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Re: NHL 2008-2009 off season thread
The Mats Sundin rumour mill slowed down considerably on Monday, as the unrestricted free agent forward confirmed to a Swedish newspaper that he hasn't decided yet on whether he'll return to the National Hockey League next season.
On Sunday, Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reported that Sundin agreed to play for the Vancouver Canucks, a claim that Sundin's representatives flatly denied.
"I will make a decision in the end of July or beginning of August," Sundin told the newspaper. "If I am going to play it's for the full season and I want to be there from the beginning of August."
The Canucks and Montreal Canadiens have long been reported as the leading suitors for his services, and the 17-year NHL veteran hasn't ruled out his former team either.
"The Maple Leafs are not out of the picture if I decide to play," he told Aftonbladet. "They made me a very good offer, even if it isn't even close to what the Canucks have offered. But I have been in Toronto for 13 seasons and it is like home to me. Nothing is out of the picture. I got a very good offer from them as well as one from Montreal. But Vancouver's contract was in a class by itself if you look only at the money."
The Canucks raised a lot of eyebrows on July 1 when news broke that the team offered Sundin a two-year contract worth $20 million. Last week, Canucks general manager Mike Gillis told a Vancouver radio station that he was encouraged to continue an ongoing dialogue with Sundin and was confident that he would accept the Canucks' offer.
"It is very flattering at my age," Sundin said of the Canucks' deal. "And it unusual to offer a two-year contract to a 37-year-old. But I will start thinking of the offers the day I decide to go on for another season. I have to be sure that I have the energy to go through another season at this level."
Sundin is coming off another productive campaign, recording 32 goals and 78 points with the Maple Leafs.
The two-time second-team NHL All-Star won a gold medal with Team Sweden at the Torino Olympics in 2006, and Gillis hopes to lure Sundin to Vancouver with the chance of captaining the defending gold medallists in the 2010 host city.
"I doubt that I will play for Sweden in the Olympics one more time," he told Aftonbladet. "But you should never say never."
this guy is such a dick...just pick a place to play or retire already 
Re: NHL 2008-2009 off season thread
Sundin is this year's Selanne only he never had a chance to win the cup. It's a shame if he retires, though, because the past few years have been among his most productive. The fool only wants to play in Toronto. Fletcher doesn't want him and he doesn't want to go anywhere else (I don't understand why... Toronto's a lousy city).
- Communist China
- Rep: 130
Re: NHL 2008-2009 off season thread
He wants to stay in Toronto because he doesn't care about winning. It's a guaranteed check and the blame will never fall on him because he's surrounded by players that just aren't good enough. I'm not being harsh, I don't say this about many players, but I don't think Sundin wants to make the playoffs. It's easier just to stay in Toronto.
Re: NHL 2008-2009 off season thread
leafs just raped the Sharks coaching staff
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced additions to their coaching staff on Tuesday by naming Tim Hunter and Rob Zettler as assistant coaches.
The pair spent the last five season's on new Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson's staff in San Jose.
"Tim and Rob bring winning experience to the Maple Leafs coaching staff," said general manager Cliff Fletcher. "Their familiarity with (Ron Wilson's) coaching style, along with their previous success in San Jose, will allow them to quickly bring in a structured system for our players to work within."
Hunter and Zettler join Keith Acton on the team's coaching staff.
While with the Sharks, Wilson, Hunter and Zettler utilized modern technology to help during games. Among the tools employed were a bench laptop to view replays and a computer which gave them access to real-time statistics.
more leafs news cuz i know you guys love em so much 
The Toronto Maple Leafs will honour former captains Wendel Clark and Doug Gilmour by raising their numbers to the rafters of the Air Canada Centre this season.
Clark will be saluted in pregame ceremonies prior to the Maple Leafs' Nov. 22 game against the Chicago Blackhawks, while Gilmour will be recognized on Jan. 31 prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Clark's trademark No. 17 and Gilmour's No. 93 will join those of Syl Apps, Ted Kennedy, Walter 'Turk' Broda, Johnny Bower, Tim Horton, George Armstrong, Charlie Conacher, Frank Mahovlich, Darryl Sittler, Clarence 'Hap' Day, Leonard 'Red' Kelly and Borje Salming.
The Maple Leafs historically only retire numbers of distinguished players that have died or had their career shortened due to tragic or catastrophic circumstances while being a member of the team. Irvine (Ace) Bailey (No. 6) and Bill Barilko (No. 5) are the two represented in this category.
Selected first overall by Toronto in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, Clark recorded 260 goals, 181 assists, 441 points, and 1,535 penalty minutes during three stints and 608 games in a Leafs uniform.
