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Post by Zoom Waffles on Nov 1, 2008 12:05:50 GMT -5
Mats Sundin has reportedly been working out frequently here in LA for the past couple of weeks. The Vancouver Sun reports that he was in attendance for Thursday's Kings/Canucks game, and that he is expected to be back in an NHL lineup in about a month.
Let the rumor mill begin... where will he be?
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Post by Dethrij on Nov 1, 2008 14:02:16 GMT -5
Vancouver, NYR, and Montreal was the last I heard.
Bottom line is he'll go to whatever team he thinks will have the best shot at winning the Stanley Cup.
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Post by Zipper14 on Nov 1, 2008 21:00:33 GMT -5
He told the Canucks GM that he was there to see the Canucks young guys and the teams playing style. Sounds good for the Canucks (they played well that game), but I'm not gonna get my hopes up.
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Dec 2, 2008 10:39:44 GMT -5
rumors have sundin making a decision within the next 7 days, and Vancouver as the front runner. Other options: Chicago, Montreal, NY Rangers. (courtesy of rotowire.com)
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Post by Shredded Red on Dec 2, 2008 21:03:09 GMT -5
I hope it ends soon. He could save one of my fantasy teams if he comes back at the level he was last season.
Hopefully his return will cause a quick signing of Shanahan too.
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Post by Zipper14 on Dec 5, 2008 8:17:07 GMT -5
The Canucks look like they need him with the way the've been playing lately. Maybe they ned some leadership with Luongo on the shelf.
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Dec 8, 2008 10:39:16 GMT -5
Sundin has set next Monday as his target date for an announcement. Woohoo!
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Post by Shredded Red on Dec 8, 2008 22:20:45 GMT -5
Announcement of what? That he plans to play again? That he saved a bunch of money on his car insurance by switching to Geicko? That he's got rabies? I hope this announcement is that he's signing with a team and playing in his first game that night because I'm tired of him taking up a roster spot on my team!
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Dec 9, 2008 10:16:59 GMT -5
oh, haha... i do think the article actually said 'signing with a team'. and i hope so too... that bastard's just dead weight right now (not to be confused with doug weight...).
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Dec 9, 2008 16:34:50 GMT -5
Eklund's still thinking Montreal...
Montreal 25% Vancouver 20% Ny Rangers 20% Chicago 10% Philadelphia 10% Ottawa 10% Toronto 5%
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Post by Zipper14 on Dec 11, 2008 3:29:13 GMT -5
TSN is hinting at Vancouver.... but I think that's just because they have the cap space. I'm trying not to get too excited, but it is hard. The Canucks would go from a decent team to a cup contender with Sundin in the lineup.
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Dec 11, 2008 10:26:01 GMT -5
He was in NY yesterday visiting with the Rangers, so they must be up there on his list. At this point I'm gonna say it's 40% Vancouver, 40% NY Rangers, 15% Montreal, 5% somewhere else. Personally, I'd like to see him in Vancouver... I think he'd do well there, and he'd help a lot of those players. I think Mason Raymond would play well on Sundin's wing. Not to mention the obvious leadership benefits. Think about how much Mark Recchi helped Sidney Crosby early on.
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Post by The Hockey Hitman on Dec 11, 2008 16:06:53 GMT -5
For some reason I just find it hard to imagine Sundin will sign with an Eastern Conference team. We all know hes not going back to Toronto, but he still loves the team and city...not so sure he'd want to be put in a position to where he'd have to face off against his former club 2, 3, 4 times this season...so a Western Conference fits the bill better in that aspect.
I think its going to come down to three teams in the West...
Chicago, Vancouver and Anaheim...and I think Chicago will win the sweepstakes.
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Dec 11, 2008 16:26:50 GMT -5
chicago doesn't have the cap space unless they move khabibulin, right? same with anaheim. vancouver's got 8 million in wiggle room... seems most likely he's headed there.
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Post by The Hockey Hitman on Dec 11, 2008 16:35:33 GMT -5
chicago doesn't have the cap space unless they move khabibulin, right? same with anaheim. vancouver's got 8 million in wiggle room... seems most likely he's headed there. I wouldn't pay attention to cap numbers when it comes to Sundin. I could be wrong, sure, but it seems likely to me hes going to choose the team that has the best shot at going all the way with him in the lineup. Luongo is injured and there is a report that he may have had a setback in practice today...do you think Vancouver is a true Cup contender without Luongo? I sure don't. People will be worried about Luongo's health for the rest of the season when he does return, and Sundin will take that into consideration. Vancouver offered him 10 million for two years this past summer...and that offer has been on the table. Its a ridiculous offer, and I think if Sundin was going to sign with Vancouver he would have done so already. I doubt its comes down to who offers the most dollars or who has the most cap space.
