Would Toronto trade Sundin to Montreal?

[Skilly]

On Eklund's site today he makes the comparison of Forsberg last year with Sundin this year ..... almost guaranteeing (but not e5-ing ) that Toronto will trade him. Then Sundin will re-sign in Toronto in the off-season. Sounds plausible and actually sensible - and a collusion-esque way of making Toronto alot better next year.

So what did Nashville give up to get Forsberg?

They traded Ryan Parent, Scottie Upshall, a 1st round selection and a 3rd round selection in 2007.

So if Montreal offered Michael Ryder, Mikhail Grabovski, Jaroslav Halak and a first rounder .... would we get Sundin? Especially if Mats has made it clear to Toronto he will be returning, thereby he would never come back to haunt Toronto.

If a young d-man has to be included in the deal .... Fischer, Valentenko, or O'Byrne (if we are getting Emelin next year)

[blny]

Not interested. I'm not willing to give up the farm for a sure rental.

I'd consider the move as a UFA as I think he can still produce. Mats has largely been a one man show in Toronto. I think we have more skill on the wings than the Leafs do. He's a right handed center. He's still got size and good speed. He can still shoot the puck and score from about anywhere on the ice.

[Doc Holliday]

Contrary to Eklund, I don't think Toronto and last year's Flyers compare at all. The Flyers last year were virtually eliminated in January while Toronto stand only 4 pts away from a playoff spot. With a strong second half they can make it but they'll need Sundin all the way.

[Polarice]

Way too much for a rental, maybe Ryder and a pick and thats it.

[franko]

Certainly don't want to be the TML's farm system . . . a system that they've "systematically" destroyed themselves.

[TheHabsfan]

Sundin has a no trade clause, which means he is in the driver's seat. I doubt he'll be driving to MTL. Detroit would be the logical choice.

THF

[Disgruntled70sHab]

I think Eklund also reads a lot of online columns as well. He's basically citing what Damien Cox wrote in his column yesterday. Cox was suggesting that Sundin would be an excellent fit in Anaheim as a replacement for Selanne down the playoff stretch.

If Toronto does keep playing the way they are then the no-trade clause will not be an issue. He'll more than likely be asked by JFJ if he really wants a shot at the Cup. Sundin will almost surely say, yes.

Then someone somewhere will flog Eklund a rumour guru, with excellent contacts and a 'real in' for calling a trade that could be pretty much a foregone conclusion. Yet, in reality, it will be probably the best, and possibly one of the last, business decisions JFJ had made during his tenure in Toronto.

If Sunding doesn't go anywhere then it will be because the Leafs are part of a train wreck of teams vying for a bottom playoff spot.

Coming full circle, if Eklund calls a Matts Sundin trade it won't be because of outstanding contacts or 'ins'. But, some will use to point out just how in tune this guy is with NHL insiders when, really, he's no better or worse than the rest of us junkies.

Cheers.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

franko said:

Certainly don't want to be the TML's farm system . . . a system that they've "systematically" destroyed themselves.

You make that sound like a bad thing Franko.

Cheers.

[franko]

disgruntled70shab said:

franko said:

Certainly don't want to be the TML's farm system . . . a system that they've "systematically" destroyed themselves.

You make that sound like a bad thing Franko.

The bad thing would be the restocking at our expense. Now PB and Smoke for Sundin I could live with . . .

[Disgruntled70sHab]

franko said:

disgruntled70shab said:

You make that sound like a bad thing Franko.

The bad thing would be the restocking at our expense. Now PB and Smoke for Sundin I could live with . . .

Bah! JFJ wouldn't make a trade, with or without Sundin in the mix, with Montreal. If he did not only would he lose his job (faster), but I suspect Leafs Nation would run him out of the country just after torching his home and pounding salt into his property.

Cheers.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Don't know what else JFJ could say that wouldn't leave some loose ends for the media to pick up.

Mats is here to stay ... for now

Jan 08, 2008 04:30 AM
Damien Cox
Hockey Columnist

ANAHEIM–Maple Leaf GM John Ferguson is already getting feelers from teams interested in making a deal for Mats Sundin.

But Ferguson has no answer for them, and he's hoping he won't ever have one, at least not this season.

"It's not something we're looking for," said the Leafs GM last night. "We've got 40 games left, and let's face it, we've got to win 25 (to make the playoffs).

"But it's way too premature, as we speak, to talk (about trading Sundin). We've come to California planning to get ourselves back on track."

With the club currently sitting four points out of a playoff berth, the Leafs probably have to consider trading Sundin before the Feb. 26 deadline unless they sign him to a new contract.

Given that the classy veteran is having a big year with 48 points in 42 games, re-signing him is clearly an option, but Ferguson wouldn't say whether talks are already being held with Sundin and his agent, J.P. Barry.

"We've always had a good relationship with Mats and J.P.," he said. "But I don't talk about contract negotiations with any player."

Sundin has a no-trade clause in his one-year, $5.5 million (U.S.) contract and would have to consent to a trade.

