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Rangers News: Rangers Interested in Sundin?

Let me start off by giving a stick salute to Roc1193 for breaking this story, I just wanted to go a little more in depth.

Steve Zipay is reporting that the New York Rangers are showing some interest in Mats Sundinfor this up-coming season. According to Zipay:

The Vancouver Province reported that Sundin---the 38-year-old center who spurned the Rangers last December when they couldn't clear enough cap room and the Canuckscame up with more dough---will be told by his agent J.P. Barry this week that four or five teams have inquired about a potential return, including the Canucks. A source told me that a Rangers executive (possibly Sundin's one-time agent Mike Barnett) at one point asked about his intentions as well.

 Neither the Canucks or the Rangers have much cap space---less than $3 million each by my estimation---and my guess is that Sundin(BTW, what kind of shape is he in with camp 20 days away?) is leaning toward retirement or will wait until mid-season again. But who knows?  John Tortorellahas said he wants a No. 1 center with size, right?  


Check after the jump for more analysis.

 

Star-divide

While it is no surprise that the Rangers have a number one center on their radar it is a surprise that they would turn to Sundin. Currently the Rangers have about 3 million dollars in cap space--without Dubinsky but I will get to him in a moment. Just tossing numbers around here but I think Sundin will command at least 4 million, money the Rangers simply don't have.

Regardless of the money issues there are other issues with a potential deal with the Rangers.  Zipay hits the nail on the head when he said "what kind of shape is he in with camp 20 days away." Sundinis in no way shape or form ready to play NHL hockey right now, so why sign him? Even last year when he came to the NHL mid season with fresh legs he was un-impressive notching 9 goals and 19 assists for 28 points in 41 games.

This story raises major red flags for me however. If the Rangers were interested in Sundin then what does that mean for Dubinsky? Things have been so "hush hush" with him over this off-season that it truly is difficult to gauge where the two sides stand--although there have been no indications that either side is unhappy.

Even if the Rangers sign Sundin and Dubinsky then there becomes another problem: Anisimov--whos development has had many Rangers fans very excited. Are the Rangers basically saying that they would rather have Sundin play than Anisimov? Even if the Rangers sign Sundin and Anisimov makes the team he will be delegated to 4th line duties--which under Tortorella do not get enough ice time to develop let alone succeed. Every indication is pointing towards Anisimov making the team out of camp, so who is the odd man out. At this stage in the game it looks like Dubinsky.

On the radio show and on this site we have been quite solid in our standing that Dubinsky will be a Ranger and there will be no problems. Well if this rumor--and that is truly all it is, remember all the Rangers did was ask what his intentions were--is true then it have shaken our Dubinsky theory to it's core. Maybe the Rangers have been looking to trade him. Maybe they wont sign him. Maybe they will.

Again this is pure speculation--well minus the report from Zipay. Who knows what the Rangers are thinking but I think it is worth mentioning that until Dubinsky is signed we cannot breath easy. Remember the panic button Jim and I play on the show during our drills? Maybe it's time to hit it.

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Well, Sundin needs to be in training camp with the team of his choice

He looked rusty all of last season. Nevertheless, it was obvious that he wanted to come to New York last season. However, the Rangers were unable to free up enough cap space. With a Sundin signing, Anisimov would most likely play another season with Hartford.

Gary Thorne=Simply the Best!

by The American Mr.Hockey on Aug 23, 2009 8:53 PM EDT reply actions  

Please God don’t let this happen

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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Aug 23, 2009 9:08 PM EDT reply actions  

If they sign that dinosaur and not Dubinsky, it may be the last straw.

by Justinleon on Aug 23, 2009 9:17 PM EDT reply actions  

NO SUNDIN

Sundin being signed last year seemed like a good idea if they could fit him into the cap. But thankfully we didn’t get him, he was way out of touch with his old self. No thanks, we need to focus on getting Dubi back. Or at least leave space for Anisimov! What does that mean to Artem if he’s supposedly a highly touted prospect who keeps getting buried in the minors? Let’s get some young talent up in this roster, we need to expand this core and not let these old has beens retire here.

by John Mjr on Aug 23, 2009 9:22 PM EDT reply actions  

i'd be ok with it under a few conditions.

1) it’s mid-season

2) dubinsky/anisimov hasn’t performed well with gaborik

3) he’s serious about coming back to win, new yorks his first choice and he’s not looking for another paycheck to fuel his pokerstars habit

at that point its ok with me. the rangers have tried w/ dubi and anisimov and since they’re already thin down the middle, they get a capable center to play with gaborik w/o losing draft picks or prospects.

id rather go down that road than patrick marleau or even worse brad richards.

by John Merrigan on Aug 23, 2009 9:38 PM EDT reply actions  

NOOOOOOOOOO

JUST SAY NOOOOOOOOOO SLATS !!!

by froese99 on Aug 23, 2009 9:41 PM EDT reply actions  

I will actually........

protest outside the garden if this happens.

by CrazyRangerFan on Aug 24, 2009 1:14 AM EDT reply actions  

I don’t know what to think anymore.

What you said Joe is perfect. “…until Dubinsky is signed we cannot breathe easy.”

"Jaromir Jagr.... it's a POWER PLAY GOAL!"
- Sam Rosen

by rmc235 on Aug 24, 2009 1:51 AM EDT reply actions  

Your writer forgot this part...

