Report: Mats Sundin interested in signing with New York Rangers
Mats Sundin is shown in this Jan. 9, 2008 file photo. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Mark Avery, File
2008-08-17 17:40:00
Undecided free agent centre Mats Sundin has expressed interest in playing for the New York Rangers, according to a report in the New York Post.
The article cites a source as saying the 37-year-old former Toronto Maple Leafs captain has been in constant communication with the Rangers this week through his agent J.P. Barry. But the two parties have not reached the stage of contract negotiations.
The Rangers have approximately US$2 million of cap space to spend on the 2008-09 roster.
The report also suggests Sundin, who recorded 78 points (32-46) last season, has no interest in returning to the Leafs, nor does he have interest in joining Montreal or Vancouver, which has offered a two-year, $20-million deal.
According to the report, Philadelphia is also in the mix, with GM Paul Holmgren aggressively pursuing the first-line centre.
T.Roy (Posted 2008-08-24 19:46:20)
Flyersfan, if he would take the salary we offered.
NYRFan (Posted 2008-08-24 16:04:12)
Please don't let the rumor be true that the Rangers would be willing to trade Gomez away to get Sundin! At least we know that Gomez's best years are coming and that he really wants to play. I hate it when NY spends big bucks on players past their primes, ala Gretzky.
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-08-22 21:25:28)
So T.Roy, do you want Sundin with the Wings?
Flyer guy 16 (Posted 2008-08-22 18:44:14)
If the Flyer's don't win a cup until 2075 it'll still be sooner than Vancouver.
A.Kovalev (Posted 2008-08-22 15:59:46)
So Dean,I suppose you were talking to him down at the local Supermarket where he was buying swedish meatballs.I actually took him to my local Depanneur after I picked him up at the airport.He wanted me to recommend a nice red wine.Gimme a break.
T.Roy (Posted 2008-08-22 12:19:17)
flyersfan, your Flyers cutainly haven't won a Cup since '75 and one reason is because MY Red Wings swept them in '97 and YOUR Flyers will probably not get a Cup until 2075.
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-08-21 22:15:15)
Sundin wants a house in BC like Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russel? Seriously, the Canucks can have him. They really need a player to point out the net to the rest. Maybe they can get McCabe to follow him there.
dean kendall (Posted 2008-08-21 19:40:25)
Sundin is in Vancouver house hunting. This can only mean one thing.
A.Kovalev (Posted 2008-08-20 21:40:25)
Flyerfan:Bob Gainey controls all from the Mother Ship.I sleep with tinfoil wrapped around my head every night,so he can't 'summon' me.Only thing is,when you turn over in bed the crinkling sound wakes you up.
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-08-20 16:57:25)
padraig, Vancouver offered the 20 million. The Moose are also their farm team. What do the Habs have to do with either?
padraig miller (Posted 2008-08-20 11:00:05)
sundin should take the 20 milion from the habs because they have a better chance to win the cup or he can come play for the manitoba moose (ahl)
Fred Bartsch (Posted 2008-08-20 10:32:30)
T.Roy- Definative Solutions I think NOT! One does NOT have to play for an NHL team in order to express an OPINION! One just has to be and avid fan of hockey and one who supports his or her team. I don't think that there is (1) avid fan who believes that what they would like to see or what they would want their team to do means that we have the answers. We don't pay their salaries. It only means that we have opinions. What we the fans want has nothing to do what so ever with how teams are run. We can only hope that at some point MAYBE and I say MAYBE those teams will hear their fan base to some degree. If any fan of this great sport thought any differently, they would be nieve! And I might add that I don't believe we the fans are nieve! We are only fans who support our teams and who want only the best for those teams, NOTHING MORE! To an extent this is nothing more than a fantasy league, but one in which we the fans hope that what we say may and I say may make a difference. While you are entitled to your opinion, it's NOT one that has any credibility as far as your statement goes.
T.Roy (Posted 2008-08-20 01:57:11)
Thank you Flyersfan52. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. It is funny how all commenters play for an NHL team, and have the definative solution.
