Live From Toronto It’s…Sundin Rumors!!
When Larry Brooks broke the story yesterday saying that Mats Sundin is “itchin’ to lace ‘em up on Broadway” I decided I would do some real journalistic work to get to the bottom of the rumors. So I boarded a plane last night and currently am coming to you live from the hockey capital of the world, Toronto, Ontario!
Okay, okay, so maybe the Sundin saga wasn’t the only reason for my travels. Maybe a little family vacation up north after months of working for “Yankees Beisbol” and then Olympic Badminton had a little something to do with it too. But the bottom line is, I’m here, and this town is buzzin’ with talk of their former captain jetting for the bright lights of Broadway.
In the Toronto Star today, the headlines read “Is Mats Sundin Broadway Bound?”
My gut feeling?
I don’t know, but I’ll tell you this much, it’s looking more and more like either Sundin or Shanahan will be a Ranger next year. You may ask, what does one have to do with the other? Well, according to our good friend John Dellapina, Shanahan is determined to stay a Ranger. He’s apparently still not negotiating with other teams and is willing to take huge paycut to stay a Blueshirt.
Now why would someone who says he is definitely playing next year, continue to spurn every other team in the league a month before training camp, if the Rangers weren’t giving him hope of a return?
And if the Rangers were truly done with their off-season maneuvering, why wouldn’t they make Shanahan an offer, or tell him the door is shut?
The answer is that they’re waiting on Sundin.
If the Rangers can somehow clear $3-$4 million more in cap space in the next couple weeks (they are currently only $2 million under) I think there’s a better then average shot that you’ll see Mats Sundin on Broadway next year.
If not, I think you’re seeing Shanahan back for his third engagement on Broadway.
And one more thing. Larry Brooks speculated yesterday that in order to clear the necessary cap space to make room for Sundin, the Rangers would have to part ways with newly re-signed Michael Rozsival.
Really? Rozsival? What about clearing Rissmiller and Voros? That would clear $2 million. After that, you can take your pick. Maybe Prucha for $1.6? Or maybe even Kalinin for $2.1? All I know is that I’m still not sold on Redden and would not feel comfortable taking Rozsi out of this year’s equation.
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8 Responses
Michael August 18th at 2:06 pm
Out of those options, I’d get rid of Voros and Kalinin. Voros is an enforcer and can’t really play, Kalinin has been injury-prone the past few seasons. There are cheaper alternatives who wouldn’t be too much of a drop (if at all) from Kalinin.
With Sundin on board, I’d be interested to see what the Rangers do with Drury and Betts. One of those two would have to move to wing (likely Drury given that Betts is the team’s best defensive center). I don’t think this team needs Shanahan. I hear about his leadership and experience all the time, and it’s true, but Sundin gives you those things as well and is a much better player at this point in his career.
Gabbi R. August 18th at 5:08 pm
Agreed
Voros in an inforcer, but as you guys have said, they’re not very versatile, and they always want to get overpaid.
If Sundin was to come, it would give each of our 3 star centers (Drury, Gomez, and yes Dubinsky) a good winger to feed.
Gomez-Zherdev (or however you spell it) is most likely a great pairing. If Gomer can turn Elias (or whoever it was) into a 40 goal scorer, chances are he can turn Zherdev into a 50+ goal scorer.
Drury-Sundin would be an interesting pair. I think they can work. Drury would probably be a winger in this situation.
Dubinsky-Naslund is good as maybe a third line, or second. Dubie works well with veterans and hopefully he can help Nazzy find his scoring touch again, bringing that “it” factor back.
I’ve said this before and I might as well say it again. Shanny back at a year and a millionish if he wants to play and he thinks he can handle it. (obviously, he thinks he can.)
Gabbi R. August 18th at 5:13 pm
P.S. Steve, you can’t seem to escape the Yankees, seeing as they’re heading to Toronto tomorrow for a series against the Jays.
Tu no te gustan yankees beisbol deportes de radio en espanol?
(WHOO! GO HONOURS SPANISH!)
And by the way, I was at the Yankees game on the 17th and I was looking for you in the press box. I didn’t see you, but that’s probably because I was left field upper deck by the foul pole.
It’s been a good offseason, but it’s about time we get back to HOCKEY!!!!
Steven Gelbs August 18th at 5:17 pm
Gabbi, you’re right. I’ll be at the Rogers Centre tomorrow to watch the Yanks yet again.
And great job with the spanish sentence. I worked for 2 and a half months with the Spanish Broadcast and still have absolutely no idea what your sentence means.
Michael August 18th at 7:47 pm
Good, you’ll be watching two teams going nowhere fast.
Same as the Braves, though.
Michael August 18th at 7:57 pm
The other positive with Sundin is the fact that he’s Swedish. He would’ve had little problem adjusting to New York anyway as Toronto is basically the NYC of Canada, and with Henrik and Sjostrom and Naslund already there, it’s another big plus. The Rangers have struggled with team chemistry in recent years, primarily because Jagr’s presence almost divided the team as he had to have his own guys to play with.
Gabbi R. August 18th at 9:40 pm
I love Rodgers Centre.
Last time I was there, the Jays got swept by the God-awful Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays.
hopefully same can be said for this series.
And just make sure you don’t go repeating that around.
(You don’t like Yankees baseball sports radio in spanish?)
And don’t forget to go to Wayne Gretzky’s restraunt while you’re there! And yes, being a Swede does seem to help being a Ranger. It (obviously) was being Czech when it was Jagrland.
UB BULL August 19th at 9:34 pm
After that awful performance of Yankee beisbol as you call I bet that you cannot wait for the next time you see a shuttlecock flying by or a shuttlecock hitting the net an d shuttlecocking slowly to the floor. Or have you seen enough shuttlecocks and heard about enough shuttlecocks as Sam Rosen would say “to last a lifetime”.
By the way did you get to the Hockey Hall of Fame and see Sal “Redlight” Messina’s plaque?