Canadiens Trade Rumors

"The agent for free-agent centre Mats Sundin says his client may not make a decision about whether to continue his National Hockey League career until after the start of the regular season. J.P. Barry said Wednesday that a decision by Sundin is not imminent and suggested there is no guarantee that Sundin will meet his self-imposed, end-of-August deadline to decide whether he will play this season. "We are going to talk to him later this week just to get an update from him, but right now we are not putting any pressure on him because he has to get that feeling that he wants to play," Barry said. "But right now, he's no closer." Barry did not rule out the 37-year-old Sundin following a path ..."

"The 2007-08 edition of the Toronto Maple Leafs' media guide is as much a resource for player preferences as it is for player stats. According to the NHL team guide, Mats Sundin wants to meet human-rights activist Nelson Mandela, enjoys vacationing in the Swedish colony of Saint Barth and "would be an electrician" had he not been so skilled with the puck. It also reveals that the 37-year-old loves playing in Manhattan, listing New York and Madison Square Garden as his favourite road city and arena. So it hardly comes as a surprise that the Rangers, who recently lost Jaromir Jagr to the new Continental Hockey League in Russia, are on the shortlist of teams that Sundin would not mind playing ..."

"These are the dog days if you're looking for a hockey fix, but the fan message boards are full of crazy Ales Hemsky trade rumours to the Montreal Canadiens. That's like fantasizing that you might get a date with Halle Berry. Not a chance. "Hemmer's a guy you build your team around," said Edmonton Oilers assistant general manager Kevin Prendergast, who laughed heartily at the mention of Hemsky's name in any trade talks. It's a one-sided flirtation by Montreal, if there's any truth to it at all, according to Prendergast. "I don't think you'd consider anybody an untouchable these days but the deal would have to blow our socks off to get him out of here," Prendergast said. "I'd be in shock (if ..."

"It looks like Mats Sundin may wait until late August before deciding whether to return to the NHL - never mind with which team. Sundin seemed no closer to deciding on his future during an interview with a Sportsnet reporter, who caught up to the former Leafs captain on a golf course in Sweden on Monday. "I haven't decided yet," Sundin told the network. "I think sometime in August I hope to come to a conclusion on what I'm going to do ... if I'm going to play or not this year." Sundin backtracked on comments he made to a Swedish newspaper in July, when he suggested he'd choose his path in early August. "I never had a deadline," he said. "I know there was talk about the first of August, but ..."

"As soap operas go, the Mats Sundin sudsfest is getting as loopy to follow as Coronation Street. Just when everyone thought Sundin's choices were down to three -- return to the Maple Leafs, take big bucks with the Vancouver Canucks, or retire -- and that he would decide by today, agent J.P. Barry told a Vancouver radio station that six teams were in the hunt and Sundin could take well into August to make his call. "The number (of teams) has gone up, not gone down since July 1," Barry told the Team 1040 yesterday. The Leafs, Canucks, New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens are thought to be in the six-pack, while Detroit has dropped out. At least it appears Sundin will play somewhere in ..."

"It appears the Mats Sundin soap opera could be over within the next week. According to an interview with the unrestricted free agent centre published Monday in the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, Sundin may make a decision about his future -- and a two-year, $20 million offer from the Vancouver Canucks -- by the end of July. "I hope to make a decision about continuing with hockey in August or perhaps at the end of this month," Sundin told the newspaper."

"Unrestricted free-agent forward Mats Sundin said he hasn't decided if he'll even return to the National Hockey League for another season, denying reports he was prepared to sign with the Vancouver Canucks. "It's not true at all that I'm definitely going to Vancouver. I haven't yet decided if I'm going to continue to play hockey," Sundin told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet in yesterday's editions. I'm still trying to gather my thoughts and decide what I'll do in the future. I'm going to try to reach a decision within the next few weeks."...The Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs are also potential destinations, should the 37-year-old centre return for the 2008-09 season."

"Mats Sundin expects to announce within the next two weeks where he will play next year. And the Maple Leafs remain an option - should he return to the NHL. "I will make a decision in the end of July or beginning of August," Sundin told Stockholm's Aftonbladet newspaper yesterday. "If I am going to play it's for the full season and I want to be there from the beginning of August." Sundin went on to suggest that he'll either play for the Leafs or Vancouver Canucks in 2008-09. "The Maple Leafs are not out of the picture if I decide to play," he said. "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 ..."

