Entries with the tag: mats+sundin

The Russia—Sweden—Sundin—Vancouver Connection

by Alanah McGinley on 07/20/08 at 01:55 PM
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From Canada’s Vancouver Province to Sweden’s Dagens Nyheter, baseless hockey rumors seem to be infecting the mainstream media world lately, and at a rapid pace.

Yesterday’s “Sundin Picks Vancouver” kerfuffle created a storm of attention, so I contacted the author of that claim last night—Dusan Umicevic— to request more information. 

He was generous enough to write back, but after hearing his explanation I don’t believe he had any basis to write the explosive story that he did.

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Report: If He Returns to the NHL, Sundin Picks the Canucks

by Alanah McGinley on 07/19/08 at 06:44 PM
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This Swedish article at DN.se (Dagens Nyheter) has been translated below, as has this article from AftonBladet.  But here are the high points from the original DN report:

• DN has a source stating that Mats Sundin has decided that—if he does return to the NHL—he will be playing in Vancouver (*changed. see updates.)
• His overseas agent (?) Claes Elefalk told DN he is unaware of this development, but did state they are in contact with the Canucks, as recently as yesterday.

The complete DN report is translated (terribly) by Google, below. Below that is the Aftonbladet translation, summarizing the original report.

NOTE: Significant changes to the translation available in the updates below.

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Five Stages of Grief for Canucks Fans

by Alanah McGinley on 07/18/08 at 02:55 PM
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There are 5 stages of grieving, typically understood to be:  Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance.

When it comes to Mats Sundin, Vancouver fans have gone through all of them lately.  Here’s the breakdown:

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Top 5 Reasons Sundin Prefers the Canucks to the Habs

by Alanah McGinley on 07/14/08 at 03:35 PM
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Mike Boone at Habs Inside/Out posted this over the weekend:

If Mats Sundin plays hockey this season it will be as a member of the Montreal Canadiens.

Why?

Because it makes sense.  And Sundin is a sensible guy from Sweden, a sensible social democracy where people drive Volvos and go to Ingmar Bergman movies and learn to play smart hockey.

Spare me.  Ingmar Bergman movies are the answer to the Jeopardy question, “What is the most drab and depressing thing you can think of?”

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The Graphical Pavol

by Alanah McGinley on 07/14/08 at 12:44 PM
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Statistics aren’t everyone’s cup of tea (least of all mine; in university, I dropped out of ‘Introductory Statistics’ three times before finally finishing and passing the course) but they’re obviously a useful tool when it comes to breaking down a player—especially a player who’s new to the team and somewhat of an unknown quantity.

Below are four charts I’ve put together to look at Pavol Demitra (and one on Mats Sundin) from a variety of perspectives:

• Chart 1 -- Demitra vs Naslund
• Chart 2 -- Demitra’s 2007-08 Line Combos and Points
• Chart 3 -- Demitra’s Situational Ice Time for 2007-08
• Chart 4 -- Sundin’s 2007-08 Line Combos and Points

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Those CanCucks Get Better Every Day

by Alanah McGinley on 07/10/08 at 01:35 PM
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Now if they can just sign SunKdin, they might be able to ice a hockey team come October.

Update 10:54am PT: Craig Custance of the Sporting News passes on that Demitra’s deal is for 2 years, $4 million per.
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*screenshot from TSN.

Mats Sundin Hanging in Vancouver

by Alanah McGinley on 07/08/08 at 01:36 PM
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... or so sayeth Howard Berger on FAN 590 for the last two days, reporting it as a rumor (one that, apparently, only he has heard).  So I’d continue to ignore Berger but it’s getting hard to—he keeps saying it and people keep asking about it. 

While I have no idea if Sundin is (or was) in Vancouver this week, here are a couple things to consider:

(plus evening updates below...)

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Can Mike Gillis Save the Canucks?

by Alanah McGinley on 07/04/08 at 01:56 PM
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From Ben Kuzma in The Province:

Unrestricted free agent centre Brendan Morrison will not re-sign with the Vancouver Canucks, The Province has learned.

At one point, seven teams expressed interest in Morrison and a source indicated that the 32-year-old Pitt Meadows native is expected to sign a multi-year deal elsewhere and reject a one-year, $1.9-million US offer from the Canucks.