"I’m going to talk to him about his future when I get there," said Barry, of Calgary-based CAA Sports. "Hopefully, I’ll get a good idea where he’s at. He wants to hear about what Vancouver has to say. He really enjoyed his time there last season. He loves the city and the team."

He sounds like Vancity is where he wants to be. He said as much last year at the end of the season.

Ummm…Mr. Hockey? Not to call out someone with that moniker, but he was NOT slow and out of step last season. After about 10 games ( his training camp), he was a driving force in the Canucks having a great 2nd half. Maybe not the fastest…we all saw that. But always in the right spot. He helped Kesler become better too.

My guess is he comes back for 2 to 3 mil.

Here in Vancity.

vancitydan

by vancitydan on Aug 24, 2009 4:10 AM EDT reply actions  

look no one is saying that he does not have talent

but he was un-impressive last year as a whole. 100% not worth the 10 million the Canucks threw at him.

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by Joe Fortunato on Aug 24, 2009 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions  

it didn’t matter what they paid him. they had a ton of unused cap space just sitting there mid season. they were better off giving it to sundin than letting it sit there untapped.

by John Merrigan on Aug 24, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions  

Simply put

Sundin is 38+, so of course there is a rumor that the Rangers are interested. It’s been the hip thing this offseason.

I’m waiting for the Ray Bourque rumors at this point, saying he’s interested so he can play with his son.

I hear Brett Hull has the itch too.

Or Maybe a Jari Kurri rumor. We had most of that Edmonton team already, he’s the missing link!

by George E. Ays on Aug 24, 2009 9:05 AM EDT reply actions  

I'll be damned

I must’ve missed those 14 games. And the ones after where he was in Anaheim and Colorado.

Interesting.

Well. Then edit it that to a Paul Coffey rumor.

by George E. Ays on Aug 24, 2009 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

Hmm

Why not sign Gordy Howe or we could try using Vodo to bring the Rocket Richard back from the dead?

by Rangers Bleed Blue on Aug 24, 2009 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

What hole does he fill?

We have 2 glaring deficiencies… A premier #1 center and defensive depth. At this point in his career he is not a “premier” anything and he does not help defensively.

I say NOOO WAY!!!

by NYdemo on Aug 24, 2009 10:53 AM EDT reply actions  

Sundin played pretty well down the stretch for canucks.

I’m not saying lets jump on board the Mats train right now. But if mid-season Dubinsky and Anisimov aren’t working out w/ Gaborik, I’d be all for the Rangers taking a stab at Sundin.

I’d be more willing to sign up for that than lose dubinsky in a f—-tard of a trade for Richards.

by John Merrigan on Aug 24, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions  

i agree

but what you are saying also insinuates that Dubinsky is signed and Anisimov is playing a not 4th line role

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by Joe Fortunato on Aug 24, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions  

I would rather see our young guys at center instead of Sundin.

by nwahs s on Aug 24, 2009 12:30 PM EDT reply actions  

If we are talking trade...

Perhaps Sather could get Gabby’s bestest bud in the whole wide world to play centre for the Blueshirts.

Demitra and he do have great chemistry on the ice, and would probably want to reunite and show how good they are without Lemaire’s restraints.

Who ya got…who ya got!

vancitydan

by vancitydan on Aug 24, 2009 12:36 PM EDT reply actions  

The problem with Demitra is that

the canucks will ask for a kings ransom and that is not something the Rangers need

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by Joe Fortunato on Aug 24, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions  

demitras a great player

but im allready too busy concerning myself with whether gabby can stay healthy a whole season, no need to add another player to that list.

also if we did get sundin, who i agree wouldnt be a bad addition mid-season, do u think he could keep up with gaborik? gabby would be goin one on 2 while mats is just crossing the red line

by Conway on Aug 24, 2009 1:18 PM EDT reply actions  

sundin a ranger ?

it has to be the dubinsky thing what else would it be i would take him only if he comes cheap. who would look better as your #1 center higgins and drury or sundin with gaborik ..we shall see…

by lohaus#54 on Aug 24, 2009 5:47 PM EDT reply actions  

I personally would want to

know if sather watched dubinsky play last year, what a douche for not signing him already. Sundin is no good let the canuck fan have his way and keep the guy, Sundin is a second line center, ummm we have one already his name is Drury. Also Torts stressed conditioning last year and scared Naslund into retirement, i highly doubt Sundin wants someone who is going to tell him the truth about his play in this point in his career because he is telling himself that, he doesnt need any one else letting him know he is prehistoric.

by louielounz1 on Aug 25, 2009 2:25 AM EDT reply actions  

just to add...

Most of this talk is probably moot.

If…If he comes back. Big If….But if he comes back, the only team he has talked about playing for is the Canucks anyhow.

I’d be OK with that, especially with him wanting the swan song and already having more money than God anyhow. The Canucks do a mission thing like the Avs and Borque or Andrechuk with the Bolts.

I could live with that level of success!!

If he is going to give any team a break, it’ll be the Canucks.

I hope…

LOL

Keep your stick on the ice…

vancitydan

by vancitydan on Aug 26, 2009 2:36 AM EDT up reply actions  

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