"Sundin has still given no firm indication when he'll decide whether to accept a two-year, $20 million US contract offer from the Canucks -- there is also a one-year option from general manager Mike Gillis -- or whether he'll play for the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs or retire. However, the unrestricted free agent centre has been working out, which seems to indicate that he'll playing in the 2008-09 NHL season. Gillis has dangled the opportunity to captain Sweden in the 2010 Olympics at Vancouver. Gillis remains encouraged by his ongoing dialogue with Sundin and his North American agent J.P. Barry and the fact that the Canucks have outbid other suitors for the hulking ..."

"A U.S. report that unrestricted free agent Brendan Shanahan was offered and rejected a one-year, $2-million US offer from the Vancouver Canucks is inaccurate, according to his agent. "I can tell you that I've never been approached or had any discussions with Vancouver regarding Brendan," said Rick Curran, who added that San Jose and Montreal are not in the mix either. "We've only been having discussions with one team and that's the New York Rangers."

"Bob Gainey is not ruling out the chance of landing prized free agent Mats Sundin by the end of the summer. But not for the whopping $10 million US per season the Vancouver Canucks were offering the longtime Maple Leafs captain earlier this week. "It's still possible he could come to Montreal but not for (that price)," the Montreal Canadiens general manager said during a news conference in Montreal last night"

"Hossa has been on the Canadiens' radar since the trading deadline and he'll take at least another day before making his decision. The Canadiens are reportedly on his short list of four or five teams, but Gainey could be hamstrung by the salary cap. The signing of Kostitsyn leaves him with $10.881 million in unused cap space and he still has to negotiate with restricted free- agents Mikhail Grabovski, Ryan O'Byrne, Josh Gorges and Jaroslav Halak."

"The threat of retirement is not standing in the way of NHL teams taking a hard run at free agent forward Mats Sundin. Sources tell TSN as many as four teams have tablde offers for the 37 year old, including one undisclosed team - believed to be the Vancouver Canucks - that has offered a whopping $10 million per year on a multi-year contract. Sundin, who remains in Sweden is said to considering all of his options, but has yet to decide whether or not he play next season."

"Sundin, who would cost about $6 million, also could retire to Sweden or play for the defending Cup champion Red Wings, who have a cadre of Swedes. If Jagr chooses to leave for Russia or Prague - or maybe Pittsburgh - an obvious replacement would be Marian Hossa to skate on Gomez's wing. The Slovak sniper, 29, would cost between $7 million and $8 million. Boston, Vancouver and Montreal also reportedly have their sights on Hossa...On offense, the speculation includes Montreal's Michael Ryder and Washington's Matt Cooke, who would replace Avery and/or Straka. The Rangers have several forward prospects who could earn a spot in training camp: Lauri Korpikoski, P.A. Parenteau, Dane Byers, ..."

"For the first time in his career – and still not sure he even wants to return – Mats Sundin will become an unrestricted free agent at noon today. "Mats has made no decision on whether he will play next year," agent J.P. Barry said last night. "He needs more time to decide if he will play or not. "As a result, he has informed Montreal and Toronto that he cannot make any decisions or commitments at this time." Sundin could walk away from the Maple Leafs as the team's all-time leading scorer and the team would have nothing to show for him."

"Campbell finished last season with the San Jose Sharks. He's a puck-moving defenseman who would fill the Hawks' need as the quarterback on the power play. He had eight goals and 54 assists splitting time between the Buffalo Sabres and the Sharks. The Hawks are about $13 million under the salary cap of $56.7 million and Campbell is likely looking for a deal worth between $6 million and $8 million per season. The other big name available and expected to get a call from the Hawks is winger Marian Hossa, who turned down an extension from the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Hawks are in the market for a top-six forward, and Hossa would fit in well with coach Denis Savard's up-tempo offensive ..."

"The question facing Gainey is: What happens if Sundin doesn't agree with Gainey that Montreal and Sundin would be a perfect fit? There are other players, but this year's free-agency crop is thin at centre. There are older players like Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and Jaromir Jagr who seem unlikely to play in Montreal. The next level includes Atlanta's Bobby Holik, who has size but is clearly on the downside of his career at 36, and Vancouver's Brendan Morrison, a dependable player who lacks the size the Canadiens desire. Gainey's best Plan B may be to adopt the same philosophy as the draft and go for the best player available. That means another run at Pittsburgh's Marian Hossa."

"The opening bell will sound on Canada Day Tuesday, marking the start of the NHL's free-agent season. Here's a look at some of the players who will be most coveted by NHL general managers."