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-08-19 22:00:30)
wolfe, I think most Flyer fans don't want that either. Like the Rangers, we'd have to trade future to make room for a short while. I'd like him to go to the West but I'm pretty sure he wouldn't like the travel. I wish he'd decide to finish his career in Sweden and get these rumors of the boards. Will the next one be him joining McCabe in Florida? Gill with the Pens?
matt (Posted 2008-08-19 21:36:43)
fred and flyers fan, two of the few people i've found on here that type blogs worth reading.....instead of my team is better than your team and my favorite player is better than yours. thanks for using your brains
wolfe (Posted 2008-08-19 21:33:26)
i do not understand why everyone is saying the sather is going to throw away young talent to bring sundin to ny. If they are going to sign him getting rid of guys making 1 or 2 million will not get it done. They will have to do something with a big money maker like rosival. at the price they paid him him i think i would take sundin over rosival and bring in a young stud from Hartford or try getting a veteran at a resonable price. i would be surprised of they would do anything with gomer or dru. those two are younger and i would like to think sather would not get rid of one of those two in order to bring sundin in for a year or two. One more thing for all the Ranger fans that do not want sundin i saw paul holmgren on comcast tonite stating that they are very interested in sunding and i do not think Ranger fans want that. although with philly's salary caps issues i think that would be hard to do.
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-08-19 21:27:23)
And to you Fred. I think the Rangers got a steal when they got Nigel Dawes. He's from my part of town (I know his family) and I've kept track. If not for his size, he'd have gone a lot higher in the draft. He played well in the WHL, which is the toughest league in Canadian Junior, and in the Worlds. I wish my Flyers would have taken that chance in the late rounds.
Fred Bartsch (Posted 2008-08-19 20:11:39)
Flyerfan52 Icould NOT have said it better myself, GOOD LUCK on the up coming year.
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-08-19 20:08:37)
Every fan likes to celebrate a championship. Do you ever wonder what would have been if NY had kept Weight, Amonte, etc.? Instead of 1 cup won as a last hurrah by aging players, could the Rangers have become a force and won more than once? Don't you think the reason they sucked was that they traded all their talent for one Cup. My Flyers haven't won since '75 but (with the exception of '06-07) are usually in the playoffs. Every year the fans have reason to be hopeful. Rangers have a good mix of draftees and free agents now. If they mess that up for a year or two of Sundin they lose more than they gain. Although we root for different teams and I'd rather see the Rangers do something stupid like that, I think people like Fred deserve better.
Fred Bartsch (Posted 2008-08-19 20:05:56)
Matt- Point well taken, but they won the cup 14 years ago so the decade is up. Are they any closer to winning another, Well anything can happen but I really don't see it. Although time will tell, I sure am NOT going to another team. I would like to see a team that is competative year in year out, make the playoffs and possibly win another cup. In order to do that you can't keep changing players like a revolving door. I don't agree that they have drafted bad, but I do have questions about either WHO they drafted or the type of system they are playing. Are they drafting the wrong types of players for the system their playing, or are they playing the wrong system for the player they are drafting? While I'm not a flyers fan, I sure do understand where you are coming from. I must say that I think the "FLYERS" are better structured to winning a cup than my team is right now (but that's my opinion). But anyway lots of luck this season, only time will tell.
matt (Posted 2008-08-19 19:43:01)
rangers may have given up a young amonte and weight for older veterans and/or less skilled but gritty playoff performers, but i wouldn't trade that stanley cup for anything. hell it took them 54 years to win it and i think giving up some younger guys to get it was worth it. as we all know now, trading away young talent for old vets doesn't insure a cup and, in fact, doesn't work most of the time, but in that instance it did and any ranger fan should be glad to have won the cup. there's no guarantee that had those trades not been made, that they would have been successful, but the fact remains they achieved their goal that season of winning the cup, which should be every team's goal. fred, you may not have approved of the trades, but surely they didn't put a damper on your stanley cup celebration? the rangers didn't suck in the late 90s and early 2000s because they traded away amonte and weight, they sucked because of they were old, drafted poorly and made poor free agent signings. it's the age-old question, would you take a stanley cup victory and 10 seasons of mediocre to poor performances or a decade of solid play and winning seasons, but no cup? rangers fans can say, hey, we won a cup in 1994, whereas flyers fans, who have supported several good teams that could have won a cup, haven't won one since 75.
