Sundin to Montreal?

[The Bandit]

Fletcher has given Montreal permission to work on a deal with Sundin. If they sign him before July1st, they'll have to give a player or pick to the Leafs. The Leafs still have the right to match.

Fletcher did offer Sundin 1 yr @ 7 or 7.5 mil with a no-movement clause.

 

[hunter001]

Fletcher has given Montreal permission to work on a deal with Sundin. If they sign him before July1st, they'll have to give a player or pick to the Leafs. The Leafs still have the right to match.

Fletcher did offer Sundin 1 yr @ 7 or 7.5 mil with a no-movement clause.

What happens after July 1?

 

[The Bandit]

Unrestricted free agent, anyone can sign him. Just gives Montreal a head start...I guess they want him badly.

 

[hunter001]

Unrestricted free agent, anyone can sign him. Just gives Montreal a head start...I guess they want him badly.

I am not sure why. With Sundin's age and his hip problems don't see him taking Montreal to the next level (past 2nd round in the playoffs).

 

[smuddan]

I believe it's a done deal, Sundin will sign with Montreal. Bob Gainny has been after Sundin since last season. It's just too bad for the Leafs that Sundin didn't agree to be traded to Montreal last trade deadline or the Leafs would have received excellent value in return.

Fletcher's offer was more of a token pr move, it just wouldn't make any sense for him to grant permission to Montreal if he really wanted to resign Sundin.

I didn't think Cliff Fletcher could have done much more than what he did last season given the mess he was left with by the previous management, and with the apparent extension of his interim GM duty, I think the Leafs are in very capable hands before Burke or whoever comes on board.

 

[the_big_E]

I agree with Hunter...Sundin is not want Montreal needs, he should have went to a western conference team.

With that being said they get no compensation for him now...thanks Mats.

 

[JohnLarue]

I am not sure why. With Sundin's age and his hip problems don't see him taking Montreal to the next level (past 2nd round in the playoffs).

Are you kidding?
There is not a team in the league who would pass on this guy.
He is not 27 , but he will make the Habs a much better team.
If Gainey can add one or two more pieces they will be contenders

 

[Hockey_MLnut]

Only problem is Gainey won't give the leafs anything good for the rights to Sundin. Of course there is good reason. What if the leafs traded the rights to the Canadians and then Sundin turned around and signed with the Leafs or Detroit on July 1st.

 

[hunter001]

Are you kidding?
There is not a team in the league who would pass on this guy.
He is not 27 , but he will make the Habs a much better team.
If Gainey can add one or two more pieces they will be contenders

No I am not kidding. He can help them in the regular season but I don't see him helping them get past where they finished this year (in the playoffs). Gainey is a smart guy so I trust he knows better then I.

 

[The Oracle]

There is not a team in the league who would pass on this guy.
He is not 27 , but he will make the Habs a much better team.
If Gainey can add one or two more pieces they will be contenders

What he said.

 

[21pro]

Only problem is Gainey won't give the leafs anything good for the rights to Sundin. Of course there is good reason. What if the leafs traded the rights to the Canadians and then Sundin turned around and signed with the Leafs or Detroit on July 1st.

conditional contracts prevent this risk from happening.

 

[lawyerman]

If Sundin gets a better offer than the Leafs are offering, then that team is out of their minds. I really do not see the benefit of Mats joining the Habs.
The Habs will probably not win the cup even if they acquire Sundin so if I was Mats, I think I would wait until July 1. Would he be coming back for the money? Stanley Cup?

If he is coming back for the money, I really don't think he will receive a better offer than the Leafs are offering.

If he is coming back for a chance to sip from Lord Stanley's mug, then wait until after July 1.

He will probably be the most hated player in Leafs Nation ever if he joins the Habs. It's not like Bourque going to the Avalanche because Boston and Colorado are not rivals. Toronto/Montreal is one of the biggest rivalries in all of sports and Sundin has never been "loved" by the fans. I truly believe it's because he is a foreigner. Who really cares. He has been a great player throughout his career and he has never been given the proper linemates to help. Enough said.

