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Report- Sundin Wants To Play In New York
by Paul on 06/24/08 at 06:06 AM ET
Comments (4)
from Larry Brooks of the NY Post,
Sundin, the 37-year-old long-time Maple Leafs captain who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, has made it clear New York is his desired destination. Indeed, we’re told that the Rangers New York Rangers have held conversations with both the centerman and his representative, J.P. Barry, after having received permission to do so by Toronto.
added 6:27am, from Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun,
The Canadiens maintain exclusive rights to sign the Maple Leafs captain prior to free agency on July 1, but there is a growing feeling Sundin will let next Tuesday’s deadline pass and examine offers from the NHL at large.
In that case, count the Rangers in the hunt, as well as the Red Wings, who have about $12-million US in cap space to play with, but likely won’t pay Sundin more than their long-serving star Nicklas Lidstrom ($7.45 million).
A dark horse could be the Florida Panthers, who have an opening for a No. 1 centre and captain after Olli Jokinen was traded and an enthusiastic welcoming committee in ex-Leaf Wade Belak.
added 11:09am, from Bob McKenzie of TSN,
There has been much confusion over who has been permitted to speak and/or negotiate with Sundin and when that happened.
Sources tell TSN the timeline is as follows:
- The Maple Leafs met with Sundin and his agent J.P. Barry to indicate the club has interest in bringing Sundin back to Toronto. While no formal contract offer was made, Leafs’ GM Cliff Fletcher conveyed to Sundin that the team was prepared to pay him around $7 million on a one-year deal and that they wanted him back.
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Mats+Sundin,
Comments
Is there any player that Larry Brooks would argue does not pine for the fjords of Manhattan? He’s like a Leaf or Hab writer in that respect (you’d think that everyone born in the province of Ontario wants to be a Leaf, or everyone with any sort of connection to Quebec wants to play for the Canadiens).
Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 06/24/08 at 04:04 PM ET
Is there any player that Larry Brooks would argue does not pine for the fjords of Manhattan?
That’s exactly what I thought before I read the comments here. Now, I’m like most NYers in that I think this is the best city in the world, and who wouldn’t want to come here? But that’s just my instinctive reaction and after a second or two I realize the arrogance of that broad statement. 
Arrogance is Brooks’ specialty though, so it’s no wonder he thinks everyone wants to play here.
Posted by K24 from NYC on 06/24/08 at 10:15 PM ET
We don’t need a guy pushing 40, sure Mats is a great hockey player, but we need younger guys who are going to help build this team again.
I think that the Blueshirts should focus on Hossa..he’d make a great addition, and is definitely fit enough to wear an “A” or even a “C” on his chest.
Posted by Bryan from Boston, Mass on 06/25/08 at 12:08 AM ET
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This is why the Blueshirts always come up short in the grand scheme of things. Sure it’s a great atmosphere to play in, but do players even consider where they might ‘fit in’ anymore? And aren’t they already deep at center. I guess some would say ‘you’re just jealous these guys always sign with the rangers’ but I’m not. Up until the Gomez Drury signings it seemed New York was where guys past their prime went to play.
Posted by AndrewB from TN on 06/24/08 at 01:15 PM ET