Is He Worth It?
Written by Frederick Beery on July 2nd, 2008 | 3 CommentsAs Mats Sundin sat available on the Free Agent market, the offers came pouring in. The biggest coming from the Vancouver Canucks. They offered the veteran $20 million over the next 2 years. The Rangers, Habs, Red Wings and Leafs also made offers to Sundin.
Keep in mind though, Sundin is 37 years old and has not yet decided if he’s going to retire.
So whats so great about the old guy? Well he had 78 points, (32 goals and 46 assists) last season with Toronto, in 74 games. So he’s a pretty good catch, but for how much longer?
The Canucks’ offer in my opinion is too hasty. The team should be thinking about the rest of the lineup and not just one guy. Signing Sundin at the offer they made him, will take up too much of their cap. Like TSN says, this looks a lot like the time Vancouver signed Messier and remember, he didn’t do so well there.
So is he worth the $10 million a year? Not for Vancouver. Personally I think he should play it like Sakic. Stay where he’s been or dont come back. He’s been with the Leafs since ‘94, that gotta say something right? Right?!
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July 2nd, 2008 at 11:48 am
He should leave Toronto in my opinion considering how awful that franchise is and if their signings yesterday are any indication (Finger $3.5 million and Hagman $3 million???) they don’t appear to be getting any better. Sundin has yet to win a cup and he deserves it after sticking it out in awful Toronto for so long. Vancouver can afford to do it because it’s a short term deal and would bring some additional attention to the team. There aren’t too many players out there for them to spend their money on at this point, unless they can get Hossa who they appear to be chasing as well, so they’re just hoping to bring in the Toronto hero to stir up some passion. He brings more to the table than just points and I think they’re hoping the young players would learn from him in his brief time there. However, if he really wants to win a cup he should accept Detroit’s offer :).
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:34 pm
All this shows is how poorly a decision it was to hire a former player agent with no GM experience to run a struggling franchise. Vancouver is showing how desperate they are and are wasting time trying to lure a very old free agent when they should have been chasing the younger free agents like Hossa and Campbell. Both are franchise players that when locked up would improve their the team for more than the 1 possibly 2 seasons that Sundin may if he can handle the rigors of the Western Conference.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Mats Sundin leaving Toronto was a tremendous idea for furthering his career. He was embarrassed by the management there when they put the failures of the team on his shoulders. By signing with another club, he’s going to try and show his worth under different circumstances (and I believe he will succeed). Toronto is losing a talented and loyal player, and they deserve to thanks to the poor handling of the entire situation.