Unrestricted free agent Mats Sundin has most of Canada holding its breath, as the Vancouver Canucks and Montreal Canadiens both feel confident the former Maple Leafs star will sign with them.
Sundin issued a statement last week thanking all the teams that have shown their interest, but indicated that he'll need more time before he makes his decision.
The Canucks have offered a whopping $20 million for two years (which would make him the NHL’s highest-paid player at age 37), yet the team’s GM even says he will alter that if need be.
"I want to give him a little time to get his head around playing here and the team that we have," said Mike Gillis, who will reduce the term to one year if that would lure Sundin.
Canucks defenseman Mattias Ohlund makes no secret that he is willing to try and recruit Sundin.
"Mats Sundin is one of the biggest hockey players our country has had in the last 15 years along with Peter Forsberg and Nicklas Lidstrom," Ohlund said. "So whatever he does gets pretty big headlines over here. He's been one of the best players in the NHL for a lot of years. It would obviously be a big, big boost for us.”
Canadiens GM Bob Gainey has made quite a few calls to Sundin and his agent during the past week but now is in wait-and-see mode. If Sundin doesn't call, Gainey said he is prepared to go with Saku Koivu, Tomas Plekanec, Maxim Lapierre and Kyle Chipchura as his four centers."Mats made it clear he wants some space and we'll respect that," Gainey said.
Yet Montreal coach Guy Carbonneau is confident his team will win the race. The Canadiens have supposedly offered Sundin a two-year deal in the $7 million range.
"The Rangers and the Maple Leafs have signed players and don't have any cap room," he said.
New York signed free agent Markus Naslund, which eliminated its cap room, while Detroit, another team that has shown interest, added Marian Hossa. So it’s really down to the Canadian clubs.
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