Gilmour joined the team from the Calgary Flames as the central figure in the largest swap of players in the history of the league in 1992. He was a Hart Trophy (most valuable player) candidate while capturing the Selke Trophy for the Maple Leafs in 1992-93.
He also established the team's career playoff points (77) and assists (60) records in just 52 games, and set the team's single season records for points (127) and assists (95) in 1992-93 and collecting a club record six assists in one regular season game. He succeeded Clark as team captain for three years starting in 1994 and he played in 392 games for Toronto and earned 452 points (131 goals and 321 assists) from 1992 to 1997
Re: NHL 2008-2009 off season thread
He wants to stay in Toronto because he doesn't care about winning. It's a guaranteed check and the blame will never fall on him because he's surrounded by players that just aren't good enough. I'm not being harsh, I don't say this about many players, but I don't think Sundin wants to make the playoffs. It's easier just to stay in Toronto.
That's what I've been saying all along. Mark this day down. We agree on something CC :haha:
If he goes to Vancouver he's a sell out. If he stays in Tornonto we know he has no desire to win. If he goes to Montreal he'll be smart. I actually see people having more respect for him if he goes to Montreal than staying in Toronto. Staying in Toronto puts his whole competive spirit in question if you ask me.
Re: NHL 2008-2009 off season thread
Communist China wrote:He wants to stay in Toronto because he doesn't care about winning. It's a guaranteed check and the blame will never fall on him because he's surrounded by players that just aren't good enough. I'm not being harsh, I don't say this about many players, but I don't think Sundin wants to make the playoffs. It's easier just to stay in Toronto.
That's what I've been saying all along. Mark this day down. We agree on something CC
If he goes to Vancouver he's a sell out. If he stays in Tornonto we know he has no desire to win. If he goes to Montreal he'll be smart. I actually see people having more respect for him if he goes to Montreal than staying in Toronto. Staying in Toronto puts his whole competive spirit in question if you ask me.
While I agree that if Sundin stays in Toronto that it means he doesn't want to win, but I'll respect him more if he stays in Toronto instead of going to Vancouver. If Sundin goes to Vancouver that makes him a loser and a player who just wants to play for $ and has no passion for the game. The Canucks have as much chance to make the playoffs this year as the Maple Leafs which is none. If he goes to Montreal my respect for him will go up but if he stays in Toronto I have to respect his loyalty to the Leafs organization cause not too many players have that loyalty nowadays.
Re: NHL 2008-2009 off season thread
looks like MTL gave up on Sundin....
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The Montreal Canadiens have acquired forward Robert Lang from the Chicago Blackhawks, in return for a second-round selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft (acquired from Toronto along with Greg Pateryn, in return for Mikhaïl Grabovski, July 3, 2008).
Lang played 76 games with the Blackhawks in 2007-08, recording 54 points (21 goals, 33 assists), posting a plus-9 rating while serving 50 penalty minutes. It was the 8th consecutive season in his NHL career with 50 points or more.
Lang has played in 875 regular-season games with six different teams (Los Angeles, Boston, Pittsburgh, Washington, Detroit and Chicago), recording 635 points (234 goals and 401 assists), including 77 powerplay goals.
His most productive season was in 2000-01 when he recorded 80 points (32 goals, 48 assists) in 82 games with the Penguins.
The Teplice, Czech Republic native was a 7th round selection, 133rd overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. He played in the 2004 NHL All-Star game as a member of the Washington Capitals.
The Canadiens also announced the signing of defenceman Patrice Brisebois to a one-year contract. As per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Brisebois, rejoined the Canadiens as a free agent on August 3, 2007. During the 2007-08 season, he registered 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists) and 26 penalty minutes in 43 games with the Canadiens, averaging 16:49 minutes of ice time per game.
The 37-year-old spent the first 14 seasons of his career in a Canadiens' uniform. He played two seasons with the Colorado Avalanche in 2005-06 and 2006-07. The Montreal native thas played in 947 career regular season games in the NHL, totaling 402 points (93 goals, 309 assists).
Brisebois was selected in the second round by the Canadiens (30th overall) in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.
Re: NHL 2008-2009 off season thread
I like this move. Now instead of a bona fide #1 centre, we have 3 #2 centres. This will balance the attack. It would be interesting to put Kovy and Lang together. They had some fantastic years on a line together in Pittsburgh about 10 years ago.
This is a lot better than waiting around for Sundin who was pretty unlikely to sign in Montreal anyway. If he did put on the Habs sweater, you could bet his heart wouldn't be in it. And it would be a waste of $8 million...
