Let's talk about Mats Sundin

First, though, let me say that despite a 4-3 shootout loss on Tuesday, you have to be very happy with what you saw on the ice. Yeah, there are some blips. The penalty kill has to be a lot better. It has allowed six goals in 21 chances in its past four games, and wouldn't you like to see someone just level an opponent in front of the net, just once? And wouldn't it be nice if these guys could finish?

But the jump was outstanding and you finally saw of what Steven Stamkos is capable. He didn't score but he was the Lightning's best player. Helps to play with Marty and Vinny, but still. It's about time he put on a show.

So, one subject that kind of got glossed over with all the Barry Melrose stuff and that I took a few days off over the weekend, was the news that the Lightning has kept in contact with free agent center Mats Sundin. His agent, J.P. Barry, said Tampa Bay was one of 10 teams who have shown interest and that he believes of the Lightning, "There's sincere interest there."

Owner Oren Koules spoke to Sundin at least as early as last week in Los Angeles.

What are we to make of this?

Obviously, if Sundin were to decide to play for Tampa Bay, and that decision might not come for weeks, the team will have to be in a playoff hunt. No way the 37-year-old will play for a non-contender. Perhaps that is another reason the Lightning pulled the trigger on Melrose.

So what are the pros?

Sundin will be a skilled addition and can play the power play and will be motivated. He also will be fresh, having missed training camp and perhaps the first two months of the season.

The cons?

he's 37 with a history of hip problems. He is not one to be a dressing-room leader. So says Ken Campbell, senior writer for the Hockey News who covered the former Maple Leafs star for the Toronto Star. He is, though, a leader by example. Sundin also will cost, about $7-million pro-rated to whenever he signs is the best guess. That will force the Lightning, with 14 forwards and a salary cap number of about $52-million (the limit is $56.7-million) to make some harsh personnel and salary decisions.

So, what do you think? Is he worth the investment? Remember, many things must fall right for Tampa Bay to pull this off, and we haven't even heard, officially, if Sundin is interested. But the agent says the Lightning has "sincere" interest, so we might as well speculate.    

    

Comments

[D]

We don't need Sundin. We need a puck-moving d-man. If they're going to open the checkbook again (and, remember, you gotta love these guys on that account), go after a power-play QB. You know, a Dan Boyle type of player. Remember Dan Boyle? How many problems would he solve for this team? And what was his annual salary? Oh, yeah, about $7 million give or take.

[James]

first post: this season is over?????

your a fool

Posted by: | November 19, 2008 at 01:19 PM

And you're a nameless coward.

Go ahead "believe" bud, but I call it like I see it. These clowns will trade away most of every asset before the scheduled season is over.

The Bolts? They're done, don't be an idiot and try to defend thier honor. They're done. '08 the waste.

[Boltflasher]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=256518&lid=headline&lpos=secStory_nhl
Kudos to Montreal boss for finally admitting not everything is rosy in ol' Canada and that hard times may be looming again for Canadian teams with falling dollar. Should quiet talk of relocations to Canada for now. League may be forced to look at whacking some teams though to strengthen rest of league...and, no, I don't think TB will be one whacked nor do I want this to happen at all....I think they would whack 4 and go with that for awhile (Fla, Atl, Nash, Phoe or Carol) all of which are in worse shape financially than here...

Whacking 4 probably would mean 2 divisions again in each conference...

[Casey Fraites]

I think it is great if you can get him at a fair price I think both sides need to realize that but i feel we are better off with out him.I think a team like Detroit or (some team in the hunt) will make a hunt to rent him for a season

[ajax]

I hope it is less than 1%. Only a team with money to burn could afford to overpay. It is like that in everyday life also. Rich people can afford what they want, even when it makes no sense. The Lightning need value for their bucks, every deal, every contract. Sundin at 7mil ain't value. Don, I couldn't agree with you more about Malone. People throw out stats all the time. Malone is a hockey player. He is also a load on the PPlay and we miss him there just as much. He is are only fighter. I like him and like his work ethic the most. Hope he gets back real soon. About Sundin, I would be just as shocked to see him back in Toronto. That is a lose/lose scenario. The team can't give him what he needs and he can't give them more than 18 minutes a night. But when ya have money to burn??
I hear the Toronto GM is already on the bubble/hotseat? Did Hollywood buy the Leafs too??