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Dec 11, 2008 17:12:05 GMT -5
well i can't disagree. But remember that Fleury missed some 25 games last year, even later in the season than this, and then stood on his head in the playoffs.
but you're right on... if he's not taking 10 million for 2 years, he's not going to Vancouver. Then again, who knows what he's thinking. He might be leaving that out there to encourage other teams.
But i don't understand how he could possibly play in a place that has like $200,000 in cap space. i don't understand all the intricacies of the cap, but still...
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Post by The Hockey Hitman on Dec 11, 2008 20:46:18 GMT -5
Well, salary cap hits are assessed based on the number of days a player is on an NHL roster, prorated to his annual salary. So where ever Sundin signs, his cap hit will be a prorated amount of his salary over however many days are left in the regular season. That means a lot more teams are in on the Sundin sweepstakes than would appear.
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Dec 11, 2008 20:59:14 GMT -5
ahhh, that makes a lot more sense. so a $10 million salary would actually be more like a $6 million salary.
either way, a team with only $200,000 to spend... i dunno.
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Dec 15, 2008 13:30:47 GMT -5
Today's supposed to be the day...
Eklund's currently naming NY Rangers, Vancouver, Philadelphia, Montreal, Calgary, San Jose, Washington, Pittsburgh, and Anaheim, but admitting that NY, Vancouver, and Montreal are the most likely destinations.
If the Penguins sign another top Center, I'll disown them. Publicly.
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djp
Fourth Liner
Posts: 66
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Post by djp on Dec 15, 2008 18:00:03 GMT -5
And then it was sown to two.....................Vancouver and New York.
According to TSN.ca he's now waiting for an official offer from the Rangers and will hopefully decide by Friday and be back to play right after X-Mas.
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Post by The Hockey Hitman on Dec 15, 2008 18:08:38 GMT -5
Toronto's Fan590 is reporting that Sundin has made a decision and it will be the NY Rangers. This is just speculation until a more credible source like TSN reports that its official, but I'm just throwing this out there for now.
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Dec 15, 2008 18:20:06 GMT -5
man, i really hope that's not true.
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Dec 15, 2008 18:23:40 GMT -5
line combo guesses?
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Post by The Hockey Hitman on Dec 15, 2008 18:41:19 GMT -5
Lots of things wouldn't surprise me with this situation.
It wouldn't surprise me to see Sundin sign a 1 year, $1 million contract with the Rangers...which would be prorated for the season and one way or another means they fit him under the cap. Then they trade Prucha away for a late round draft pick or something so they have cap wiggle room.
Or I could see someone like Gomez or Rozsival traded to make room for Sundin...
hmmmmm
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Dec 15, 2008 18:50:52 GMT -5
gomez to dallas for avery and some prospects or picks?
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Post by The Hockey Hitman on Dec 15, 2008 18:53:10 GMT -5
I don't think the Stars could absorb another Brad Richards like contract even if they moved Avery's...many Rangers fans seem confident Gomez and Drury are going nowhere. Just food for thought I suppose...seem to remember us Lightning fans confident that we weren't going to deal a guy by the name of Danny Boyle not too long ago too...lol
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djp
Fourth Liner
Posts: 66
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Post by djp on Dec 15, 2008 23:23:43 GMT -5
There is always the option of sending a guy (or several down to the minors) for the year to make cap room yet still keep them on the team for next yr. From what I've heard (TSN and Sportsnet) the are 2 things to consider.
1)How serious is the injury to Luongo........could be very serious 2) Can the Rangers clear the cap space/how much of a pay cut is Sundin willing to take?
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Post by The Hockey Hitman on Dec 15, 2008 23:25:09 GMT -5
I know one things for sure, Sundin will not end up in Vancouver. I've thought that ever since it was made public they offered him $10 million per and he didn't snatch it up with the quickness.
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djp
Fourth Liner
Posts: 66
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Post by djp on Dec 15, 2008 23:36:34 GMT -5
So lets say the Rangers. I'd bet he plays with his friend Naslund and Zherdev as RW??
That would be quite interesting
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Dec 15, 2008 23:36:51 GMT -5
the only reason i'm not thinking the same way as you, Hitman, is because he hadn't yet heard what the Rangers were going to offer. You hear 10 million per year, and you think damn... what might someone else offer me.
nonetheless, at this point i'm 99% sure he'll be in NY.
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