Fred Bartsch (Posted 2008-08-19 19:01:04)
Flyerfan52- I can assure you that staying the course has NOT been easy. I think my reason for not switching is the fear that if I did switch to a different team, the Rangers would go on a Stanley Cup winning streak. Then I would be furious! Well It's a reason anyway. Thank You
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-08-19 17:42:23)
I just want to congratulate both goalie 33 and Fred Bartsch. Though their opinions differ, both have been loyal to their team of choice for a long time. I doubt most of the posters have stayed true to their original favorite. Some, like me, switched after expansion gave them choices (Flyer fan since they drafted Clarke & kept picking up Manitobans and other Western Canadian players) but I believe many go with whoever seems hot that particular year and claim to be long time fans.
Fred Bartsch (Posted 2008-08-19 16:06:02)
goalie33- Your statement of being a True (die hard) Rangers fan because you have been in the blue seats since 1962, really does not count for much. It is exactly that type of opinion/thinking on behalf of Rangers management as to why the Rangers have only won (1) Stanley Cup in the past 68 years. I say this because I have been on the Rangers band wagon since 1957, that's (5) years longer than your tenure. Yes it was nice to win the cup in 94, but that was 14 years ago. Did they trade the future for a cup yes they did, but this is (1) Rangers fans that didn't agree with trading youth for a cup and I still don't. This business of buying a team to win the cup has to STOP and STOP NOW! I don't know how you feel, but in my opinion to win (1) cup in 68 years is nothing short of laughable! You state that you don't know of any rangers fan who would not have gone along with gassing Amonte, Weight, Gartner for the OLDER veterans. Well here is (1) fan that did not approve of the trades, and I still don't. The Rangers won the cup by their skin of their teeth, and haven't done anything since. Again once in 68 years, this lack of thinking has to change and change now. But you have you opinion and I have mine, but your way of thinking has only succeeded once. Time for a change don't you think?
goalie 33 (Posted 2008-08-19 13:10:30)
Danny....your comments about the Rangers mortgaging the future to win the cup in 1994 indicate to me that you are not really a true Ranger fan or are you a bigger fan of historical revisionism than the Rangers.....
I have been a "blue seater" since before the days of the blue seats (die hard Ranger fan since 1962....in case you don't know what the blue seats are)....i do not know any Ranger fan that would not have gone along with gassing Tony Amonte (Stephan Matteau and Brian Noonan), Doug Weight(Esa Tikkanen) and Mike Gartner (Glenn Anderson) to win that cup in 1994 and not do the same thing 100 times over!!!! The real problem was an idiot named Neil Smith (as in poor judge of talent....see Manny Malhotra) who was completely retarded about rebuilding the team in the late 1990's!!!!!
ted siegel (Posted 2008-08-19 12:56:32)
re last posting.....did anybody mention Guy Lafleur and Tim Kerr!!!!????
ted siegel (Posted 2008-08-19 12:54:03)
let's see..... mats sundin, pavel bure, theo fleury, eric lindros, mike keane, brian skrudland, marty mcsorley, jari kurri, ......oops- almost forgot... kevin stevens, patrick flatley, pat lafontaine......or how about marcel dionne, pierre larouche....and my all time favorite......KEN HODGE....need i say more !!!!????the Rangers do not need Mats Sundin....period! end of sentence....end of discussion!!!!! see 'ya later!
SeppDietrich (Posted 2008-08-19 11:24:28)
Naslund for 2 years and 8 million bucks isn't bad at all.Redden is a whole different story...6 years? Ugh. NTC? Bigger Ugh.
Who knows,maybe getting away from the all hockey all the time mentality of the Ottawa media might do him some good.Here at least he can walk down the streets in relative obscurity...
