FAN590 reports Sundin to the Habs

[Barrie 900]

This is all about setting the deck for next summer when Burke takes over.

I'm not convinced Burke is taking over the Leafs next year. Plus the Ducks hired Burke's old buddy Dave Nonis as Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations. They worked together in Vancouver.

http://ducks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=pag...rticleid=366433

The Anaheim Ducks announced on Friday that they have named Dave Nonis Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations. Nonis will work closely with Executive Vice President/General Manager Brian Burke, Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Bob Murray and Assistant General Manager David McNab on all hockey-related issues for the upcoming NHL season.

Unless Nonis is going to take over Burke's job next year, but I'll believe Burke to the Leafs when I see it. The Toronto media and fans have been known to over blow rumors or suggestions before.

[MacK_Attack 108]

Nah I don't think it's Fletch's fault; I think it's the doodle-headed owners and JFJ who GAVE those ridiculous contracts out which included "no movement" clauses. If Sundin was the "class act" that everyone in Toronto says he is then he would have done what's best for the organization and allowed them to trade him last year if that's what the team wanted to do. It's typical Toronto arrogance that makes them believe that just because they sign someone it automatically makes them twice the player they really are. How else can you explain the ludicrous contracts to McCabe and Kubina? What other owner or GM would authorize contracts like that which comletely tied Toronto's hands at the trade deadline last year.

What does Mats Sundin owe the Toronto Maple Leafs? Absolutely nothing. He didn't owe it to the Leafs to move on, they owed it to him to let him do as he wishes. Mats gave his best years of his career to the Leafs, they gave him awful linemates. Perhaps Mats Sundin didn't want a team to give up the farm for him and for his heart to not be in it because he wasn't with that team from the start of the year.

Pat Quinn signed Mats Sundin to his original no-trade clause. It's not like Ferguson had any sort of leverage to take it away from him. I make no excuses for John Ferguson. He was an awful general manager. But I believe that things are turning around as they're letting real hockey people make the decisions that they want to make now. Cliff Fletcher isn't a 'yes' man.

I've covered the McCabe & Kubina contracts before. They're terrible. However, Kubina doesn't have a no-trade clause from now until August 15th, so he's on his way out.

[Barrie 900]

It's probably better for the Leafs to let Sundin go. They shouldn't be trying to grab the 8th spot in the East, they should be trying to get the best draft picks possible for 2009 and 2010. Sundin is an excellent player, having him in Toronto will only hurt their chances of rebuilding.

If the Leafs can get something for him, letting him sign with the Habs before July 1, I think it's a good move for both teams. Sundin is a perfect fit for Montreal and Toronto needs young talent.

[VM1138 1,921]

Let me play catchup here. Has Sundin actually gone to Montreal, or is Montreal merely being able to talk to him, which means in the end, Sundin won't go there anyway?

[Cern 0]

Let me play catchup here. Has Sundin actually gone to Montreal, or is Montreal merely being able to talk to him, which means in the end, Sundin won't go there anyway?

Sundin hasn't even confirmed that he isn't retiring, let alone what team he wants to play for.

[Booster313 138]

So basically what you're saying is that signing with any team other than Detroit means you don't want to win the Cup? The East is so wide open that getting a guy like Mats Sundin can put you over the top. Montreal has a very solid young team and they need guys like Mats who are cagey veterans that can help the kids along. Now, they just need to add a little bit of toughness and they're set.

No we're saying that if your in the east and your name isn't the Pens...you don't have a high percentage shot at the cup. Every team has a chance every year but when you are leaving to win a cup you probably want to pick a highly favored team. The Wings, The Sharks, The Stars, The Ducks (although not if Neidermeyer retires again), The Pens (depending on how their roster shapes out) and finally as the X-factor team the Flames. If I were betting those are the teams I would consider putting my money on.

[CrossoverThrash 0]

maybe burke will trade kronwall jr to us for some meaningless NA player in our system

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I get the feeling the Pens won't go far next season; many free agents to deal with...Me thinks it'll be between the Flyers, & Habs coming out on top outta the east.

Heh...the Flyers? They have needs on defense that theyre not going to be able to address at the rate of overpaying every player on their team by a good 1M.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

The Habs have as good a chance as any to sign Sundin. But my question is this.

Its looking more and more like Montreal gets Sundin, and Pittsburgh loses Hossa. So does this make Boston the big destination for Hossa now? I sure freaking hope so. Cause with Campbell testing free agency and the rumors surrounding Marleau, I could easily see San Jose making Hossa their big splash.

