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- Boston Bruins
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Colorado Avalanche
- Detroit Red Wings
- Florida Panthers
- Montreal Canadiens
- New York Rangers
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Brian Campbell
- Marian Hossa
- Ryan Malone
- Rostislav Olesz
- Vaclav Prospal
- Wade Redden
- Gary Roberts
- Brian Rolston
- Joe Sakic
- Mats Sundin
Mats Sundin is following the same path as his former teammate, Joe Sakic.
Again.
Last summer, when Sundin re-signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs for one season instead of a two-or three-year pact, the Swede compared his situation to that of Sakic. Sundin theorized that if Sakic, two years older and his Quebec Nordiques teammate for four seasons, signed one-year contracts at this stage of his career, then that arrangement was good enough for Sundin.
Now the 37-year-old Sundin will enter Tuesday's NHL free-agent market, which opens at noon Tuesday (ET), undecided as to whether he wants to continue playing. Sound familiar? Sure it does. Sakic is in the same situation, unsure as to whether he will play for the Colorado Avalanche or at all in the fall.
"No decision has been taken," Sundin's agent, J.P. Barry of CAA Sports, wrote in an e-mail. "Mats is still deciding on whether he will play again."
Sundin's indecisiveness may alter the dynamics of the free-agent market. Besides the Montreal Canadiens, who acquired the exclusive negotiating rights for Sundin from Toronto on June 20, the New York Rangers and possibly the Detroit Red Wings were going to take a run at signing Sundin Tuesday.
But do these teams wait or do they turn to a Plan B? Surely Sundin realizes the risk he's taking by waiting. Some of the interested clubs willing to spend the $7-million or so (all currency U.S.) that was earmarked for Sundin might travel in a different direction. But there will be clubs that will make offers to the Sundin camp anyway, in the hopes the lucrative pacts will sway him to play an 18th NHL season.
Where does Sundin's no-decision leave the Leafs? Is Toronto still interested in re-signing Sundin? Are the Leafs willing to wait for him to make his decision to play or not to play?
"I would rather answer that question after noon-time [Tuesday] because I gave Montreal exclusive rights to negotiate with Mats," Leafs general manager Cliff Fletcher said.
There was plenty of action in the final day before free agency. The Tampa Bay Lightning confirmed the signing of Ryan Malone (seven years, $31.5-million), Gary Roberts (one-year, $1.25-million plus bonuses) and Vaclav Prospal (four years, $14-million) and were hoping to add veteran Brian Rolston to the fold last night.
The Florida Panthers also signed forward Rostislav Olesz to a mind-boggling six-year, $18.75-million pact. The Czech Republic native has never scored more than 14 goals in each of his three seasons.
Expect the Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins to be front and centre for the services of high-profile free agents such as defenceman Brian Campbell and Wade Redden, as well as forward Marian Hossa.
The Rangers have almost $30-million to spend to get to the $56.7-million salary cap for the 2008-09 season. New York general manager Glen Sather will discuss new deals with a couple of his potential unrestricted free agents — Jaromir Jagr and Sean Avery — right up to today's deadline.
The Leafs have interest in Avery, 28, Kristian Huselius and everyone else under 30, as well as 41-year-old backup netminder Curtis Joseph. It is also believed that the Leafs will take a run at signing former Blackhawks forward Jason Williams.
"We're going to try and be busy," said Fletcher, who was asked if it will be difficult to sell to a player on the rebuilding situation that Toronto finds itself in.
"I think the opposite prevails," Fletcher said. "I think there will be some players who want to be part of what will be a good team in the future right from the beginning. It should be attractive to them because eventually we will become a very good hockey team."
It also will be intriguing to watch the plight of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Los Angeles Kings over the next few days. Both clubs will have to spend plenty of currency just to make the $40.7-million lower limit of payroll.