[olin]

...Skp & Justin, don't you know that when the Bolt's aren't on tv, that is suppose to make you buckle up and go to the game and see it live...LOL. Somehow with this theory, you'll probably be able to pick up day of gamers, and move down almost next to the glass soon. I didn't even bother to turn on the radio last nite, but did check NHL website for the same result's. Even with Uncle Jay and the General, games seemed much more exciting. Sorta remind's me of Dustin Hoffman and the "Graduate", Where have you gone Mrs. Robinson??

[Herb]

MY GOD PEOPLE!!!! The Bolts LOST TO THE WORST TEAM IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE!!!!!TWICE!!!!!! What is going to happen when a good team plays them??The Bolts haven't won a regulation game at home this season and of their 5 (count them 5) wins, they have a SOW and an OTW against the Trash. The D is about the worst in the league. Their saving grace is that the goaltending has been for the most part stellar. There are clues are there on how good or bad that they are. The PP is a complete joke and the PK isn't too far behind.

[Mike]

Season's not over but don't do it. Aged superstars are like beer not wine, they go flat and skunky with age. Take it from a Rangers fan.

[Dan]

Unless he's capable of stepping into a phone booth a la Clark Kent and emerging as a puck-rushing offensive defenseman in the prime of his career (you know, like Dan Boyle), why should we bother?

[McGz]

BTW, for those of you who believe everything that Melrose said, check this out:

From NHLnumbers.com. Average age of each team in the NHL in the 2008 - 09 season.

http://nhlnumbers.com/compare.php?season=0809

Three of the oldest players in the league (Roberts, Recchi, Kolzig) are bringing up our average and we are NOT the oldest team in the league.

That distinction belongs to the Stanley Cup Champion Red Wings, imagine that.

[JM]

This is not a good idea. Too many centers on this team. There's no way Stamkos would be a thrid line center, or maybe he can be played left wing with V4 for good. Some one will have to go and if this happens, and a center, because Sundin will not play 3rd line. So Halpern? No. i prefer him with a lower salary then Sundin. Let's just keep it this way.

[politically incorrect]

No Matts in Tampa. Might as well get Dino Ciccarelli to dust 'em off at this point.Is Kontos available?

[McGz]

If we are even thinking about signing Sundin at his age and condition after giving up DFB, these guys are more dumb than we thought. I would take Boyle at 37 before Sundin. I agree with PD, less than 1% Sundin signs here.

[PD]

Flasher and VOTT solid as usual.

Knowing Sundin a little bit, I think its safe to say the chance of him here is less than 1%.

He met nutbar Koules somewhere and is just his polite self not saying no.

He much prefers to play in Canada for tax reasons. Ottawa,Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal would all fit with him.
New York is his favorite city outside of hockey. Those are the teams.

After all this 6 months of crap he will likely roll back into Toronto in tandem with Brian Burke next week. They are compadres.

[Mike S.]

My initial thought is no to Sundin. It seems as though the guys are starting to gel as indicated by some pretty darned good play last night (at least it sounded that way). The stats back that up. If the team continues to play the way did the last two games, then the playoffs are NOT beyond reality. Stupid penalties, the penalty kill, and some work on the shootout need to be quickly addressed. But the boys are definately playing with passion. Personally, I'm glad to see it. Go Bolts!

[Boltflasher]

Its easy to say use it on a D-man instead of Mats, but on who? Where? From what team? Who's going to give up a solid D-man? What would we give up for that? All this is easier said than done. I say if Mats wants to play here (I don't why he would want to) but if he does want to, then let him. Even at this stage he's a far cry better than anyone else we have at that position outside of V4...or would we still want Gratton and Craig getting that ice time...

[jiffy]

Defense. Defense. Defense.

