Bravs Hockey Blog

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The Sundin sega goes on…. and on…. and on. I don’t know about the rest of you but I am starting to get tired of hearing about Sundin and his inability to make a decision. If the 20 million reasons that Mike Gillis offered Sundin to play in Vancouver isn’t enough for him to make a decision, then I am really starting to doubt this mans sanity.

A fan that called into the Team 1040 sports radio station today made a point that I agree with, and as days go by I am starting to think he hit the nail on the head. He said something along the lines of maybe Mats Sundin having no intentions of ever coming to Vancouver, and is using the Canucks 20 million dollar offer as as leverage for trying to make a deal with Toronto. Mats could be biding his time, waiting to see what the Leafs can come up with, and has every intention of returning to the eastern team.

I think he would be a great addition to the Canucks, especially with the 2 year deal he has been offered. At least Mike Gillis didn’t offer him some retarded long term contract. If he doesn’t decide to play for Vancouver I still think the team is sitting pretty for next season. They would still have the 10 million per season that they had offered to the Maple Leafs captain to bring in two more top 6 forwards… preferably one center, and one winger… to play along side Demitra.

Anyways, thats it for now. I can’t wait untill a decision is made by Mats Sundin so we can start hearing real news again and not all of this ongoing speculation by the fans and the media alike.

July 1st, Canada Day, a national holiday in Canada, a holiday that many GM’s of the NHL didn’t take off. In fact it proved to be one of the busiest days of work for a lot of them. There were a lot of UFA signings and trades to report.

Lets start with Vancouver. Mike Gillis, the Canucks new GM made one of the most shocking moves. Gillis offered Mats Sundin, former Leaf captain a 2-year deal worth $20 million dollars. Sundin has not accepted or refused the offer as of yet, but the offer leaves a lot of questions concerning the direction the Canucks are heading. If Mats Sundin does accept this offer, who would his linemates be? With Naslund still unsigned and his future with the team in limbo, you have to wonder who will play with Sundin on the first line. Would Markus sign for less for the oppurtunity to play with Mats? Does Gillis have another deal in the works to bring in another top 6 forward to play with the aging center?

What if Mats Sundin doesn’t sign with the Canucks? Where does that leave the team for next year? Do they try for Hossa? Rumour has it that the Oilers are putting in some high bids for the highly coveted UFA. This summer is going to be a stressful one for Canucks fans, and many of them might be remembering a time not too long ago when a popular player by the name of Mark Messier was brought to Vancouver. We all know how that turned out. I guess all the fans can do for now is hope that if he does come to Vancouver he is up for the task set for him, and if he doesn’t come to the west, that Mike Gillis has some other deals or signings in the works.

Mats Sundin wasn’t the only news from the Canucks on July 1st, but he was the biggest news. Gillis also signed Kyle Wellwood to a 1-year deal, former Blues Ryan Johnson to a 2-year deal and former Predator Darcy Hordichuk to a 3-year deal.

Kevin Lowe and the Edmonton Oilers were very busy, shipping out Raffi Torres and Joni Pitkanen, bringing in Erik Cole and Gilbert Brule. Lowe also added puck-moving defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky.

Michael Ryder, former Montreal Canadien, was picked up by the Boston Bruins.

Wade Redden, former Ottawa Senator defenseman, was signed to a wopping 6-year deal by the New York Rangers that will see him earning $6.5 million per season.

Brian Rolston went to the New Jersey Devils where he will be earning $5 million each year.

The Toronto Maple Leafs picked up a couple of players as well. Defenseman Jeff Finger and forward Niklas Hagman.

There were a ton of other signings, to get all the info on them check out the Sportsnet Free Agent Tracker.

With the 2008 NHL Free Agency opening just around the corner, on July 1st, I though I would take a look at what kind of players are still available.

With negotiations coming to a halt, Minnesota Wild left winger Brian Rolston might be shopping around this season to see what kind of deal he could get with another team. Last year Rolston played 81 games scoring 31 goals with 28 assists for a total of 59 points. At 35 years of age, and a $2.5 million price tag, he might be too much of a risk for most teams, but if you ask me, he would be a great signing for any team. With the rate of todays players, $2.5 mil for 31 goals and around 60 points, is a fair deal. I would like to see him wearing a Canucks uniform next year but I don’t see that happening.

Michael Ryder, a right winger for the Montreal Canadians is another UFA that has been highly talked about. However, with his 14 goals and 17 assists in 70 games last season I think his 3 million dollar price tag is way too high. I would not like to see him in a Canucks uniform next season… unless he accepted $1.5-2 million max.

