Wings say 'team push' for Sundin simply untrue

[ShanahanMan 473]

Wings say 'team push' for Sundin simply untrue; Mac likely to be signed, waived, sent to Grand Rapids

Posted by George James Malik February 22, 2008 16:02PM

The Detroit Red Wings are debunking a rumour made by the Fan 590's Howard Berger, who says that the Wings' players have petitioned GM Ken Holland to acquire Sundin. Here's the take from the Free Press's Helene St. James:

February 22, Detroit Free Press: Henrik Zetterberg greeted the news with a laugh - the kind that said, yeah, right. As if Holland needs players to prompt him to make a trade.

"My personal opinion," Kronwall said, "I don't think he wants to go anywhere. I think he'll end up staying."

Mike Babcock doesn't see it happening, either, because the Leafs would need to get a huge return on their captain.

"The Things about it is, there's a cost and a reward factor," Babcock said. "I don't see that happening. I don't think that's going to happen in Detroit. I could be hugely mistaken, but to me when, when you're Mr. Flether (Leafs GM Cliff Fletcher) and you go to the media and tell them what you got for this guy, who's been the face of your franchise, it's not coming from Detroit, because we're not giving up that."

Holland told St. James the usual--that he's looking to bolster the line-up with a top-six forward and a depth defenceman--but he also revealed that he hopes to sign Darren McCarty just before the trade deadline so that the team can expose him to waivers. Once waived, McCarty would be allowed to stay with the Grand Rapids Griffins indefinitely to get his conditioning back up to NHL standards:

It would be more ideal to be able to keep McCarty in Grand Rapids longer, because he hasn't played hockey all season. Holland said Friday that while the rest of the NHL is "in February, for McCarty, it's October," - meaning that's how far behind McCarty trails

Here's the gist of the rumour scuttlebutt via the News's John Niyo:

February 22, Detroit News: Word out of Toronto -- and, yes, that's always a dangerous way to start -- is that the expected Mats Sundin-to-???? deal could go down before the weekend is over. Here's what we do know:

With the Leafs officially out of it, GM Cliff Fletcher finally met with Sundin on Thursday, and according to TSN he asked him to give him a list of teams. (Sundin has a no-trade clause, so he controls his own fate here.) The Leafs reportedly wanted their answer by today, and Fletcher, who met with Sundin's agent today, is on record as saying he won't wait 'till the last minute if he's going to deal his captain.

Sundin made himself scarce after last night's loss to Buffalo, with team spokesman saying he had "the flu." Not surprisingly, he also missed today's practice with "the flu," as did on-the-trading-block defenseman Bryan McCabe, though his case of "the flu" didn't keep him from meeting with Fletcher today to discuss his future.

Meanwhile, Howard Berger from the The Fan 590 in Toronto reports today that Wings' players are still pushing for Sundin (see Ted's post below for Zetterberg response), though it's worth noting that Detroit's rivals (i.e. Anaheim, San Jose) would seem have more to offer.

You can listen to the interview with Berger here (or you can download it as an MP3--and at the 7:40 mark, Berger claims that a half a dozen Wings, not all of them Swedes, have lobbied Holland to push for Sundin's services.

As for those comments by Kulfan?

February 22, Detroit News: The Wings also laughed off reports out of Toronto they've approached general manager Ken Holland about acquiring Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin before Tuesday's 3 p.m. trade deadline.

"Uh no, no," said Zetterberg, whether the Wings' Swedish contingent has approached Holland.

Holland said the Wings will make Darren McCarty a contract offer sometime this weekend.

Kulfan notes that there's a hot rumour about Sergei Fedorov heading to Ottawa, but you never know with the rumours that come from a certain website that wants to charge you $20 to become an "insider."

The rumour regarding Sundin supposedly is constituted of Sundin and Hal Gill to Detroit for either Filppula or Hudler, a top prospect, and a draft pick, which is ridiculous.

Tags: Darren McCarty, Detroit Red Wings, Henrik Zetterberg, Ken Holland, Leaf Land, Mats Sundin, Mike Babcock, Niklas Kronwall, rumours, Toronto Maple Leafs, trade deadline

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-MLIVE

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/

hopefully this will debunk all these freakin rumors.

Edited February 22, 2008 by ShanahanMan

[Echolalia 2,961]

Can other teams claim McCarty off waivers after the deadline?

[Kingston 21]

iunno. but he will only accpect detroit offers.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Can other teams claim McCarty off waivers after the deadline?

I would assume so. Or else, what would the point of going through that process even be?

[redwinger4747 6]

After he signs with us, why wouldn't they be able to? This really worries because it would be such a shame for us to give McCarty this comeback chance just to have him claimed by Edmonton or something. Plus, wouldn't we have to put him on re-entry waivers for half his salary when we call him up? Even more worrisome...

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Whats going on is that they would sign McCarty to a contract prior to the deadline limit, then waive him in order to send him to GR. During that waiver time he could be claimed, but i cant see why anybody would as that team would have to keep him on their NHL roster.

[KDDRWINGS1 9]

My question is; can teams claim players on waivers after the deadline? My concern is after our starters return, Quincey and Ericsson get claimed (not woried about Mac) on the way down.

[Echolalia 2,961]

Whats going on is that they would sign McCarty to a contract prior to the deadline limit, then waive him in order to send him to GR. During that waiver time he could be claimed, but i cant see why anybody would as that team would have to keep him on their NHL roster.

Matt Ellis was claimed...

My question is; can teams claim players on waivers after the deadline?

wait... you mean... kinda like my question?

Edited February 23, 2008 by Echolalia

[IceMunkee 15]

Very nice! I actually was very concerned that this may be possible. While I have no problem seeing a substantial trade made and the possibilty to get someone like Sundin. I just have no interest in losing Huds or Flip for a rental. While Gill's huge size and physical presence might be very welcome he is worth a late round pick at best.

[rage 24]

Very nice! I actually was very concerned that this may be possible. While I have no problem seeing a substantial trade made and the possibilty to get someone like Sundin. I just have no interest in losing Huds or Flip for a rental. While Gill's huge size and physical presence might be very welcome he is worth a late round pick at best.

If it's for Hudler, we could easily replace him in the offseason.

[Grim 5]

alright, i'm sold. Zetts, Homer, Nik (the captain) and all our other swedes would be terribly adverse to adding Mats Sundin. lets move on folks.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Brian Burke will probably claim McCarty off waivers just to piss us off.

[rage 24]

Brian Burke will probably claim McCarty off waivers just to piss us off.

Yep.

Only to have the move backfire on him, pisses off the Wings and helping boast them thru the West to the Stanley Cup Finals!