RangerColby (Posted 2008-08-19 11:10:15)
Why does sather make all these bad desicion? Overpays Redden, NASLUND?!?!?!?!?!?!, Trades Backman, and Tyutin, For a Underachiving Foward Zherdev and Who the hell is Friscthe. Kalinin was good choice.
As For Sanguinetti. He's Not Ready Yet.
Fire Sather (Posted 2008-08-19 10:39:13)
Wow, I had the weirdest dream that it was 2008 and the Rangers were in the midst of a semi-youth movement. Thank God the last ten years haven't passed and now the Blueshirts are still going after overpaid has beens who will be more concerned with cashing checks rather than finishing them. What line is Bure and Lindros going to skate on?
rabbit43 (Posted 2008-08-19 07:20:34)
Pass on the Geezers and stick with the kids!
Todd Foley (Posted 2008-08-18 23:57:59)
Sundin...make your mind up for crying out load. Your are a selfish and arrogant player. Teams have made you super offers and your still thinking ??? Just stay in Sweden. Or come back to the NHL and play with your good buddy Alffreddson in Ottawa. It's so funny how Leafs fans always boo Alfie but the truth of the matter is Alfie and Sundin are best buddies..!! Extremely good friends off the ice. But Leafs fans will continue to boo Alfie for years to come even after Sundin goes and plays for another team. Sundin to Ottawa...!!!! Heatly Sundin Alfie...nows that's a 1st line !!!!
DOUG (Posted 2008-08-18 23:56:00)
The Report Is In!!! Mats Signs With The Greenbay Packers...Farve is History Now A Jet....Who the hell cares about Mats Sundin...He'swashed up and will retire in two seasons with ny without a cup! And thats from a DIE hard Bleed Blue Rangers Fan....go with the team we got...no huge market names...and we play like a team...not this stupid set-up the superstar hockey...Teamwork wins cups!!!!
Steve Toncheff (Posted 2008-08-18 23:17:14)
Ship Drury back to Buffalo and Gomez back to the Devils. That's the only way this is going to fit in the Big Crab Apple!! With the way the salary cap is nowadays, no team can afford to be right at the salary cap w/injuries they way they happen in today's NHL. Your committing team and fan support suicide and not even making the show come playoff time in April!! If Sather is considering this move, he doesn't belong as a GM anymore and the Rangers will sacrifice more than core players, young talent will be wasted and lost as well.......
Richard Wendt (Posted 2008-08-18 22:29:32)
I'm a Ranger fan, and I've learned over many years to take anything Larry Brooks writes with a good dose of skepticism. The fact that the only name cited in this story is J.P. Barry, while everybody else is anonymous, suggests that the only action going on here is Barry trying to find a gig for Sundin.
Naddad (Posted 2008-08-18 21:35:53)
I wouldn't put too much stock into the Sundin report in Sunday's NY Post. The story's author, Larry Brooks, is the American version of that hack, Bruce Garrioch.
whatsthatsmell (Posted 2008-08-18 20:49:16)
I don't understand how Sundin is considered a super-star in the prime of his career, while Jagr is considered a washout on the last legs of his career. I still think Jagr is a better player than Sundin.
Sean (Posted 2008-08-18 20:24:48)
Gary Bettman should step in here. Just like he did when Burke wouldn't shut up and eventually Lowe spoke up, there should be a ban on Mats Sundin stories - sooo boring!
Robby Bonfire (Posted 2008-08-18 18:19:16)
NO on Sundin, NO on Shanahan, YES on having a promising future which is not being constantly mortgaged for damaged / old / overpriced goods. But with Glen Sather, well, there is no restraint when it comes to cheap P.R. "Just make the playoffs, baby." Right, really awesome, Glen.
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-08-18 17:59:13)
The two teams mentioned are two of the teams that need him the least. Both are deep at center. Could it be that Sundin is a publicity junkie and just sitting there laughing at all the buzz?
T.Roy (Posted 2008-08-18 17:01:25)
Ask Shanny how cool N.Y. is. Bright lights and bullcrap. Forget it. As for Pittsburg, if who ever plays goal could come up with 4-5 0.00 GAA games, let alone 1 (which didn't happen) in the finals yeah then go. Get it in writing about those 4-5 games.
