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To Sundin or Not to Sundin
by Alanah McGinley on 02/14/08 at 06:35 PM ET
Comments (8)
... that is the current obsession.
Bruce Arthur at Canwest News breaks it down.
Whether the Vancouver Canucks should trade for Mats Sundin is not the question.
OK, well, it is the question.
Cool. And the answer?
But before we answer it --
Oh, for chrissakes…
...the first question comes down to one man, and one answer: Would Mats Sundin accept a trade to Vancouver?
It does? Oh yeah, the no-trade-clause.
Okay, let’s just work under the assumption that Sundin might take such a trade. Because we can’t read minds, for one thing, and for another… well, the first question was the better question:
Does Vancouver want Mats Sundin?
Sundin is still a very good player. He’s not quite great, but he’s not experiencing any significant drop-off in performance or drive. Add him to Vancouver, and a ninth-place team becomes ... what, a fifth-place team?
Believe it or not, fair readers, this is the beginning of an argument about why we should not want Sundin. Say what? Are we too good for 5th place? Any position inside the top-8 that still avoids the Red Wings for a minimum of 4 games sounds like a happy place to me…
Fortunately, Bruce Arthur finally arrives at an actual point:
...if Sundin loves Toronto as much as he says, he’ll likely head back to the big smoke in free agency, anyway, and you’ve sacrificed the most valuable asset in the NHL—young, cheap talent—for the privilege.
Well, now THAT is the only issue that needs to be dealt with. What would you give up for Mats Sundin?
I like him a lot—more than Bruce up there—but the sticking point is the idiocy of two groups of people: (1) the Church of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (and the crazy deals that you just KNOW they’re dreaming up in their heads as we speak); and (2) The idiocy of some yet-to-be-determined GM out there right now, who is also currently convincing himself that Mats Sundin is exactly the final piece to take them over the edge for the Cup (thinking, “What the hell. Who needs those 3 draft picks, 4 prospects, and lunch money? Not us!")
Someone, somewhere, is about to get taken to the cleaners.
But back to Vancouver, Ed Willes (of Canwest via the National Post), came to this conclusion today:
In the end, there might be a deal here, but it won’t be the one envisioned by The Hockey News—Kesler, Edler, Schneider and a conditional first-rounder for Sundin and a negotiating window. The Leafs aren’t going to get Kesler and Edler, the Canucks two best young players, plus Schneider.
Willes has definitely got that right—Nonis would have to suddenly exchange IQs with the team mascot for that deal to happen.
Which brings me to this: Who on earth came up with that crackpot trade theory at The Hockey News?? Such smart writers they have around there—but geez, boys, apparently 5-martini lunches aren’t out of the question these days?
Unless MLSE suddenly develops the urge to love Vancouver with some unexpectedly-rational deal, I can’t imagine the Sundin Sweepstakes ever favoring Canucks Nation.
Frankly, I think they’d have more luck slapping their orca logo on The Glass Swede.
Filed in: vancouver canucks | Canucks and Beyond | Permalink
Tags: mats+sundin, toronto+maple+leafs, trade+rumors, vancouver+canucks,
Comments
A 2-year deal would be easier to stomach… but even then, would you give up Kesler, Edler, and Schneider—with more than a decade ahead of each of them in their careers—for a 37-39 year old Sundin?
No disrespect to Sundin intended. Not only is he a talented scorer, but he can play gritty and mean. Vancouver has always done well with gritty and mean characters. But those three talented young guys with their very-reasonable (to cheap) salaries, would be tough to replace…
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 02/14/08 at 08:09 PM ET
STOP! Please stop. Talking about Forsberg coming here makes so much more sense, because it is a one time deal...nothing to lose. Sundin means a trade, which means sacrificing something of the future for a somewhat over the hill player.
Think about it...there is a reason (beyond poor management) that the Leafs don’t win that often...being Captain has its responsibilities...and I’ve seen Sundin pull too many boneheaded penalties when it counted most. I’m just not impressed with him...and the cost is way too high.
Posted by GZ Expat from Chiner on 02/15/08 at 12:26 AM ET
I think the writers in the East have their heads stuck in their asses. Nonis has said over and over again that he won’t sacrifice the future of this team on a superstar.
Our best bet is to land Forsberg, and if not him, roll the dice on one or 2 forwards that only cost us later draft picks. Hopefully Nonis can land someone better than Smolinski this time.
Posted by Zanstorm from Smithers on 02/15/08 at 12:00 PM ET
You think that’s crazy?
I like hearing the ideas of what people think Darcy Tucker would be worth to a contending team.
(Because everyone knows the irreplaceable value of a forward who can take stupid penalties to a team looking to advance in the playoffs.) 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 02/15/08 at 12:12 PM ET
Expat -- Agreed. Although, I’m not crazy about the The Forsberg Solution, either. The world’s most breakable hockey player (since Marian Gaborik’s doctors have managed to keep him held together this season with duct tape) wants a 2 year contract. I prefer one of Zanstorm’s ideas actually…
Zanstorm -- “roll the dice on one or 2 forwards that only cost us later draft picks...”
I’m sold.
Baroque -- Tucker. Awesome. And you know, I believe I mentioned the other day that the Canucks boards managed to generate a serious discussion about acquiring Wade Belak, as well.
Now that idea is a Stanley Cup just waiting to happen…
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 02/15/08 at 12:39 PM ET
I’d settle with Toskala right now, given Luongo’s current play. What is up with that guy right now? Do we not give Lu enough love anymore?
Posted by Trevor from Vancovuer, BC on 02/15/08 at 01:50 PM ET
Trevor -- Do we give him enough love? Hell, we’re Vancouver fans—I’m pretty sure that all scientific evidence would prove that we’re poison for goaltenders! But that being said, I think Luongo will be fine. The disease (i.e. playing for the freakin’ Canucks) is trying to kill him, but he’s the type that will prevail through it all.
Meanwhile, it’s just that (unexpected to him and his agent) he’s going to have to earn every $6+ million of his salary in stress level, doing so.
And it’ll be one penny at a time…
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 02/16/08 at 01:46 AM ET
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About Canucks & Beyond
Alanah McGinley has been blogging hockey since 2003, sharing opinions, rants and not-so-deep thoughts with anyone who will listen. In addition to writing Canucks & Beyond and helping manage Kukla’s Korner, Alanah is one of the founders and co-hosts of The Crazy Canucks Podcast, as featured at Canucks.com.
She has contributed pieces to FoxSports.com and the New York Times Slapshot blog, as well as other stray destinations in cyberspace.
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Only if he comes with a 2 year extension. Otherwise forgetaboutit.
Posted by Laker from BC on 02/14/08 at 07:25 PM ET