"The Blue Jackets desperately need a power-play quarterback, so look for them to make attempts to sign Ottawa's Wade Redden, Colorado's John-Michael Liles, Montreal's Mark Streit or the New York Rangers' Michal Rozsival. San Jose's Brian Campbell, the top available "offensive" defenseman, could be a target, too, but he might be the most sought-after player this summer, and it's unlikely the Blue Jackets -- loads of money or not -- would be Campbell's choice. The Blue Jackets also want a big, nasty, shut-down defenseman who will make them harder to play against. Pittsburgh's Brooks Orpik and Ottawa's Mike Commodore would fit the bill. Now to the other end of the ice...Look for ..."

"Depending on which of his friends you believe, Sundin is not really enamoured with the supposed frontrunners, Montreal and Detroit, would consider the New York Rangers or Florida Panthers, but is also having trouble coming to grips with a final divorce from the Leafs. Fletcher does not want to talk about Sundin's successor as captain until it's clear he's not returning to Toronto, but it's going to be a favourite guessing game of Maple Leafs' fans between July and opening night in October. The Leafs will consider starting 2008-09 without anyone wearing the C, especially with two alternates, Bryan McCabe and Darcy Tucker, no longer in the team's plans."

"The negotiations between the Canadiens and Mats Sundin are becoming as tiresome as a Russian novel. The latest news is Gainey emailed Sundin yesterday and the two will talk during the weekend. There are continuing reports the New York Rangers are waiting for Tuesday to offer Sundin a contract, but their interest might wane if Jaromir Jagr sticks around. He has been offered megabucks by the new league in Russia, but the Rangers, who seemed anxious to dump his contract last season, have a renewed interest in his services."

"Sundin was to talk with his agent J.P. Barry and Montreal general manager Bob Gainey yesterday in what was expected to be a decision-making day. It would have been the second such discussion this week. The Habs, who gained Toronto's approval for negotiating rights with Sundin until the July 1 free agent period starts, hope Sundin will be part of their 100th anniversary celebrations next season – if they can sign him. However there was no word out of the Sundin camp yesterday. The Leafs also indicated they received no word from their captain. Sundin left his initial talk with Gainey highly impressed, but remains non-committal, still deciding if he wants to play next season at all ..."

"As reported here yesterday, Lecavalier has all but agreed to terms of a nine-year contract that TSN reports is worth $77 million (a great signing at $8.5 million per season considering the stupid money being thrown around the league right now). Nothing can be announced until July 1 at the earliest, but I would look for the formal announcement to be made more toward the middle of the month. Lecavalier has a charity function later in July, so I would expect it will all be made official then."

"The clock is ticking on the Canadiens' exclusive negotiation period with Mats Sundin and the likelihood of the Toronto captain signing in Montreal diminishes with each passing minute. There was excitement Friday when the Canadiens confirmed they had reached a deal with the Maple Leafs, but there has been no encouraging news duirng the past four days. TSN's Bob McKenzie, who has as good a handle on these things as anyone in the media, believes Sundin will wait until he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1 before he makes a decision, and that's not good news for the Canadiens."

"While talks between the Canadiens and soon-to-be free agent Mats Sundin are stalled, there has been progress in the negotiations with restricted free-agent Andrei Kostitsyn. Kostitsyn's agent, Don Meehan, and Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey talked on the weekend during the draft in Ottawa and there were more talks this week involving Julien BriseBois, the Canadiens' vice-president of hockey operations. While Meehan was reluctant to get into details, he said the two sides were getting closer."

"The Canadiens maintain exclusive rights to sign the Maple Leafs captain prior to free agency on July 1, but there is a growing feeling Sundin will let next Tuesday's deadline pass and examine offers from the NHL at large. In that case, count the Rangers in the hunt, as well as the Red Wings, who have about $12-million US in cap space to play with, but likely won't pay Sundin more than their long-serving star Nicklas Lidstrom ($7.45 million). A dark horse could be the Florida Panthers, who have an opening for a No. 1 centre and captain after Olli Jokinen was traded and an enthusiastic welcoming committee in ex-Leaf Wade Belak. "Yeah, I've been working on him, bugging him at the end ..."

"In Montreal, he is being called a possible saviour. In Toronto, he is being called a "#%?&$" -- at least by those handful of bitter Maple Leafs fans who e-mailed Sun Media yesterday. This emotional Mats Sundin affair really has evolved into a tale of two cities. From the moment the news trickled out Friday afternoon that the Leafs had granted the Canadiens exclusive negotiating rights with Sundin until July 1, Mats Mania has swept through Montreal. It is a fanatical frenzy that Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey is fine with, thank you very much. "That's good for us," Gainey said yesterday. "Our fans have been supportive in good and bad times."