Ryan Malone is a big left winger for the Penguins that has earned the attention of many GM’s from around the league. It has been said that he will most likely be making $5 million or more next season compared to his $1.5 million salary from last season. With 27 goals and 24 assists for a total of 51 points in 77 games last season, I think he earned a raise to around 3-3.5 million dollars next season, but as usual GM’s will be willing to overpay just to sign a player. I would like to see Malone in a ‘Nucks jersey next year, hopefully with a pricetag of around 4 million per season. I can see him being signed by the Canucks but I think if it does happen it will be for more then $5 million a season.

Marian Hossa is another UFA from Pittsburgh that will be shopping around to see what offers are out there. What can I say about this guy? I think he is an over-rated and over-payed player. I just don’t see how his 29 goals and 37 assists justify his $7 million price tag, and most likely $8 million or more next season. I have to laugh at myself when I see fans on the Canucks forum saying how Mike Gillis should sign Hossa, these are the same fans that were whining for Naslund to be traded because he only had 25 goals and 30 assists last season with a price tag of $6 million. I would not like to see Hossa signed by the Canucks, not for that price.

Another notable player that might be available to other teams is Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin. With his 32 goals and 46 assists for a total of 78 points in 74 games last season his 5.5 million dollar price tag is more then fair. Granted, Sundin is pushing 38 years old, but I still believe he has at least 2 or 3 more years left in him. I would love to see Mats Sundin playing for Vancouver next year but I doubt that will happen. I see him either retiring or signing with another East Coast team.

Among lots of other players available, the Vancouver Canucks have a number of players that are UFA’s this season. Most notably are Markus Naslund and Brendan Morrison. I would like to see both of these players re-signed by Canucks management… for a pay-cut of course. Out of the two, I think the only player that we might see in a Vancouver jersey next season is Morrison. Naslund will be picked up by an Eastern team that will be willing to pay him top dollar. I hope that happens, and I hope he finds his stride again, he was a great player for us here in Vancouver.

Ok, I know there are a lot of other free agents available but I am going to limit how many I post about. Instead I want to poll all of you about them, to see who you think the best player available is. Im talking about the best player available for the amount of money they will most likely be signed for.

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The Penguins pick up Hal Gil from the Maple Leafs in echange for a 2nd round pick and a 5th round pick.

As a start to the rebuilding process the Toronto Maple Leafs have traded Wade Belak to the Florida Panthers for 5th round draft pick. This is basically a move to dump a roster player and his paycheck.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO — Mats Sundin didn’t sound like a man on the move Saturday morning.

The Toronto Maple Leafs captain, speaking to reporters after the pre-game skate at Air Canada Centre, didn’t sound enamoured with the idea of waiving his no-movement clause to join another team before the 3 p.m. ET trade deadline Tuesday.

“I never believed in rental players to start with,” Sundin told reporters. “I think if you want to be part of the team that has a chance to win the Stanley Cup or a team that is going far in the playoffs, my opinion has always been that you want to be there from training camp or the start of the season to be part of the group.”

Still, no final decision had been made as of Saturday afternoon.

Cliff Fletcher, the Leafs’ interim GM, met with Sundin on Thursday and Sundin’s agent J.P. Barry on Friday and asked them to consider waiving the no-movement clause and to get back to him in a day or so with their decision. Sundin is slated for unrestricted free agency July 1.

Asked whether he would soon get back to Fletcher with an answer, Sundin said: “Yeah, I mean, I don’t think it’s going to change …I can’t see any reason why it would.”

Anaheim, Detroit, San Jose, Montreal and Ottawa are among the teams that are believed to have interest in him but Sundin had no idea when asked Saturday.

“I don’t know even know what teams are interested,” said Sundin, 37. “I haven’t followed that part of it.

“I’m just trying to solve my own situation here.”

What seems almost surely out of the question, if even Sundin does waive his no-movement clause, is signing an extension with another team.

“I can’t commit to anyone for next season,” said Sundin. “I want to play this season out, I want to listen to my body, see how I feel physically and mentally and see if I can get ready for another year at this stage of my career.”

The popular scenario played out among Toronto media and fans is seeing Sundin traded to a contender with the Leafs getting a nice package in return and then Sundin returning July 1 as a free agent. That’s news to Sundin.

“I haven’t even considered it, I haven’t even thought about that,” he said.

But he understands why Fletcher approached him.

“Listen, that’s part of the business of hockey,” said Sundin. “We missed the playoffs two years in a row and now we’re on the verge of a third year — we’re in a tough position — so obviously this is part of the business. We’re in the winning industry and everybody has to be accountable and that’s just part of it.

“Cliff’s got to do what he’s got to do, that’s part of the business,” Sundin later added. “He’s got to do what’s best for the Toronto Maple Leafs.”

Asked whether he thought he’d be in a Leafs uniform Wednesday night at Florida after the trade deadline came and went, Sundin replied: “I hope so, I hope so.”