Pens Fan (Posted 2008-08-18 16:48:31)
Mats Sign with Pens. I heard he can play very well on the left wing. So come to Pittsburgh and the Pens will win the cup for sure.
Leafsfan38 (Posted 2008-08-18 15:44:14)
Mats stated at the trade deadline "he wasn't a hired gun. And didn't want to go to a team with a 3/4 of the season done. He would want to be with the team right from trainingcamp."I think this left the door openfor an exit from Toronto. I could see Mats going to New York to play with Naslund. Wherever he does end up he will produce. i know people are sick of hearing about him. But he recorded 32 goals and 46 assits for 78 points. He was and reamins one of the biggest UFAthis season Can only imagine what he would playing for a good team with decent wingers. For a guy who never rally had anyone to play he has put up some decent points. He will play this year for who it remains to be seen. I don't think money is that big of an issue, he will go to a team that will be a winner.
Cai Dizzle (Posted 2008-08-18 15:29:54)
I heard a rumor he's gonna play for the Packers????
colga87 (Posted 2008-08-18 15:00:07)
I would love to see Sundin play for NYR. Thanks. Keep him from the Habs.
Brian Glennie (Posted 2008-08-18 14:10:31)
Thank you James. If Mats had wanted to play for a contender, and leave Toronto, he could have; and would have done so at the trade deadline last season.
Jamie Brown (Posted 2008-08-18 12:44:06)
I don't think that this rumor is true. Sundin will retire or play for the leafs. He has always said he wanted to finish his career in Toronto.
John Case (Posted 2008-08-18 12:25:47)
In all honesty, of every Sundin related rumor this off-season this is probably the one that makes the most logical sense for both parties (though I'm not purporting to speak to the validity of it). One poster listed the Rangers current centers and said where does Sundin fit, well Fritsche will likely already be playing the wing (he's not exactly a clutch center) and Drury can play the wing as well as he can center as we saw in Buffalo. So Sundin gets plugged into the top line between Naslund and Zherdev thus giving Z a real center and two super-veteran non-north american players to learn from. Consequently all three have the best season they've played in years to the tune of 75-95 goals. Their second line becomes Dawes-Gomez-Drury; that is a pretty potent second unit, based on their production histories they could be good for 60-75 goals. This sends Voros or Rissmiller to the minors freeing up 1million+ in cap space, and the Rangers have a few young d-men in the pipeline so Mara or Kalinin could be moved for picks to a team that needs a No. 4-6 d-man and free up another million and a bit. Sundin can then sign for a front loaded 2-3 year deal worth 7-10 million with 4 or 5 coming in the first year ,for an average cap hit of 3-3.5 million then retire after making one last big push for the cup.
I personally don't understand why people think Sundin is a loser he is a dominant physical presence, a prolific scorer and has shown several dozen times that he can win games by himself. Any time he has been in a situation where he has had a legitimate cast around him he has led his team to considerable accomplishments (see Sweden; gold medal, Maple Leafs; conference final). He's had hundred point seasons, he elevates the game of any forwards placed on his line and he's about as smart a hockey player as there is in the game today. With a career in a stronger franchise he'd be heralded as one of the greats, but he got to play in Toronto. It's kind of like being the CEO of CitiBank no matter what you do you're still going to 'fail'.
Sundin to the Rangers would cement them in the top 5 teams in the East without question.
sulko (Posted 2008-08-18 11:30:47)
I have said this from the beginning Mats going no where except toronto or the swedish leuge. If he was money hungery he would be gone by now .The rangers do not need another centre and who would trade for these guys who are overpaid like gomez and drury. It would a good combo mats and marcus.As for Van city, why would he want go to a team with the primo talent in goal. Mike gillis is going drive this taeam into the ground and by the end of the year wil trade there greatest asset.Mats make your call and lets go T.O.!!!!!!!!!