"While the Maple Leafs began to prepare for life without Mats Sundin, the Montreal Canadiens sounded increasingly like they were preparing for life with him. Insiders say Habs general manager Bob Gainey will travel to Sweden this week, likely Wednesday, to have a one-on-one chat, having been granted the exclusive rights to speak with Sundin. "Anything is possible," said Gainey, who added he didn't talk to Sundin yesterday. "Mats may decide (his future) today, or Monday." Cliff Fletcher wasn't worried about going down in Maple Leafs history as the GM who let Sundin get away. "I just have to do my job," he said."

"For the Flyers, there was a central theme to their weekend in Ottawa: bulk up the defense - for the present and the future. In addition to acquiring Washington defenseman Steve Eminger, a former No. 1 pick who they expect to be a part of their six-man rotation, the Flyers drafted two defensemen and two goalies among their five picks in the draft, which ended yesterday. They also freed cap space, making it easier to land another much-needed, puck-moving defenseman, such as Montreal's Mark Streit."

"The Sundin decision will be analyzed and interpreted in many different ways, but the fact is that Fletcher and the Leafs, having failed to persuade Sundin to accept a trade in February or to re-sign with the club this week in a final flurry of talks, dealt him sometime in the last 48 hours to the Montreal Canadiens on a conditional basis... That deal may yet fall apart if the Habs can't sign the classy Swede by midnight, June 30, and the Leafs wouldn't get the unidentified compensation upon which the two clubs have agreed. But if Montreal can't convince Sundin to sign, don't expect the romance to be rekindled between No. 13 and the Leafs."

"The Canadiens have the 25th pick in tonight's National Hockey League draft (7 p.m., TSN, RDS), but the big question is: Will they still have it at 9:30. While Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey is as difficult to read as the James Joyce novel, Ulysses, he hinted the draft choice could be in play as the Habs pursue an "accomplished forward."... When asked if he would prefer to add a player through a trade or free agency, Gainey said: "We're just trying to stay active. We're at the part of the cycle of building the team where we have younger players who are dynamic enough and allow us enough space to look at a $6 million-$7 million player if it was there.""

"The Canadiens and goaltender Yann Danis are parting company. Danis, whose stock has fallen since he served as José Theodore's backup in the early stages of the 2005-06 season, is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and the Canadiens have shown no interest in retaining his services."

"The Wings lost out on the sweepstakes for one of agent J.P. Barry's Swedish clients. But while Fabian Brunnstrom is signed, sealed and delivered to Dallas, there's a chance Mats Sundin could end up in Detroit. Sundin, who was in Pittsburgh to accept the NHL's Mark Messier Leadership Award, didn't shed much light on his future plans when he met with the media Wednesday afternoon. But according to a league source, the Wings and the Montreal Canadiens are among the teams that will pursue the 37-year-old center if he opts to leave Toronto. He's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent July 1. The Wings will have room under the salary cap to make a significant splash in free agency, ..."

"If the Bruins’ master plan is to try and sign Marian Hossa as a free agent July 1, it appears they will have serious and costly competition from at least Montreal and the New York Rangers. But a Pittsburgh source said the Penguins won’t make any real effort to re-sign the unrestricted free agent: They simply can’t afford to pay Hossa, along with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marc-Andre Fleury and Jordan Staal. His acquisition from Atlanta in February, thus, was a one-time shot at winning the Cup."

"The Maple Leafs are still waiting to hear if they have landed Swedish free-agent winger Fabian Brunnstrom. The 23-year-old had narrowed the field of suitors to four – Toronto, Dallas, Detroit and Montreal – and it was anticipated he would announce the decision on where he wants to play yesterday. But there was no definitive word. "We expect to hear in the next couple of days," Toronto's interim general manager Cliff Fletcher said."

"Who is Fabian Brunnstrom and why are so many NHL teams - including the Canadiens - interested in him? Brunnstrom is back home in Sweden trying to decide where he would like to play after a whirlwind North American tour. He spent two days in Montreal, visited Detroit and Denver, and talked to people in Dallas and Toronto. He has been hailed as the best hockey player not under contract to an NHL team and has attracted a lot of attention as a 23-year-old free agent. Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey said yesterday he felt Brunnstrom has the talent to play in the NHL, but a quick look at the Swede's résumé suggests this guy poses more questions than Alex Trebek."

"Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey has a reputation for playing it close to the vest and yesterday's post-mortem on the 2007-08 season was no exception. Gainey spoke in generalities, although he said the Canadiens would be shopping for another forward - if they went shopping. "We'll be open to trying to find another forward," said Gainey, who has been trying for several years to land that elusive power forward."

"Vancouver isn't on Fabian Brunnstrom's travel itinerary, but that doesn't necessarily mean the Canucks are off the list of NHL teams with whom the Swedish free agent may potentially sign. Brunnstrom was reported in Dallas on Tuesday and will also be travelling to Detroit and Montreal and likely Toronto for some mutual tire kicking, as the 23-year-old forward gets down to the nitty gritty of where he will play in the NHL this fall. The Canucks were on the verge of getting Brunnstrom's name on a contract two weeks ago, but the surprise firing of GM Dave Nonis put the move on hold."

"Sources tell TSN Swedish prospect Fabian Brunnstrom is in Dallas and attended Game 3 of the Stars - San Jose Sharks Conference Semifinals with the Stars showing great interest in signing him. Brunnstrom is on a mini-North American tour, checking out the cities he is considering as potential sites to begin his NHL career. He is expected to be in Denver on Thursday for Game 4 between the Avalanche and Red Wings."

"You might want to keep on an eye throughout the playoffs on impending Minnesota free-agent left wing and power-play point man Brian Rolston, and on impending Montreal free-agent right wing Michael Ryder, because the Rangers sure are."

"Heading toward the trade deadline at 3 p.m. today, the most talk is surrounding Atlanta winger Marian Hossa, who has rebuffed several attempts by the Thrashers to sign him to a new contract. The Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators were listed as the frontrunners as the talk heated up yesterday."

"It's believed the Ducks, Dallas Stars, Calgary Flames and Minnesota Wild all have made a pitch for Florida captain Olli Jokinen, who is being shopped. The Stars have been among the most aggressive because co-GM Brett Hull wants to make a big move at the deadline. Jokinen might not be opposed to a deal... Talk won't go away that Calgary left winger Alex Tanguay will be dealt to Montreal for right winger Michael Ryder... There has been little talk about Pittsburgh Penguins left winger Ryan Malone, who's eligible to become an unrestricted free agent July 1."

"The Ottawa Senators remain in the thick of the bidding to receive Marian Hossa from the Atlanta Thrashers before the National Hockey League trade deadline at 3 p.m. today. It's believed the Senators' chief competition for Hossa will come from two Northeast Division rivals, the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins."

"Maybe the Ducks wouldn't be interested in Antropov. But trying to get that pick is the point, possibly giving the Leafs two of the top four selections. Then you're in business, plus it gives everyone another story to chew on other than the will-Mats-return-or-won't-he story that's sure to dominate the call-in shows for the next four months. If Anaheim says no, there's Montreal – if a deal for Hossa falls through, Chris Higgins and a first-rounder will be available – or San Jose or Vancouver or New Jersey."

"Earlier lobbying for Richards by teams such as Columbus and Philadelphia might pay off (the Jackets could offer him a spot on a line with Rick Nash and Nikolai Zherdev), but expect stronger Cup contenders such as Anaheim to get involved by today. One or both of Ottawa and Montreal, which seemed set to face off over Hossa, could change gears and pursue Richards."

"If you believe the stories, Marian Hossa has already had a set of his hockey gloves, in Canadiens colours, delivered to Montreal's Bell Centre. He's also been spotted at the Montreal airport on his way to join the Habs."

"It seems there was a report suggesting that a pair of Hossa's hockey gloves had been spotted in the bleu-blanc-et-rouge colours of the Montreal Canadiens, an indication that he was on his way to la belle province."

"The trade talk is circling around Calgary LW Alex Tanguay again. It's believed he has agreed to waive his no-trade clause to allow a deal to go through. The Habs have been aggressive in their pursuit of Tanguay all season, but Florida GM Jacques Martin has also been sniffing around .."

"Richards' name has been most often linked to Columbus and Vancouver, with Montreal, Philadelphia and Edmonton also believed to have interest in acquiring the 2004 Conn Smythe Trophy winner, with Columbus believed to be the front-runner should Tampa Bay decided to trade Richards."

"Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey is ready and willing to deal for an impact forward, but said he's waiting to find a dancing partner."