).
The Islanders still have no "1st line" center, until Bailey is ready.
Sillinger's health is a huge question mark for this season and his career. (I fear he may be done).
The Isles at this point could be starting the season with Weight, Comrie, Park, Neilsen and/or Colliton.
Not exactly a middle that instills fear. Sundin would be a huge plus for this lineup. Isles have plenty of cap space to pay him whatever he wants.
Whether or not he would consider it is a whole nutha story.
Doubt he'd ever go to the Islanders. Vancouver has offered 10 mil for 2 years, if hes gunna go to a team that doesn't stand a chance to make the play offs, Vancouver would be it.
I don't agree to allowing SUndin to play for the Rangers either, its counter productive
'Until Bailey is ready' ?
You're looking at 3 years at least, and possibly more. Not to mention, Bailey won't even be a 1st-liner, he'll be a good 2nd-liner, at best. For those of you expecting Bailey to magically turn into a 1st-line center are going to be disappointed, bigtime.
I think there is a reason that he hasn't signed with someone already and the only two really good reasons I can come up with are
#1. He is leaning towards retiring
#2. He wants to be a Ranger but needs the team to clear cap room.
Otherwise why wouldn't he have already signed with his familiar old team or take the money from Vancouver? Or if he wants a contender with a little less $$ then he could easily choose Montreal.
Also, I really wish writers would stop referring to this situation as Sundin "holding teams hostage". Sundin is a Free Agent and therefor can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants. Holding a team hostage is signing a contract and then holding out of camp for more $$. Or maybe what Favre is doing to the Packers by retiring and then demanding that they unretire him. Sundin's situation is completely different, he owes nobody any kind of decision except himself and his family.
Wouldn't be completely bad if he became a Ranger... while most superstars stats fall when they get older, his have gotten better since the lockout, and he hasn't had less than 72 points besides his rookie year.
Imagine what he could do on a team that doesn't suck?
Read it here... http://www.nyhockeyrivalry.com
Sundin would be great to have.
1. Hes great on the PP and combined with Redden and Drury it will be deadly in the playoffs
2. If he comes he'll come at a 3 - 5 mil price.
Thats cheap for a player of his type.
3. It will be short term and he would onlky take the spots away from the abundance of 4th liners we have.
No thank you. Period.
Yes the Rangers should look into Mats. After losing Avery the team lack any scoring threat in the opsoing crease. Mats has always flourished in front and still can skate and pass at 37. He is also a great tudor for young Brandon Dubinsky who will continue to develope and can learn some tips on using his frame. Plus the Rangers will HAVE TO clear roster space in the next year or so anyway. The Pruchas,Betts,Maras,and so on will give way to Cherepanov,Anisimov,and Sanguinettis of the future. We might as well get some picks and clear some room too. The Rangers have too many of the same small foward ( Dawes,Callahan,Etc) Dubinsky belongs on the wing this year anyway.
The Rangers should always go after a player as talented as Sundin. If the numbers work within the cap they would be crazy not to sign him.
Sundin is a pompous, arrogant person....he was talented and may still have some skill left, however, he would not be able to handle the press here in nyc. I personally met him outside the garden a few years ago and asked for his autograph and he called a bunch of us "filthy new yorkers" and remarked to a tall blonde woman next to him "how can anyone live in this dump"
Mats please stay up there or bury yourself with those idiots in Vancouver..you are unwanted here and certainly do not fit in what the Rangers are trying to achieve