Schools are back in session, Labor Day is behind us, and the summer is coming to an end. In other words: training camps open up in about a week. That sounds much better, well, maybe not if you’re a GM in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, or New York; or if you’re a Swedish hockey player who just arrived in Toronto. Being dubbed “The Summer of Sundin” is no mild attachment to what the past few months have been like for off-season hockey fans. The sweepstakes as to who will hold, or if anybody will hold, the services of Mats Sundin in the 2008-2009 hockey season, are just as big of a mystery as they were back on July 1st. The frontrunners leading the pack seem to be a re-sign with the Leafs, or signing with the Habs, Rangers, or Canuks (I’ve heard mild rumors of the Lightning, Senators, and Avs also being in the hunt but, I’m thinking that is an extreme long shot), or just calling it quits. With no decision being made and camp being on the horizon I figured we should take a look at the fantasy impact surrounding the Sundin Sweepstakes.
Toronto Maple Leafs:
There are rumors swirling that the Leafs and Mats are ready to part ways, much like Green Bay and Brett did only minus the tears of retirement mixed with “Hey, gotcha!” I believe the chance is still there that Mats does stay loyal and Toronto figures out a way to keep their longtime captain. The immediate obvious is you’ve got your number one center on your fantasy squad, easily. Sundin played well with Antropov last season and we could see the pairing ignite again if he re-signs, with Mats notching another 60-70 points at least. Last season he almost hit 80, but I don’t see an exact replica but definitely hovering around 70. He’ll also be spending time on the top power play unit which adds to the quality points.
Montreal Canadiens:
This is the team that I think adds the most for Mats when looking at him in terms of fantasy production. The Habs are sure to be one of the best teams in the East and putting Mats Sundin on your top line only can add to that. Mats could have good company surrounding him with potential linemates of Kovalev, Andrei Kostitsyn, or newly aquired Alex Tanguay. If the Canadiens land Mats I don’t see him playing anything less than 1st line, even with captain Saku Koivu and Plekanec there. Add that with 1st line PP duties and I think you’ll definitely see Mats hit the 70+ point total.
New York Rangers:
Adding #13 to the “Boys in Blue” would definitely be interesting as far as the media is concerned. For fantasy managers however, I’m not convinced. The Rangers are rumored to be another top team in the Sundin Sweepstakes. They apparently are ready to make the necessary cap moves, with Scott Gomez’s name being thrown around as being headed out of town if Mats comes in. If Gomez is out, then Mats will be the top center in New York, but the company around him will be light this year without Jagr. Sure he could be playing with Naslund, but will that help him hit 70 points? I think not.
Vancouver Canucks:
Vancouver has the biggest offer for Mats on the table: $20 mil for 2 years. Yeah, I’d say that’s a bit much for a guy who’s contemplating retirement. But if we see Sundin wearing blue, white, and green this year, we could be in line for a high risk, high reward situation. Sure he probably won’t be playing with the Sedin twins, but he could definitely find a spark playing with Pavol Demitra. The two year guarantee would also have some value for people in keeper leagues because it means no retirement games next summer. Again, this is a risky situation, but it could pay huge dividends in the end for fantasy managers, as well as the people of British Columbia.
Ottawa Senators:
So if we asked who were Toronto’s 2 biggest Canadian rivals I think the answer would be simple: Montreal and Ottawa. Funny how both of these teams are trying to make a pitch for Mats. I think the only difference between the interest from Bryan Murray and the interest from Bob Gainey is that Gainey actually has a chance to land the superstar. But, I will say that Ottawa would pack a mean punch with Mats. The three musketeers of Alfredsson, Heatley, and Spezza could be split up to form a 2-2 superstar grouping that spreads out across the first and second lines and then you will see the Sens go on a tear. Can you imagine Spezza and Alfredsson on the first line, following with Sundin and Heatley? Mats would definitely hit over 70 points if healthy playing with this kind of company. Now, if the Sens keep the trio together, Mats would obviously lose production but I really don’t see that happening, much like I don’t see Sundin in a Sens jersey this season.
Tampa Bay Lightning:
The Lightning have improved tremendously during the offseason, and the addition of Mats would up this team…no more than it already is! Sorry about it Bolts fans, but why add Mats to the mix when you have a 1-2 punch at center with Vinny and Steve Stamkos? It really doesn’t make any sense. This would be no help to Mats as he would probably wind up producing similar numbers to New York and only have 2nd line duties, at best. This here is one of those typical rumors that I’m honestly just entertaining for hockey fans out there. But when you lay the cards out, Tampa just doesn’t seem like it’s even possible.
Colorado Avalanche:
The only thing I’m going to say about this rumor is it’s probably not going to happen. Apparently, Mats Sundin has a friend named Joe Sakic, who coincidentally was also pondering retirement, and now we have a notion that Sundin could be headed to Denver. I’m not buying it! Like Tampa, Mats in Colorado just doesn’t make much sense. However, to again entertain hockey fans, if Mats winds up in Colorado I would expect probably 2nd line duties and maybe 60+ points out of him, if he has an absolute stellar year.
On a final note, I don’t expect to see Mats wind up in the West, or in Tampa. I feel its down to retirement, the Leafs, Habs or possibly the Rangers. It would be quite upsetting for all of us hockey fans to be pondering all of this information all summer just for Mats to retire; so if he plays that card all I have to say is, I completely wasted my first blog post here. The Rangers have been rumored to be trying to make the necessary moves (i.e., the above mentioned trying to send out Scott Gomez), so Mats in the Big Apple is possible. Montreal looks to be the best bet for fantasy owners, but from a longtime NHL fan’s perspective, I think it’d be a shame if Sundin didn’t finish his career in Toronto; even if that means the difference between a number 1 fantasy center or a number 2.
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