Sundin might sign cheap.

[leafspring]

hello i am new here. i read mats wants to stay in toronto.ferguson commented that talks are going well on a extension.which would be cap
friendly.

[John F]

Hi leaf, welcome to the site...

BUt isn't this the common mantra for Toronto and free agents? Everyone is supposedly willing to sign on the cheap in order to play for Toronto, or so the "rumors" say every year with a wide assortment of players.

[leafspring]

your right about that same old mantra. in this case it is about making cap space though i believe. ferguson can save 2 million or so by resigning mats to a new cotract. it will be the same money,but counts as less towards cap is the way it works. i still don't understand this transition phase. bettmans approval was required for this also. i find it confusing personally.

[John F]

Originally Posted by leafspring

your right about that same old mantra. in this case it is about making cap space though i believe. ferguson can save 2 million or so by resigning mats to a new cotract. it will be the same money,but counts as less towards cap is the way it works. i still don't understand this transition phase. bettmans approval was required for this also. i find it confusing personally.

You are going to have to cite a source -- I mean, can you post a link to a site where you read this news?

What you're talking about sounds like what they do in the NFL -- restructuring a contract. Usually it includes more years and less money per year but covers the same cost of the original contract. By averaging out longer -- it'd artificially lower the cap. You follow?

The thing is, I think I recall the collective bargaining agreement signed in 2005 actually forbids contract restructuring. You can sign a new contract during the last season of your current contract, but if you are under contract and mid-contract -- your team either has to pay you in full or buy out your contract.

[GLG]

I don't think there's any truth to that. I think it's the wishes of some Leaf fans.

The big criticism of this year was that supposedly the Leafs overspent, and hence didn't have room to sign some golden winger for Mats. So the dream appears to be get Mats' deal re-worked to save cap space, and that, coupled with the increase in the cap, would make room for the proverbial top winger.

Problem is, even at Mats' age, there are few point-per-game guys like him in the league today on the verge of breaking more records. Show me a list of guys making $6M or more and doing what Mats does or more. It's a very short list. So, IMHO, he certainly isn't overpaid.

That said, as he heads toward the upper 30s in age, I have no issues with the Leafs wanting to make the next deal pay a bit less than he gets now. Though I suspect he'll be a force for this team for years to come, which will make his lower paycheque an even bigger bargain.

As long as he stays, I'm happy!

[leafspring]

now sundin is going to have anything from minor/major hip surgery! he looked slower at the end of the season come to think of it. he should retire a leaf imo.

[Drury77]

Originally Posted by leafspring

now sundin is going to have anything from minor/major hip surgery! he looked slower at the end of the season come to think of it. he should retire a leaf imo.

Is this confirmed?? I only ask cuz there was so much hoopla about him having surgery and his agent and the team denying it vehemently

[leafspring]

there is something wrong. he is getting it checked may 9 in sweden. TSN,hockey news and slam sports all have stories that vary. who knows i guess?

i hope it gets fixed,and it is minor.

[JoseA]

What's the story with Mats Sundin?

One published report, citing unnamed sources in the "medical community" said the Toronto Maple Leafs' center requires hip surgery, the same kind of surgery that all but ended Alexander Mogilny's career.

This is reportedly an obstacle to Sundin signing a new contract, but Leafs GM John Ferguson says the report is false. "I can assure you this is 100 per cent inaccurate," Ferguson told TSN. "He hasn't been examined by a doctor. This is completely false."

Article

Like leafspring said it is pretty unsure about if Sundin is going to have surgery....There are many rumors speculating, but like the article said he has not been examined by a team doctor.

The Maple Leafs would certainly welcome him back, he is still producing solid numbers.

[leafspring]

steve simmons was on TSN stating he has reliable sources that sundin needs (major surgery)? imo simmons is everything that is wrong with toronto sport reporting.

we all remeber this guy wrote a big story during the play-offs in 93 when the leafs were playing los Angeles about how washed up gretzky had become!

and the rest is history. gretzky thought different of his opinion.

so we wonder!

[Drury77]

Leafs' Sundin won't require surgery

TORONTO (CP) - The agent for Mats Sundin says the Maple Leafs captain does not need hip surgery.

''He had a full evaluation of his hip and the diagnosis was no surgical intervention,'' J.P. Barry said Wednesday. ''He'll just continue the way he is, just resting and proceeding with his normal summer protocols.''

Barry said the examination was done Wednesday by Dr. Anders Valentin in Stockholm, one of the top orthopedic surgeons in Sweden.

Quoting an unidentified source in the medical community, the Toronto Sun recently reported that Sundin's hip problem required surgery similar to that which all but ended the NHL career of Alexander Mogilny.

TSN : NHL - Canada's Sports Leader

[leafspring]

i think 5.5 million is cheap. good deal.