 

[Les_Habitants]

Salut Mats ... c'est Bob

The Stanley Cup can be yours, Mats.

http://canadiens.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=366556

 

[21pro]

Sundin with Kovalev? wow.

 

[Mudd Stuffin]

I really hope Mats signs elsewhere, Montreal or somewhere else. I have nothing against him, but we are not going to be building for a future around him. He has 1 to 2 years left in him. People that say that the Leafs need to keep him so as to have a respectable season for 08/09, fail to see that if you want to re-build and have any hope of getting rid of most of the Muskoka-5 (Kubina, McCabe, Tucker, Kaberle, Sundin) you have to make it painful for them to stay. Right now and last year, they had no incentive to be moved, playing for a so-so team. Lets see how they like it when they ride the pine or the press box for a re-building tea. I suspect they will not like that.
The build a team around Sundiun era needs to end. That ship has passed, Mats had his many chances; its now time to build around someone else. The & + million it would take to sign him could get you a real solid young player, almost enough to get a new "franchise player".
I think the Leafs drastically missed the boat with not getting Ollie Jokkinen. Franchise players that want to be moved are few and far between.
If Sundin does come back, I think I will finally stop torturing myself, and take a big pass on the season.

 

[lawyerman]

I really hope Mats signs elsewhere, Montreal or somewhere else. I have nothing against him, but we are not going to be building for a future around him. He has 1 to 2 years left in him. People that say that the Leafs need to keep him so as to have a respectable season for 08/09, fail to see that if you want to re-build and have any hope of getting rid of most of the Muskoka-5 (Kubina, McCabe, Tucker, Kaberle, Sundin) you have to make it painful for them to stay. Right now and last year, they had no incentive to be moved, playing for a so-so team. Lets see how they like it when they ride the pine or the press box for a re-building tea. I suspect they will not like that.
The build a team around Sundiun era needs to end. That ship has passed, Mats had his many chances; its now time to build around someone else. The & + million it would take to sign him could get you a real solid young player, almost enough to get a new "franchise player".
I think the Leafs drastically missed the boat with not getting Ollie Jokkinen. Franchise players that want to be moved are few and far between.
If Sundin does come back, I think I will finally stop torturing myself, and take a big pass on the season.

With respect to your post, I do agree with most of your points. When did Mats have "many chances"? The offence has always been a problem since he's been here. The problem is that MLSE has never given Sundin any linemates that were much good at all. The "Muskoka 5" (I like that) have no-trade clauses in their contract that was so generously given by good ole JFJ. They don't have incentive because of that fact. They are professional athletes and should be playing hard every night.

I completely agree with you that Jokinen would have been an excellent pickup for the Leafs. They did give up a couple of good defencemen but I think well worth it. I believe Jokinen has only missed only six games in the last eight years. He brings it every night and he would have made a good replacement for Sundin when he decides on what he is going to do next.

 

[maurice93]

Fletcher has given Montreal permission to work on a deal with Sundin. If they sign him before July1st, they'll have to give a player or pick to the Leafs. The Leafs still have the right to match.

Fletcher did offer Sundin 1 yr @ 7 or 7.5 mil with a no-movement clause.

How the hell would the Leafs have the right to match, LOL.

 

[maurice93]

I didn't think Cliff Fletcher could have done much more than what he did last season given the mess he was left with by the previous management, and with the apparent extension of his interim GM duty, I think the Leafs are in very capable hands before Burke or whoever comes on board.

Other then totally damaging the Leafs goodwill and image for future free agnets and increasing the price for future free agents, Cliff did a great job.

 

[Hockey_MLnut]

Sundin's best chance probably lies with a western conference team.

 

[smuddan]

Other then totally damaging the Leafs goodwill and image for future free agnets and increasing the price for future free agents, Cliff did a great job.

I must have missed something, but would you care to explain what has Fletcher done to deserve your accusation ?