Edited June 21, 2008 by YoungGuns1340

[Dabura 12,232]

The Habs have as good a chance as any to sign Sundin. But my question is this.

Its looking more and more like Montreal gets Sundin, and Pittsburgh loses Hossa. So does this make Boston the big destination for Hossa now? I sure freaking hope so. Cause with Campbell testing free agency and the rumors surrounding Marleau, I could easily see San Jose making Hossa their big splash.

I was thinking the same thing.

Hossa on the Sharks is an absolutely nightmarish thought.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

True, but I get the feeling the Flyers will wade into the UFA waters for a Dman, or 2 this summer (Campbell/Redden/Hainsey/Commodore/Stuart)...Dunno if there's anyone else that's worthy of overpaying

I don't see the Devils/Sens/Canes/Bruins/Caps/Sabres/etc/etc posing much of a threat; maybe the Rangers, but they're going thru some changes as well...To me it looks as though the Habs/Flyers, & possibly the Pens will be @ the top of the heap.

A Dman?? OR TWO?? If the rumors that Carter re-signed for 5M a year are true, then the Flyers have 55M tied up in payroll for this year. And thats with a pretty crappy defense. At this point, they have two good Dmen in Coburn and Timonen, two young guns who havent proved anything in Parent and Kukkonen, and two guys who simply cant cut it in the NHL anymore.

Now, unless Hatcher pulls a surprise retirement AND they sell of Knuble, theres no way theyre gonna get a Campbell/Redden deal, let alone another Dman to boot. Theyve effed themselves into next season unless they can find a taker or multiple takers for any combination of Gagne, Rathje, Hatcher or Knuble.

[Doggy 130]

A Dman?? OR TWO?? If the rumors that Carter re-signed for 5M a year are true, then the Flyers have 55M tied up in payroll for this year. And thats with a pretty crappy defense. At this point, they have two good Dmen in Coburn and Timonen, two young guns who havent proved anything in Parent and Kukkonen, and two guys who simply cant cut it in the NHL anymore.

Now, unless Hatcher pulls a surprise retirement AND they sell of Knuble, theres no way theyre gonna get a Campbell/Redden deal, let alone another Dman to boot. Theyve effed themselves into next season unless they can find a taker or multiple takers for any combination of Gagne, Rathje, Hatcher or Knuble.

I disagree with your assessment of Philly. I think their team is okay. They have overpaid for Hatcher and Rathje but it doesn't mean they're useless players. Coburn, Timmonen, Hatcher and Rathje isn't a bad start for a defensive core. If they can get Smith back at a decent price they're well above average.

And then look up forward - Briere, Richards, Gagne, Upshall and Lupul. This is going to be a tough hockey team to beat again next season. Especially if they can remain healthy.

[MacK_Attack 108]

Rathje is off Philly's cap due to a career-ending back injury.

[PaVel DaTsYuK fan13 0]

I was thinking the same thing.

Hossa on the Sharks is an absolutely nightmarish thought.

Agreed. Espeacially with McClellan behind the bench now.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I disagree with your assessment of Philly. I think their team is okay. They have overpaid for Hatcher and Rathje but it doesn't mean they're useless players. Coburn, Timmonen, Hatcher and Rathje isn't a bad start for a defensive core. If they can get Smith back at a decent price they're well above average.

And then look up forward - Briere, Richards, Gagne, Upshall and Lupul. This is going to be a tough hockey team to beat again next season. Especially if they can remain healthy.

Wow. You clearly havent watched enough Philly games this year. Philly fans are hoping Hatcher will retire and Smith is lost out there these days. Homer has been looking to trade Smith since halfway through the season. And Rathje is the same guy they were mulling over putting on waivers.

Not its not a good defensive core at all. Offense is great, even though Upshall isnt a top 6 forward - it would be Carter in the top six - and Gagne is a shadow of his former self. But its the defense that isnt too good.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Anyways...Back OT

Anyone heard any updates about Sundins status? Any chance the Habs are getting a little more reluctant to add Sundin now that Hossa is on the market?

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Anyways...Back OT

Anyone heard any updates about Sundins status? Any chance the Habs are getting a little more reluctant to add Sundin now that Hossa is on the market?

Gainey is headed to Sweden to talk to Mats sometime this week. He'd obviously rather have Tangauy and Sundin, instead of Hossa. I'd rather have Mats too, but in Montreals case, Hossa would make more sense imo.

