Sundin chooses Vancouver
by James Mirtle on Dec 18, 2008 5:07 PM CST
18 comments
Well, I'm surprised. The Rangers must not have been able to clear enough payroll to make this happen:
Vancouver Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis today announced that the team has signed free agent centre Mats Sundin. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We are very excited to have Mats join the Vancouver Canucks,” said Mike Gillis, Vancouver Canucks General Manager. “Playing previously in two Canadian markets and consistently being among team and League leaders in scoring, Mats has proven that he can excel under pressure. He adds a wealth of experience, leadership and skill to the Canucks.”
"I am truly excited to be joining the Canucks,” said Sundin. “Once I made the decision to return to play a few weeks ago, the Vancouver opportunity was simply the best overall fit. I want to thank Mike Gillis and the entire Canucks organization for their professionalism throughout this entire process."
This will be huge, huge news in Vancouver, which normally treats minor transactions with a ton of interest. I'll be in B.C. for Christmas in a few days, too, perhaps in time for his first game as a Canuck.
Vancouver's next game is this Saturday at home against Chicago. It will be on Hockey Night in Canada.
If Sundin signed that $10-million offer that was on the table in the summer, it would now be worth about $6.25-million given there is just more than 60 per cent of the season to go. Vancouver had about $8.3-million in cap space but would likely want to leave some wiggle room come the trade deadline.
It's going to be pretty interesting to see when Roberto Luongo comes back from what is reportedly a pretty serious groin issue. Sundin may provide more offence, but they need their No. 1 goaltender to have a chance in the Western Conference.
Sundin becomes the fifth Swede on Vancouver's roster, something that I'm sure played a role in his decision. I'll have thoughts on how much he improves the Canucks later tonight.
UPDATE The Leafs fans over at Pension Plan Puppets aren't amused. I'm not sure Sundin had a way to win them over after all the nonsense that's gone on.
UPDATE Reports on the contract have it at just under $6-million. Darren Dreger on TSN had it at $5.6-million, which would prorate to about $9-million over a full season.
UPDATE Sundin apparently won't be in action until after Christmas, likely the team's Dec. 28 game against the Senators in Vancouver. That date is likely to account for the discrepancies in what exactly he'll be paid.
0 recs |
18 comments
| Add comment
|
Email
Print
Comments
So the question is:
Who’s the captain?
The Litter Box: Your SBNation Florida Panthers Blogging Colossus
by Whale4ever on Dec 18, 2008 5:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Luongo. They won’t take it away from him.
by James Mirtle on Dec 18, 2008 5:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
About time. I’m just glad it’s over and didn’t turn into Teemu Selanne from last year, although he certainly pushed it.
Broad And Pattison - A Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Dec 18, 2008 5:23 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Sundin chose Vancouver?
These past 8 months have been absurd. Sundin never chose Vancouver. At one point he had 20 teams chasing but one by one they dropped out. Every GM except Mike Gillis spent their budget to ensure they would ice the best team possible. Gillis won because at the end Sundin dragged this out so long Vancouver was competing against themselves. No team had cap space or could make that much cap space. At this point it was either Vancouver or back to Sweden.
by Pseudonym on Dec 18, 2008 9:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
He could have signed for plenty of teams if he would take a $3-million contract. Many players sign for less because of a desire to win; Marian Hossa did it in the summer with Detroit.
Philadelphia and Ottawa were apparently in the running right up until the end.
And 11 NHL teams have enough cap space to accommodate the contract he’s signed in Vancouver. That’s without making a move at all.
by James Mirtle on Dec 18, 2008 9:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
With a due respect Jim, you are a terrific commentator but no one was pursuing Sundin at the end. It was all an illusion. Teams with enough cap space were just not interested in him. They had cap space either for economic reason (Islanders) or strategic reasons (the rebuilding Leafs). The teams most interested in Sundin had no cap space and were unable or unprepared to create that much cap space. I believe he really wanted to to go to the Rangers but they too had to drop out. His dithering reduced his options to one team.
Should be interesting to see whether the other teams in the West see Vancouver as a threat now. The trading deadline could be interesting.
by Pseudonym on Dec 19, 2008 8:18 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Should be interesting to see whether the other teams in the West see Vancouver as a threat now. The trading deadline could be interesting.
I’m pretty sure other teams in the West view Vancouver as a threat. The teams in the same division already do, and with the addition, it’s hard for the Wings and the Sharks not be feel a bit threatened. The Canucks won two against the Wings in OT (one of which without Luongo)and lost two games to the Wings by one goal. The Sharks have played the Canucks yet this season but will play 3 games before the end of Jan, two of which with Sundin in the lineup (and hopefully Luongo too).
by SJKel on Dec 19, 2008 1:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
UPDATE The Leafs fans over at Pension Plan Puppets aren’t amused. I’m not sure Sundin had a way to win them over after all the nonsense that’s gone on.
An explanation would be nice. Not even an apology, just an explanation. He’s been hiding out in Sweden (when he’s not shilling for pokerstars) since the season ended. Time to grow a pair and at least answer a few questions.
Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.
by Down Goes Brown on Dec 18, 2008 9:37 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Amen
At least explain the thought process. When did he decide that he didn’t want to retire as a Leaf? When did he waive his belief that the idea of being a rental player is obscene? Did the Leafs just tell him not to bother with them?
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Dec 18, 2008 10:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I bet Sundin talks very soon.
My guesses as to his answers? (a) They didn’t want him. (b) If he signs in Vancouver this summer, was he a rental player? © Yes.
by James Mirtle on Dec 18, 2008 10:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Sundin has a press conference tomorrow at 1 p.m.
by James Mirtle on Dec 19, 2008 1:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
The journey
Excellent post over at your place, PPP.
I have one point (that I’ve made before) about the famous “rental player” quote, although it treads the dangerous ground of pretending to know how the man thinks. I think there is a difference between being traded mid-season – changing the loyalties you’ve had for years, in this case – and simply starting up with a new team. Think of it as spending eight months “getting over” Toronto before he could think of giving 100% for a different emblem…
But then, I’m a Sundin defender from way back.
I've been looking at the sky
by Back In Black on Dec 18, 2008 11:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
Ultimately I think that Sundin felt he was unable to say what he felt and resorted to saying what he thought that the fans wanted to hear without giving a thought to how things would look if his actions changed.
We’ll all get over it eventually but it still stings. Sundin in a Canucks jersey can now go in a photogallery from hell with Sittler as a Flyer and Keon as a Whaler.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Dec 19, 2008 9:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Curses!
Damn you, Hockey gods!
Remember back before the lockout, before we had this silly salary cap thing, and the Rangers could just buy whoever they wanted? Fun times, those were.
Well, except for the 7 seasons of no playoffs, of course.
by self loather on Dec 18, 2008 9:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
1967
Sundin doesn’t owe Leafs fans an explanation.
He owed them effort while he wore their gear. And they owed him a paycheque.
That’s it. It’s over.
by Dr Van Nostrum on Dec 19, 2008 12:59 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
i'm sorry...
what does 1967 have at all to do with this…?
"You do dat, you go to da box, you know, uh, two minutes by yourself, and you feel shame, you know, and then you get free."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Dec 19, 2008 10:10 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
That’s a sign to ignore whatever words come out of his mouth.
...
by puckbuddy on Dec 19, 2008 11:21 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Join the community and dive in!
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
