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Mats Sundin has taken the first step toward a return to the NHL.

The 37-year-old free-agent centre underwent a physical exam at a Toronto hospital yesterday — necessary to begin a rigorous period of training to continue his hockey career.

Sundin, who spent the past 13 NHL seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, returned to the city last week and soon is expected to travel to Los Angeles to begin a two-week on-ice training stint.

It is believed that after those two weeks are up, he will begin talking to NHL teams to determine the best fit for him.

Sundin said last month he won't decide on where he wants to play until he figures out whether he wants to return for an 18th NHL season. He wants to play only one more season, but could change his mind.

At the earliest, Sundin could return next month. But the longer he waits, the more options he would have as his contract would be prorated and therefore less of a burden to teams that have to unload salary to make room for him.

His agent, J.P. Barry, said recently that he believes Sundin will play in 2008-09, but not likely return until December. Barry said yesterday he "cannot comment at this time" about the situation.

Maple Leafs general manager Cliff Fletcher said he hasn't talked with Sundin since Sept. 5, when the Swede was in Toronto to participate in a charity hockey game. Fletcher said yesterday's physical was not set up through the Leafs.

Even though Fletcher has salary-cap room and has left the door open for a possible return by Sundin, the talented centre has several options.

For Sundin, who has scored 555 goals and 766 assists in 1,305 regular-season games with Toronto and the Quebec Nordiques, it is not about the money.

Instead, he desires a situation he's comfortable with. Otherwise, he would have signed the lucrative $20-million (U.S.), two-year offer the Vancouver Canucks tossed his way on July 1, when he became an unrestricted free agent.

"I expect other teams to get involved to complicate the situation [for Toronto and Vancouver]," one NHL GM said. "But I don't see any teams with any money to spend [and stay under the salary cap]."

The Canucks, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens have admitted their interest in Sundin in recent months.

The Leafs need Sundin's offence. But such a move would mean surrendering a boat load of ice time to Sundin at the expense of developing young talent such as Mikhail Grabovski.

The Canucks' offer is still on the table and Vancouver could fit a prorated deal. But there is speculation Sundin would like to remain in the East.

The Canadiens acquired permission from the Maple Leafs to negotiate with Sundin at the NHL entry draft last June, but he clearly was not ready to commit to another season.

Before training camp, Canadiens GM Bob Gainey informed Sundin the Habs needed an answer by mid-September, and eventually went in a different direction with the acquisition of Robert Lang from the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Rangers are also right up against the $56.7-million salary cap. They would have to move a high-profile player or two to make room for Sundin.

With forward Jeff Halpern to miss most of, or the entire, season after knee surgery and the possibility of returning rookie Steven Stamkos to junior, the offensively challenged Lightning could use Sundin. They would have to create salary-cap room to reunite Sundin with his old buddy, forward Gary Roberts.

The Flyers are also up against the cap and would have to engage in plenty of tinkering to make room for Sundin.

Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson has made no secret he would enjoy seeing his countryman in a Sens sweater. After jettisoning defenceman Brian Lee to the minors they have more than $4.5-million of salary cap room.

Before travelling to Los Angeles, Sundin is expected to attend the Bell Gala celebrity event in support of the Toronto Hospital for Sick Kids tonight.

With files from Matthew Sekeres