[MacK_Attack 108]

Gainey is headed to Sweden to talk to Mats sometime this week. He'd obviously rather have Tangauy and Sundin, instead of Hossa. I'd rather have Mats too, but in Montreals case, Hossa would make more sense imo.

Montreal's pretty set on the wings, they need a top-notch center. Koivu's a great guy, but he's not the player he used to be.

They've got Tanguay, Kovalev & the Kostitsyn's on the wings, along with Latendresse. Their centers are good, but not great. Guys like Plekanec, Koivu & Higgins. Guys you'd like to have on your second line, but not playing 20 minutes a game.

[Viperar 16]

wow. Interesting.

Hossa to the sharks will be worrisome

[soultrain 43]

well maybe they can make it past the second round this time...losers...they don't have a chance in hell taking the wings cup...3 peat!! 08 09 10!

[YoungGuns1340 1]

It looked to me that the Flyers D was able to keep the Habs from getting any decent/consistent scoring chances this past spring...I don't think they're as bad as some might think.

EDIT - Still - it wouldn't surprise me if the Flyers went after a top 4 Dman via UFA, or thru a trade sometime this summer.

The Habs were the most overrated team going into the playoffs in the East. Boston took them to 7 games. Thats enough of a story.

Edited June 23, 2008 by YoungGuns1340

[Holmstrom96Screens 0]

Ah the Laughs, I mean the Leafs, lol. They had one and I mean ONLY one meaningful asset, which was Mats Sundin. What did they get for him? What did they parlay that asset into? Draft picks? Prospects? Young talent? No, no....no. They got nothing. This is why I hate the Leafs SO much; they're devoid of any leadership or direction yet the Canadian media or should I say "Toronto" media will somehow spin this clusterf*** into a "smart" move by the Leafs. Likely 1/3 of MLSE wanted to try and re-sign Sundin at the end of the season, 1/3 wanted to try and trade him while they could still get something for him and the other 1/3 thought Sundin was an outside shooter for the Raptors. That is such a f***ed up organization and will remain so until they get an actual "owner" who knows something about the sport instead of a bunch of stuffed shirt basketball-loving bureaucrats who don't know a puck from a f***.

Mats is way better off with the Habs and makes them a much stronger team; I wouldn't have minded seeing him here on a 1 year 5mil contract to try and win a Cup but at least he's out of Toronto.

i got to agree with this. MY friend says what is wrong with the leafs is that they are more interested in making money and filling the seats than they are in trying to build true stanley cup contenders.

[MacK_Attack 108]

i got to agree with this. MY friend says what is wrong with the leafs is that they are more interested in making money and filling the seats than they are in trying to build true stanley cup contenders.

That's one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding the Leafs. Nothing would make them more money than up to 16 playoff gates and winning the Stanley Cup.

The problem is that the people who own the club have constantly hired the wrong people to run the hockey side of things. That's starting to change because they haven't seen a playoff gate since the era of the $80 million payroll.

They're going to be god-awful next year, but that's because it looks like they've finally got it right and decided that they need to start over from scratch, and are shooting to do that with John Tavares.

[MacK_Attack 108]

Sportsnet.ca –- The New York Rangers were granted permission by Maple Leafs general manager Cliff Fletcher to talk to free-agent-to-be Mats Sundin before the Montreal Canadiens were last week, Sportsnet has learned.

Sources say Fletcher granted the New York Rangers permission to talk to Sundin even before the Canadians got it in an attempt to trade the Maple Leafs captain for an asset prior to him becoming an unrestricted free agent July 1.

The Detroit Red Wings would also love to add Sundin to their lineup but did not ask the Leafs for permission to make contact before July 1.

If Sundin makes the decision to cut ties with the Leafs and resume his NHL career with another team, New York and Montreal are believed to be his top two destinations of choice.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2008/06/23/rangers_sundin/

[YoungGuns1340 1]

If Montreal and New York are his top destinations, why hasnt he signed with one of them yet.

And if New York signs Sundin, what are they going to do with their defense? Ice Mark Staal for 60 minutes per game?

Edit: Actually, now that I look at it New York does have a lot of space, but their entire lineup is a mess. The only decent offensive assets they have right now are Gomez, Drury, and Dubinsky. And their defense is even in worse condition. Why would Sundin want to re-sign with a team that is going to have to pull 3-4 big names out of free agency to build a legit contender?

Edited June 23, 2008 by YoungGuns1340