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Vancouver’s Backup Plan

by Alanah McGinley on 07/02/08 at 03:15 PM
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Canucks Free Agency Thrills, in summary --

Negatives:

• The Canucks lay their bets on Backes. That didn’t work out so well.
• Canucks throw $20,000,000 at Mats Sundin. But even that isn’t enough money to play for Vancouver these days

Positives:

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Sundin Says ‘Don’t Hold Your Breath’

by Alanah McGinley on 07/02/08 at 01:33 PM
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via TSN, a statement from Mats Sundin today:

“I would like to thank all the teams who have expressed such sincere interest in my services.

“The numerous options provided to me were impressive and I have no doubt that each one presented a unique opportunity for me to finish my career in a terrific hockey environment.

“I spent a great deal of time yesterday reflecting upon the teams who stepped forward and the opportunities that each provided. Unfortunately, I am simply not close to being ready to make a decision about resuming my career at this time.

“I wish all the teams the very best and thank them for their interest.”

Alrighty then. Got a “Plan B” (or “C” or “D” or...) in mind, Mr. Gillis?

Report: Canucks Sign Ryan Johnson

by Alanah McGinley on 07/01/08 at 11:14 PM
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From TSN:

The Vancouver Canucks have reportedly signed forward Ryan Johnson.  According to Team 1040, the Canucks inked the 10-year veteran to a two-year, $2.4 million contract.

Johnson spent the past six seasons with the St. Louis Blues after being claimed off waivers from the Florida Panthers, the team that drafted him.

More on that later, presumably. Meanwhile, Mike Gillis’s response to the $20 million offered to Mats Sundin today:

“We don’t [have a timetable for an answer]. Mats has gone to bed in Sweden,” said Gillis. “I know he’s thinking about things. From all indications he was very, very pleased that we stepped up and did what we did. We’re hoping to have some more dialogue in the morning and get a positive response.”

$20 million. What’s not to be pleased about? 

Sundin, the Canucks and Pile of Money…

by Alanah McGinley on 07/01/08 at 02:30 PM
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From the wild world of hockey rumors, Bruce Garrioch reports:

The Vancouver Canucks are after Mats Sundin.  League sources told Sun Media the Canucks have offered the Toronto captain a two-year, $20 million deal.

Sundin hasn’t decided on his future, but he’s contemplating it.

Fan590’s Howard Berger just mentioned the same thing. (thanks to readers for sending this one in!)

Insanity.

12:05pm PT: That Vancouver is the team that offered this deal to Sundin is also now being reported on TSN television.

3:22pm PT: J.P. Barry, Sundin’s agent, states on FAN590 that his client has received nine offers today which he’s considering. He states that money is not the most important factor (clearly, if he’s hesitating at this insane Canucks offer) and that Toronto is also still a possibility.  Barry also says that Sundin isn’t certain he will return to the NHL at all yet, which is part of what’s taking him some time to figure out.

To Sundin or Not to Sundin

by Alanah McGinley on 02/14/08 at 06:35 PM
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... 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?

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Canucks Trade Theories and Other Nonsense

by Alanah McGinley on 01/21/08 at 11:48 AM
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Ed Willes in today’s Province notes what he considers one of the more plausible trade-deadline possibilities for the Vancouver Canucks:

The Pittsburgh Penguins are thought to be making centre Erik Christensen available for a physical defenceman and Christensen fits the Canucks’ profile. He’s 24, has decent size and some skill. The injury to Sidney Crosby may effect his availability in the short term, but Christensen might be a fit in Vancouver.

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The Swedish Canadian

by Alanah McGinley on 01/19/08 at 08:59 PM
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CBC’s Satellite Hotstove just wrapped up with a few words on the Mats Sundin fiasco situation that might be of interest to Canucks fans.

Al Strachan made the comment that Sundin may be leaning towards Vancouver, in part because staying in Canada is his preference—he doesn’t want to leave Canada due to the nature of his investments.  However he also emphasized that John Ferguson is asking for a lot in return.

Pierre LeBrun’s perspective is that more than anything, Sundin really wants to stay in Toronto.

I guess we’ll see. Sundin has a NTC after all—he can go wherever he wants.  And with the Leafs having only 44 points, almost zero hope of making the playoffs at this rate, and their captain a free agent this summer, JFJ and his bosses really don’t have much choice here.

Update 6:10pm PT: Spector also summarizes the Hotstove talk above with his opinion that, as long as the Leafs are in the playoff hunt, Sundin won’t be traded. 

No doubt, true, and so it’ll probably all come down to where the Leafs rest in the standings by trade deadline day, late February.