Two other scenarios are also possible. The Leafs could trade him before the deadline and re-sign him. Or they could hold on to him until June, and if they can't re-sign him at that point, they could trade the rights to talk to him about a contract to another team before the July 1 free agent season opens.

Nashville did just that with Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell last summer.

If the Leafs don't trade Sundin or re-sign him, they could lose him July 1 for little or nothing in compensation.

The problem for Ferguson and his staff is that barring a total collapse, the Leafs are quite likely to be within a half-dozen points of a playoff berth around the deadline, a very different situation from the Philadelphia Flyers last season when they fell out of the race very early and dealt away Peter Forsberg.

"It's not going to be a no-brainer, that's for sure," said Ferguson.

The Leafs GM, who has his amateur scouting staff in California for meetings this week and will also be joined on the trip by team president Richard Peddie, acknowledged that if it gets to a point where a Sundin trade is in the offing, the deal would have to be rubber-stamped by the board of directors of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.

www.thestar.com/Sports/Hockey/article/291961

[cigarviper]

If Sundin goes to Anaheim and wins a cup, why the hell would he want to go back to Toronto? It's a heaven and hell thing.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

cigarviper said:

If Sundin goes to Anaheim and wins a cup, why the hell would he want to go back to Toronto? It's a heaven and hell thing.

Reminds me of Rivet's comments about San Jose. Me thinks we might see Koivu there the year-after-next.

Cheers.

[HFTO]

A player like Sundin would be great but you'd puke when after trading prospects and picks he resigns with the Leafs.I pass thankyou.
HFTO

[franko]

hfto said:

A player like Sundin would be great but you'd puke when after trading prospects and picks he resigns with the Leafs.I pass thankyou.
HFTO

That's it. I think the reverse question holds: would Montreal trade for Sundin? Only if the price were low enough, and JFJ, I imagine, has smartened up a bit.

[clear observer]

Doubtful that they would, as well, it's doubtful that the Habs would compromise ANY of their future...at least I would hope.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

franko said:

hfto said:

A player like Sundin would be great but you'd puke when after trading prospects and picks he resigns with the Leafs.I pass thankyou.
HFTO

That's it. I think the reverse question holds: would Montreal trade for Sundin? Only if the price were low enough, and JFJ, I imagine, has smartened up a bit.

JFJ might as well leave the country if he ever even considered a deal with Montreal involving Sundin. He probably wouldn't have a house to back to anyway.

Cheers.

[roke]

Sundin? Pass. Why give up many assets for a player you can't keep?

Now Kaberle, there's a player I'd like to see in bleu, blanc et rouge. Fischer a 1st and Halak for Raycrap and Kaberle...

I'll stop dreaming now.

[Skilly]

roke said:

Sundin? Pass. Why give up many assets for a player you can't keep?

Now Kaberle, there's a player I'd like to see in bleu, blanc et rouge. Fischer a 1st and Halak for Raycrap and Kaberle...

I'll stop dreaming now.

And Raycrap's Calder abdication and I am sold.

[CentreHice]

roke said:

Sundin? Pass. Why give up many assets for a player you can't keep?

Now Kaberle, there's a player I'd like to see in bleu, blanc et rouge. Fischer a 1st and Halak for Raycrap and Kaberle...

I'll stop dreaming now.

Kaberle has a lot of potential...but he is having a terrible season so far. Like most of the Leafs' D. Turning out to be another bloated JFJ contract. McCabe, Tucker, Blake, Kubina.

Many pundits thought that Kaberle would turn up his game to last year's form, with McCabe being out....but he hasn't.

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

Sundin and Selanne could possibly make the team and help in the playoffs?
They are rentals unless they sign long term contracts and since they didn't sign in Anaheim or Toronto, their commitment to the team and the game is limited. What would we have to give up for rentals?
Is that in Gainey's long term plan?

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

skilly said:

On Eklund's site today he makes the comparison of Forsberg last year with Sundin this year ..... almost guaranteeing (but not e5-ing ) that Toronto will trade him. Then Sundin will re-sign in Toronto in the off-season. Sounds plausible and actually sensible - and a collusion-esque way of making Toronto alot better next year.

So what did Nashville give up to get Forsberg?

They traded Ryan Parent, Scottie Upshall, a 1st round selection and a 3rd round selection in 2007.

So if Montreal offered Michael Ryder, Mikhail Grabovski, Jaroslav Halak and a first rounder .... would we get Sundin? Especially if Mats has made it clear to Toronto he will be returning, thereby he would never come back to haunt Toronto.

If a young d-man has to be included in the deal .... Fischer, Valentenko, or O'Byrne (if we are getting Emelin next year)

Do you think JFJ has the authority to trade Sundin?
I think JFJ breathes a sigh of relief every time he inserts his key to the executive washroom and it works.
He doesn't have the authority to purchase a box of #2 pencils without going to the board for permission.
I've known JFS personally. He was a great player.
He managed to raise a family and get his son into the AHL as a player.
He could have taught him more about being a GM.