bostonblueline.blogspot.com (Posted 2008-08-18 11:13:10)
When the numbers are $10 million apart, the choice IS clear. The Rangers simply cannot and will not sign Sundin as long as they can only offer him half what he'd make elsewhere. If they wanted to make that kind of offseason signing they should've been planning on it for more than a month in advance. As it stands they simply don't have the resources, and it's not like NYC offers much more than Toronto from a hockey perspective. Much like Leafs fans, Rangers fans tend to think that free agents will simply be star-struck by a blue jersey and sign whatever contract is put in front of them. bostonblueline.blogspot.com
Fred Bartsch (Posted 2008-08-18 11:09:12)
Sorry - That's SWEDEN
Fred Bartsch (Posted 2008-08-18 11:07:41)
SidelineObserver EXCELLENT point of view. As a long time RANGERS fan, I am getting tired of players saying that they want to play in New York, but they only want to do it at the END of their career! Let's hear them make that statement when they are 20-25 and NOT 30-40. Yes the Rangers have had the reputation of signing player at the end of their careers, but hopefully they WON'T make this mistake now. If Sundin does want to play in New York then let him sign a contract for (1) year @ maybe 2 million just to show how much he is committed to playing in a New York Rangers uniform. Otherwise let him play in Seden or better yet RETIRE!
Jordan (Posted 2008-08-18 11:07:34)
The rumor came from Larry Brooks of the NY Post. Brooks has been found to make up rumors all the time to get attention, and has no real basis for them. I'm not sure the man has ever been right on anything. And most his articles boil down to either 1) why all the best players in the NHL should play for the Rangers and 2) how every player with a remote name will sign with the Rangers, salary cap be damned. Never trust anything that comes from Brooks, and this is included.
Andrew (Posted 2008-08-18 10:54:43)
If only life were as simple as: "this number is larger than that number, so the choice is clear". That's shallow and narrow minded, and people who think like that are simple.
I'll betcha his girlfriend likes the bigger number though ;)
LEAFSFANFOREVER (Posted 2008-08-18 10:47:16)
So long Mats!!!
McPylon goes next and we are ready to look forward!!
Continue with the rebuilding, Fletch!! Great Job!!
GO LEAFS GO!!!
bostonblueline.blogspot.com (Posted 2008-08-18 10:38:47)
Err.... Sundin turning down 2yr/$20m to take 2yr/$10m? Not gonna happen. The least he will take would be in the $6.5m/yr range -- the whole point of being a UFA is to make as much bank as possible. It's wishful thinking to believe that ANY sane person would pass up $5-10 million to have a slightly better shot in the playoffs (the only exception being a team like Detroit or Pittsburgh where a player like Sundin could practically guarantee a Cup). Likewise, I don't see Shanahan signing for $1m after making $2.5m the past couple years -- look for him to fall in the $2-3m range for some sucker team. The Rangers wouldn't have these kinds of issues if they'd stop chasing white elephants and focus on signing young stars at a decent rate. bostonblueline.blogspot.com
Jerry (Posted 2008-08-18 09:43:50)
Hey come on everybody, the report was in the New York Post...have they EVER printed a rumor that actually turned out to be true?
Not exactly a stable full of Pulitzer Prize winning reporters there...
Hockeydude18 (Posted 2008-08-18 09:40:27)
5 4 fighting, we don't have enough cap space to sign Sundin. that is why if we do we would probably lose Betts, Prucha, and Roszival. Then we can sign Sundin for 2 yrs. at 10 million. And still sign Shanny for 1 yr. at
1 million and and still use Bobby Sanguinetti, a promising young draft pick and have agood team. As far as the center problem move Drury to wing. Problem solved. Now look at this lineup!
Zherdev-Gomez-Drury
Naslund-Sundin-Dawes
Callahan-Dubinsky-Shanahan
Sjostrom-Fritsche-Voros/Rissmiller/Orr
Redden-Staal
Kalinin-Girardi
Mara-Sanguinetti
What team beats that????????