[Justin]

"First, though, let me say that despite a 4-3 shootout loss on Tuesday, you have to be very happy with what you saw on the ice. "

I didnt SEE anything DC. The game wasn't televised at all! And I got center ice... fill me in if Im wrong

first post: this season is over?????

your a fool

[Casper]

Long ago, I said we needed Joe Sakic or Sundin for an Andreychuk redoux. Mats would have deflected a lot of criticism away from the languid efforts of Richards and helped out the younger guys.

Snicker, maybe even Killer Karlsson would've stepped up his game to match that smarmy hype, when we heard of his scoring wizardry across the Pond.

Unfortunately, that train has left the station. We've moved on. Not upwards, but onward. We don't need Mats, or Recchi, or even Gary Roberts. I don't care what old hand we hire, but they must be able to get a fire lit under Vinny-Baby. The languid flu was passed to him!

Give Sundin a pass, and get a defenseman's defenseman okay? (It'll keep our stellar net minders alive, I guarantee...) Want to see a system where we slam every last guy to touch the puck. Like Boston does. Cripes, I hated watching those clowns with envy but, they cream people and are very tough to play against right now.
Go into a corner with Lucic, and you will get beat up.
Plus, they got Craig Ramsey...

Time to wake up Vinnybigbucks. Play hard one game take the next two off---you're due, Dude.

Go Bolts!

sundin is a solid player but he obviously hasn't been too motivated in Toronto cause they've sucked for a few years so I don't know if he can turn it on here and he's 3 years from 40 with a history hip problems? i think not. and oren koules can eat my sh*t after trading shane o'brien he was the most exciting defenseman we had and oullet was getting better every game this season is all but over already

[hockeytalkie]

Energy, passion and purpose, GO BOLTS!
Posted by: Don

ok, now you sound like Melrose.

[dealhall]

Short and Sweet: It makes no sense for Sundin or the Bolts. Let's work on improving what we have. That is unless we can find a defense when who can clear the front of the net. Malik has redefined "stay at home" defenseman. I've renamed Malik Pigeon. He's like a statue in front of the net and soon will be covered with Pigeon droppings.

[hockeytalkie]

isn't it curious that OK wouldn't sit down and TALK with either paper or even do a telephone interview after the "catch and release" of mullet?

he did an email Q and A with both local papers. that's it. sounds to me like they wanted all TWELVE MONKEYS in the room at 12 keyboards typing 12 answers in the hopes that one would give a good one.

on to the Matts rumours, please. roberts, recci and now sudin. who's next? ed belfore, foresburg, shanahan. then al arbour to coach them. hey what about signing the espo-bros? then we get O-fence and more depth in net.

"OK Hockey"
what an ironic acronym. if we're lucky we just might get to see some by march!

[Don in St. Pete]

I agree with the general consensus that we should forgo pursuing Sundin. While he is a fine player, we have just gotten over ice time issues, and finally appear to be heading in the right direction. We should save our cap space to make a deal for a top 2 defenseman if we can work our way into playoff contention. Does anyone else see the coincidence of our PK allowing 6 goals in the past 21 chances and Ryan Malone missing the past 4 games? I'd like to see Vrbata get a chance on the PK, as he scored 3 SH goals last year and sometimes quickness in speed are more important than brute force, especially when covering the point on the PK. Perhaps V4 should also be out there on the PK on occasion, at least until Malone returns. Like DC, I wish our defenseman would start steamrolling guys when they're jamming for a lose puck around our goalie. D hold the line, forwards forecheck and attack the net. Energy, passion and purpose, GO BOLTS!

[Molson]

Forget about Mats.. What about Theo Fleury? I'd love to have his drunk azz on this team and since we're starting to pick up guys at the age of 65..... it would be a hoot!

[rINGO]

Why would Sundin come to Tampa Bay?, they will not be a Stanley Cup contender

Brendan O'Leary

[Geografer]

Hmmm - already the oldest team in the league and have a glut of forwards but yeah that's the answer adding another forward who is old and can't decide (or thinks he is too special to have to play early in the season and go through training camp) if he even wants to play. Let's sign him for a lot of money best spent elsewhere - like on DEFENSE!!

