Sundin may test free agency; wants big money

[Dabura 12,232]

We'd be fine without him but if you can put a guy like that on your roster who you know is going to be hungry for a Cup and a great guy in the room with all the Swedes and all, why wouldn't you want him around? I have no pride issues on the matter and it's not desperation. He's just a great player and watching a guy like that finally lift the Cup would be just another great story.

Agreed.

I don't think the "We want to get younger, not older" argument holds water; he's just one player, and Drake's going to retire anyway. And while we don't need another center, there were times during this run when I was wishing we were a little bigger and more physically imposing down the middle.

[Glubki 17]

I'd certainly take him if the price was right. I think he'd look good in a Wings uniform and he's always been a great player and class act. Granted, that price is not right for the Wings at this point in my estimation. 2 years $5.5-6 mil though? I'd be open-minded about it. We'd be fine without him but if you can put a guy like that on your roster who you know is going to be hungry for a Cup and a great guy in the room with all the Swedes and all, why wouldn't you want him around? I have no pride issues on the matter and it's not desperation. He's just a great player and watching a guy like that finally lift the Cup would be just another great story.

The Red Wings are going to have more flexibility salary wise than they've had in the past 4 years but after they sign the the RFA's and a few returning vets they are going to be restricted in their options. If they sign Stuart they aren't going to be able to afford more than 3-4 mill a year for a winger and they definitely aren't going to get locked in to a long term deal for any more than that with Franzen and Z needing to be re-signed.

I think the possibility of Sundin signing in Detroit is pretty slim if he wants a big payday...

Edited June 5, 2008 by Glubki

[betterREDthandead 58]

Sundin is the Lidstrom of forwards. Extremely consistent. I'd LOVE to put him in the Winged Wheel. But with the pay raises already signed for several players, and the upcoming ones to Z and Flip, I doubt there'll be the cap room for it.

[wingsownnhl43 14]

We can give him a one year deal only. a multi year deal kills our chances to resign Zet and Franzen

[DEVILSWATERBOY 10]

WHAT? Sundin is not a money hungry player with no heart. Go look at what he's done for the Leafs. He had a chance to come to the Wings this season at the deadline- the deal was structured and awaiting his approval, but he nixed it so he could stay with the team he loved.

The Toronto media had a field day with Sundin but in the end it was junior who gave him the no trade clause.

I'm sorry, but I've got nothing but respect for Sundin- he's a classy player with tons and tons of heart.

If has heart to win then take alot less money and stay in Toronto and help bring that original 6 team back to greatness we do not need him in Detroit to old and to money hungry. I do not care about the carreer stats, he is not a fit for Detroit I say no way period!

[redwings1914 18]

THe only way I saw Sundin being a Wing was if he would take a "Winner" AND a "Frolunda" discount. If he is looking for big money then no thanks.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I'm sorry, but this just wreaks of stupidity. Sundin wants to win a Cup, and moreso than anything with the Leafs. We all know that he is above being a rental player at the deadline, but we've yet to see whether or not he'll try to win a Cup by signing an FA contract this summer with a contender (no offense Toronto, but you're not a contender next year). Ok, so all those things factored in, lets say Sundin decides to sign with a potential contender this offseason. You would think he'd take as big of a paycut as he reasonable could given the fact that all he wants (given that he came to terms with leaving the Leafs) is the Cup.

What the hell sense does it make for him to be looking for this monster contract when all it will do is hinder his new team from adding other solid FA's and thus decreasing his chance of winning a Cup?

[egroen 384]

Just put it this way, J.P. Barry has stated on the record that Mats won't accept a discount this season from anybody.

What cup contender could afford to sign Sundin then? Nashville? heh...

Edited June 5, 2008 by egroen

[MacK_Attack 108]

What cup contender could afford to sign Sundin then? Nashville? heh...

Montreal, Dallas & Washington are said to be very interested.

There are others that can afford him if they get creative. Pittsburgh, for one.

Edited June 6, 2008 by MacK_Attack

[Grim 5]

total fallacy. Mats is at $5.5M now and his game is on the decline. he'd likely have to take a hometown discount, ala Steve Yzerman in his last couple years, to stay as captain. he'd probably have to take an even bigger discount to get picked up by a contender.

the Toronto spin-doctors must be working overtime on this one... anything to lessen the spurn of losing their best player for essentially nothing. I feel he ends up with Ottawa or Vancouver.

[kylee 727]

sundin wants big money? all the more reason to go after markus naslund

[dallas27 7]

I'd love to see him in the Winged Wheel for the right price. Two years at $14 million is pretty reasonable.