Paul Holmgren (Posted 2008-08-18 09:27:06)
LOL, who is the source for the Sundin to Philly rumor? Mom, is that you? We'll take J-Bo for a bag of pucks though. Our guys shower after every practice and game, they are one of the cleanest teams ever to play. Why don't you go check the showers on your favorite mite team, you probably do already. Their equipment reeks of beer and sweat. We use Febreze on our equipment AND jerseys. Our skates have Odor Eaters in them too.
Maverick (Posted 2008-08-18 09:05:49)
I'm gonna say this once and for all time: Sundin's interest level is NOT toward a specific team.
Danny (Posted 2008-08-18 08:21:57)
Even at his age I don't think Mats Sundin could be considered "over the hill" as a number of posters have said. Like JUST ANOTHER JOE said...he racked up 78 points last season playing for a less than stellar team, to say the least. I think on the right team he could go 90 points.
On the other hand, as much as I like Sundin....as a Ranger fan I don't know if it would be worth all the current players and young talent we'd have to get rid of to bring in Sundin. I've had to deal with my team being the NHL retirement plan for about as long as I can remember.....I remember being a toddler and my dad complaining about Esposito (once again, great player...but on the Rangers at the end of his career).
These players tend to play well on the Rangers...but its really the mileage in seasons and the loss of home grown young talent that you need to consider.
Even during the 1994 cup run...I knew the team Keenan created to win the cup was going to destroy the next several seasons. Its not worth it as far as I'm concerned. I'd rather stick with a few big names...bring up some young players..and at least make a playoff run nearly every season.
As for this season's moves??? I have no idea what Sather's plan is. I tend to think HE doesn't even know what his plan is.
whatsthatsmell (Posted 2008-08-18 08:16:56)
Sundin would be perfect on the Rangers - They would have to be considered legitimate cup contenders. I could see him playing in Philly too, after all, he was captain for all those years under Quinn when the Leafs were considered one of the dirtiest teams.
Just Another Joe (Posted 2008-08-18 07:45:19)
Hmm .. rumor or not - you try scoring 78 points on a 'less than stellar' team. The first line on Toronto consisted of Mats Sundin and who????
Oh yeah - we forgot - nobody - Ponikarovsky and An-drop-off.
37 or 27, he plays awesome and would easily hit the 90 point season mark with a team thats worth calling a team.
Furthermore, wouldn't you hold out on a team that didn't want you?
SidelineObserver (Posted 2008-08-18 07:30:12)
The Rangers don't need Mats Sundin.Period.Full Stop.
SidelineObserver (Posted 2008-08-18 07:26:36)
I would certainly hope Sather doesn't throw young talent out in order to make room for 37 year old Mats "I haven't decided yet" Sundin.
Personally I'm tired of the Rangers being the "retirement contract" for aging,over the hill, unable to compete at the NHL level any more.
Want to impress me? Get a bona fide star when he's 27 *not* 37...
todd Farquharson (Posted 2008-08-18 03:18:27)
yeah What ever will they do with Betts, Fristch and Dubinsky? It's Mats Sundin, what do you think they will do. They will move them out of the way, along with Drury & Gomez.
bostonblueline.blogspot.com (Posted 2008-08-18 01:11:44)
Sundin and his agent are denying this like crazy. Typical offseason rumor, all about making waves with no substance. Sundin's not going to take an $8m pay deduction just to play in New York (Leafs fans, hopefully you can take this opportunity to understand how ridiculous YOU sound every summer). So the only way it would happen would be if the Rangers clear-cut the roster to make room. And while I wouldn't put it past them to try, in this case it would be a logistical and PR nightmare. Something tells me this rumor originated from an attempt by Sundin to figure out IF the Rangers would do it, and being politely declined. BTW, Sundin is quickly entering Forsberg territory with the way he is drawing out the process. I defended him last season for sticking to his no-trade, but he's lost my sympathy for stringing along the Leafs organization all summer. bostonblueline.blogspot.com
5 4 fighting (Posted 2008-08-17 23:56:51)
Where do you put another center-Betts/Gomez/Drury/Dubinsky/Fritsche?