[The Voice of the Turtle]

Toronto is the town that Sundin loves, Vancouver is offering $10 million per year for two seasons, Detroit has a bevy of his countrymen on board and is the solid favorite for the Stanley Cup, and then there is the Ranger interest (a strong team plus all the bright lights and opportunities to make big-time extra cash).

It is comical to even suspect that Mats would give an offer from the adult poolies who run this team a second thought.

[Bill Berg]

Sundin is NOT the answer to the BOLTS! They would need to shed too many players with big salaries to sign and he will only be here for 1 season. We need to keep the present Players and have the COACH teach his system, looks like it will work, and we will make playoffs if they continue playing like last 2 games!!! If they can upgrade with 3rd and 4th liners plus maybe d-men OK but not HIGH PRICED and then have only 2 lines again! GO BOLTS YOU ARE ON THE WAY NOW!!!

[Patrick]

I really don't understand the owner's infatuation with Sundin. He's a great player, and a very old and expensive player. But is he the missing link to our 5-7-6 team? I don't think so.

It's really starting to sound like our owner is Dan Snyder, not Mark Cuban. The compulsive spending has to stop and we have to actually evaluate what we've got. Sixteen games might be long enough to realized Melrose was a bad decision, but I think we need a lot longer for this team of new players to come together. If we need help anywhere, it's on the blueline. But more than that, we need stability.

Stop playing 52 card pickup with the active roster, let the new coach establish an identity for the players and the team and see where it goes. Reevaluate at mid season.

[Melanie]

Just say NO!

[spooky]

Oh and the most obbvious... He want's to play for a contender? We ain't it.

Another suggestion, ride Smith for four games to Ollie's one.

[Spooky]

We are BLESSED with OLD forwards. Even with 32 goals a year ago, wings like Vrbata and Malone are not the first liners he played with in toronto. He doesn't have blueliners like Kubina and Kaberle to set him up. In short, he would face a long step down in production.

Do we have the money for a player known as an injury risk, with MAYBE two years left of production? If he were a younger player like Hossa or Franzen, he would be worth that investment.

We've placed two much emphasis up front, and neglected the blueline with developing players, retreads and castoffs. At this point, we need to find a veteran D that we can trade for. Vrbata and Malone, maybe Halpern and Gratton look like spare parts at this point. One of them could be moved for a good defenseman at the midpoint of his career- would getting Kubina back be so bad?

Lines suggested for the week
1. Stamkos, V4, St.L
2. Prospal, Jokinen, Recci
3. Vrbada, Craig, Artukhyn (or Malone- if well)
4. Roberts, Gratton, Pettinger (or Hall)

Let Vrbada and Malone play up to the second line, and give Joker a couple of proven finishers. Let Stamkos play with some fast and accurate passers to elevate his game. Let Arty play on the right to take some shots, and work on his accuracy. Make Gratton and Craig compete to see who gets the higher place on the depth chart, but use grats and Roberts as PK specialists to grunge.

[skp]

oh, and no to sundin. we already have a glut of quality (relative to the lines they will play on) centers, and these guys are having a hard enough time fililng seats to keep up with their financial obligations with the payroll as is....mats will not put butts in seats and he will not make the team dramatically better....still, moving stamkos to the wing might mean they're trying to convince mats that the 2nd-line center position is open for him.

and really....10 teams want sundin, and he's gonna be in a lightning uni? please.

[skp]

"despite a 4-3 shootout loss on Tuesday, you have to be very happy with what you saw on the ice"

....unfortunately i didn't see anything - another blacked out game due to the awesomeness that is the Versus\NHL television deal....but i did have an opportunity to be forcefed 2 teams i didn't care about, which i declined.

glad the lightning apparently did well last night

[HockeyBay.com]

Mats won't help, too old. too much money... revolving Koules Door needs to stop...

[James]

This season is over... get used to it wraps.