I'd be willing to bet that kind of money would entice Hossa if presented to him, from the defending Stanley Cup champions, who if they got him, would pprrroooobably be favorites to repeat.

Not directed at you but I know Hossa doesn't perform in the playoffs though, with his 26 points.

[MacK_Attack 108]

total fallacy. Mats is at $5.5M now and his game is on the decline. he'd likely have to take a hometown discount, ala Steve Yzerman in his last couple years, to stay as captain. he'd probably have to take an even bigger discount to get picked up by a contender.

the Toronto spin-doctors must be working overtime on this one... anything to lessen the spurn of losing their best player for essentially nothing. I feel he ends up with Ottawa or Vancouver.

First of all, he's not on a decline, the numbers prove that.

Secondly, Ottawa can't afford him, they're completely capped out.

[Wingman 0]

Whether you're willing to take pay-cuts or not you obviously don't SAY THAT before entering the FA-market. These are all semantic games played by the agents and the team mgmts.

Having said that, I'd also guess that he'd favour cup chances before cash. And, as BRTD stated, I think he would be an absolutely perfect fit on this team considering the type of player he is.

Sundin is the Lidstrom of forwards. Extremely consistent. I'd LOVE to put him in the Winged Wheel. But with the pay raises already signed for several players, and the upcoming ones to Z and Flip, I doubt there'll be the cap room for it.

Edited June 6, 2008 by Wingman

[Zion 93]

Pass.

[Yemack 1]

most elite teams with a chance to win Stanley Cup next year will be right at or near cap max.

A team with the best to win cup next year with horde of Swede has a room for him at about 6 mil.

It's his choice

[WizardofOz 0]

If the Wings could sign Sundin for under 6 mil for 1 season I'm all for it. I think he would look great in a wings jersey.

[kylee 727]

Naslund made 6 mil last year. if he took a bit of a cut, id want him. but even though i really really like the idea of seeing Naslund in a Wings uni, i still think 6 mil is too much for him, and Sundin both

[awingsincebirth 0]

Just put it this way, J.P. Barry has stated on the record that Mats won't accept a discount this season from anybody.

Then he won't win the Stanley Cup this year....and one has to wonder why he would decide to make a move that would be theoretically horizontal.

[betterREDthandead 58]

total fallacy. Mats is at $5.5M now and his game is on the decline.

You'd think Wings fans, of all people, would be the last to jump to the conclusion that since he's getting older, his game must be "on the decline." It is not.

Just imagine what Franzen could do with Sundin's playmaking skills centering his line.

[Yellowknife Redwing 57]

You'd think Wings fans, of all people, would be the last to jump to the conclusion that since he's getting older, his game must be "on the decline." It is not.

Just imagine what Franzen could do with Sundin's playmaking skills centering his line.

There is absolutely no team currently playing in this league that could handle a Franzen/Sundin tandem defensively. I could see Franzen having a 40+ goal season with Sundin centering him.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Naslund made 6 mil last year. if he took a bit of a cut, id want him. but even though i really really like the idea of seeing Naslund in a Wings uni, i still think 6 mil is too much for him, and Sundin both

Naslund wont get anywhere close to 6 million. Hes regarded as one of the worst captains in the NHL right now, and this opinion is backed by most - if not all - Nucks fans. Hes also been inconsistent and lethargic since Bertuzzi left. All you have to do is consider the fact that the Canucks are DESPERATE for offense, and even they aren't looking to re-sign Naslund. Hes a shell of his former self, and would likely only flourish on a 2nd line with a speedy playmaker anchoring it. Hes not worth anything more than the 4 million range and at this juncture, Id take Franzen over Nazzy.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

You guys are forgetting that Franzen will also want more money. Add that with Hank asking for more, and I don't see how we'll have cash to get Sundin, unless he's willing to take a paycut for the Stanley Cup.

[Z and D for the C 712]

You guys are forgetting that Franzen will also want more money. Add that with Hank asking for more, and I don't see how we'll have cash to get Sundin, unless he's willing to take a paycut for the Stanley Cup.

Both are still signed for next season, so a one year deal would be perfect and wouldn't affect either of those two.

[Dabura 12,232]

I'd be willing to bet that kind of money would entice Hossa if presented to him, from the defending Stanley Cup champions, who if they got him, would pprrroooobably be favorites to repeat.

Not directed at you but I know Hossa doesn't perform in the playoffs though, with his 26 points.

Hossa almost singlehandedly made this an epic series -- and he did it with class. More than ever, I'd love to see him on the Wings.

But he's going to be asking for a s***load of money, and I think it's safe to say management has no intention of bringing in any new big names in the offseason.