Leafsfan38 (Posted 2008-08-17 23:49:22)
As a leafs fan I would like to thanks Mats for his service. He lead us within a game of the cup finals twice. However we can't really totally begin to rebuild until Mats is gone. With Mats gone management can truly get a feel of who to keep and who to dump. With Mats around helping keep Toronto in the hunt for 8th it's hard to tell how far away the team actually is. He is still a good hockey player and makes any team a better team. However at this stage in his career he needs to be on a conteder. There is no point in being part of a rebuilding process because if he does decide to play at all it won't be any longer than 2 more seasons max. so he needs to be on a top contender.
Jordo (Posted 2008-08-17 22:44:49)
I don't understand how Sundin wouldn't want to go to the Habs! Thats dissappointing as it would be the ultimate slap in the Leafs face!
Josh (Posted 2008-08-17 22:33:46)
Man I can't wait till this little princess makes up her mind and puts this story to rest.
Brian Glennie (Posted 2008-08-17 22:04:35)
If Sundin doesn't play with the Leafs, or retire, I will be surprised.
Muhammed Ali (Posted 2008-08-17 22:03:23)
What is that nonsense TBF,you fool.
Rangersfan101 (Posted 2008-08-17 21:30:22)
I told everyone that Sundin didn't sign with anyone because the Rangers were trying to figure out how to put him under the cap, as a joke, and now it might actually become true!
TBF (Posted 2008-08-17 21:19:13)
A man chooses to make NYR his home.
He gave excitement to Ontario, Manitoba, and all Canada.
He is a hereo in his homeland.
He is a man that wishes to play ice hockey at ground zero. What really is the summit series. What is a miracle on ice.
If Toronto ever wanted to give a loved member his
wish, then it was well earned.
We would like him to have his will, he gave us the thrill.
I think Sundin knows best, ( New York, more work ).
He will wear it on his chest.
Sundin makes no excuse, and he takes all the abuse.
New York with love, we give one above.
His wish, is our bliss.
New York with pain, I tell you, that you will reign.
antony (Posted 2008-08-17 21:05:42)
2M a year for not making the playoff and retire in shame.....
Good for you my leafs friend!!!!
Dany Heman (Posted 2008-08-17 20:40:04)
I can believe it...aren't Sundin and Nasland like best friends or something? Very very very realistic decision on Mats' part...
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-08-17 19:59:56)
I hope he ends up with NYR. Who would the Rangers have to shed to make room for his salary? Sather would have to hold a fire sale. Hold on Toronto, help might be on the way. They have cap room don't they?
TBF (Posted 2008-08-17 19:47:09)
As a Leaf fan, I am happy that I don't have to worry about Sundin. If I were any player in the NHL, I would
be worried about playing against him.
He does not shy away, he is a solid monster.
He is proof, of excellence. This world champion, is the real deal.
Alexander K (Posted 2008-08-17 19:28:17)
New York Rangers: Where all the NHL's top talent goes to retire.
Steve O from T.O (Posted 2008-08-17 19:14:53)
Sundin can carry a team all by himself, See the last 13 years.
Put him on a line with a bit of talent...look out,Banner year!
I wish him all the best and hope New York does well.
I would still take Shanny in a heart beat too.
Hope Sather can do the math.
flo (Posted 2008-08-17 19:06:33)
rangers is where aging hockey players go to die...
no matter what the rangers do in the last 10 years they can't seem to get things going... no matter who they sign.
i'm an ottawa fan and i would of loved to see sundin in a canadian jersey. would of been explosive when he'd play toronto. now the best we'll see him do is become just another star fading away.
potvin sucks! (Posted 2008-08-17 18:29:09)
i said-a boom-chicka-boom! i'd rather have sudin than shanahan. thats not to say i dont love ol' shanny, but let's face it: his carreer is pretty much done. i believe sundin has a little bit more hockey left in him than shanahan
Steve (Posted 2008-08-17 18:20:51)
Put Redden in the minors where he belongs and sign Sundin and Shanahan. Then trade a fifth round pick to Calgary for Rhett Warrener. The calibre of your defense remains the same and your offense is pumped up to contender territory.
NYR14 (Posted 2008-08-17 18:16:45)
huh? we want Shanny!
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