Sundin

PHX alkso just drafted Jared Staal. Looks like a very good 2 days for that organization.

Only things that I don't like about Sundin is Quebec/Colorado won when they got rid of him, and Toronto hasn't done squat with him there, though thats not entirely his fault (more a defence core that couldnt pull its weight), and can Kovalev coexist with another big wheel on the team? I have my doubts since it seems Kovalev -much like a diva-ish goaltender- needs to be 'The Man' to be at his best. On the plus side, he has gotten better with age and plays with a lot of heart, and I really believe his desire to win it all is earnest. He's better than any centre we have so I'm all for it.

I don't think Tanguay is done, he had a bad year, and certain types of players/personalities have bad years under Mike Keenan (he either makes you stronger or flatout kills your will). The talent is still there with Tanguay in my opinion. My only concern is I thought he wanted nothing to do with Montreal, and if thats true will he have the makeup to handle the pressure if he's slumping...

Last year Phoenix almost made the playoffs and don't forget they were the youngest team in the NHL and in the toughest division of them all. They will make the playoffs now with Jokinen. Jokinen was/is the best kept secret in the NHL.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080620.wspt-duah-col-20... Globe Article on Sundin. Hot off the presses. No new info, though.

Tanguay is *28 years old.* Habs finished 1st in the eastern conference. Cmon people. This is great! If we get Sundin, we are giving Pittsburgh a run for the cup next year. And: Philly lost Umberger. And: Jokkinen, a man who has never played in the playoffs, goes to Phoenix. Poor bastard.

I could live with that Bill H. I just want some size up front. it just hurts cause I think we could've easily given something equivalent to what Phoenix gave Florida for Jokinen.

Tanguay will be as good as his centre will be, but we didnt give up too much for him, dont know if he'll pan out, thought he wanted nothing to do with playing in Montreal.... Seeing Jokinen go to Phoenix hurts...

Let's take a closer look at that Tanguay trade. So here's some stats: -----------GP----G----A----Pts----+/- 2005-06---71---29---49----78-----+8 2006-07---81---22---59----81-----+12 2007-08---78---18---40----58-----+11 Plays LW. 6'1" 189 lbs 28 y/o So far, not a playoff performer. Mostly he disappears in the playoffs. Can anyone comment on his style of play? Does he have the grit we are looking for? Or does he lack it and that is why he disappears at playoff time? His assists are consistently higher than his goals, indicating he is a playmaker more than a scorer, although with the exception of last year and 2001 with the Avalanche, he has been fairly consistent scoring about 25 goals a year. Someone said earlier he controls the puck well and is a strong skater. Nothing wrong with his +/-. Seems like an upgrade to me. Cap hit of $5.25 for '08-'09, then he is UFA. Right now, he is our highest paid forward, and 3rd behind Markov and Hamrlik. The playoff performance makes me nervous, but aside from that, he seems pretty solid. His UFA status next year when we have to sign UFAs Koivu, Kovalev and Komisarek as well as RFAs Higgins and Pleks...after we win the Cup, it will be hard to stay under the cap with all those guys wanting raises. ;-)

Its interesting and a little bit amusing to read all the comments from yesterday and earlier today on Boone's blog about what BG will or will not do. No Jokinen trade. Nobody saw the Tanguay trade coming. And for a late first round pick this year and a second round pick next year. Meanwhile BG has negotiated exclusive rights to talk with Sundin - Boone's Plan B. If he signs Sundin, that will probably cost a late round draft pick next year. So we've got Tanguay without costing us a talented roster player like Higgins or Pleks. And we've got the inside track on Sundin, again not costing us anything we can't part with easily. So Bob is doing well. Let's hope he lands Sundin. That will give us 3 great scoring lines, a definite upgrade from last year. With a little more maturity on defence, we can have a real shot at the Cup.

Favorite move so far Umberger to Columbus i dont want to see that habs killer never again thank you flyers for trading away the man who ive had nightmares about since the LETDOWN. all the best to umberger, hopefully he'll give many fans more nightmares as long as its in the other conference

double post i feel like the krob

Hmmmm now wouldn't that be sweet - "Sundin wins Cup with the Habs."..........that would put "Leafs Nation"in a funk!!!!

It seemed unthinkable a month ago but now it could very well happen. GO HABS.

Can the Habs afford Tanguay and Sundin?? I BLEED BLEU BLANC ET ROUGE!!!

Alex Tanguay is a good addition, in my opinion.

we went from big Sundin to tiny tanguay nooooo!

I've said it once and I'll say it a million times. We lost in the playoffs because no one on the first two lines was willing to pay the price in front of the net. Higgins tried but wasn't successful. Detroit, Philly and Pittsburg are teams that were successful because of guys like Malone, Umberger, Franzen and Holmstrom. Unless we address this issue then we will not be successful in the playoffs. Let's get a player that can score and has grit.

we traded 25th pick for tanguay according to tsn

Good to see some of my regular season and playoffs friends here. Been a while. Tanguary for a 25th overall pick? He's a good player but didn't he say he didn't want to play in Montreal? If he wants to come here - great - but if he doesn't no thanks pal.

Just sign him! He is one of the best complete players in the league! We can afford to give up our first round draft pick for him because we have many great prospects in our system.

Alex Tangay to Montreal for their #25.

Tanguay for the 1st rd pick? According to Dreger. Good player, big salary, not a great playoff performer, though. ----- Go Habs Go!

Can you imagine? http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg16/RGM81/Mats.jpg Looks weird eh? ----- Go Habs Go!

the lineup come September will be... A.K. - Plekanec - Kovalev Higgins - Sundin - S.K. Selanne - Koivu - Latendresse/Stewart/other net crasher (hopefully, but improbably Malone) Begin - Lapierre - Kostopoulos (lines don't necessarily have to be in that order) Markov - Komisarek Hamrlik - Valentenko/Carle/Emelin/other prospect OB - Gorges/Bouillon Price vet goalie

Pierre McGuire thinks Mats Sundin will retire.

Love all the speculation and rumor. Doesn't this make Draft Night a blast? It's great to see everyone up and posting, pedal to the metal. If Sundin comes, can yet another surprise be on the horizon? Gilbert

all this hype about sundin, jokinen, and marleau feels alot like the trade deadline. lets not put all are eggs in one basket until something has been actually done. Another letdown may be looming.

A rumor is a rumour is a rumor... I think Hossa's (Marcel's) red white anf blue gloves are still rinkside at the Bell Centre. Lemay's speculation means nothing

Hey Mike, are you blogging the draft?

There's no way the habs traded their 1st round pick for the chance to talk to Mats. That's insane. We'll see what the draft pick is about soon enough... Seriously though I don't know how I feel about Sundin in Montreal... How would he fit in here? He's almost public enemy #1 for being the captain of The Great Blue Evil. On the other hand, he's a phenomenal hockey player, and a power forward is exactly what the habs need... although do we need another center? who plays with him? ideally you'd have him with Higgins and Sergei, or Ryder if he stays. But then what of Koivu? It boggles the mind. Bob definitely has the chutzpah to make it happen... Oh man! it'll be an interesting few weeks!

If, and I doubt it very much, Gainey traded his 1st round for the rights to speak to Sundin, then I think it is time to have him released of his duties as he is suffering from some mental deficiency. Sundin is a shell of his former self and I can't believe Gainey would trade his first round unless he rec'd something in return. It is funny you do not see Detroit mentioned as a party to these bonehead moves. They just wait their turn, draft and win the Cup. I am attributing this to the press who have nothing better to do but speculate. mjames

Is it possible that first round draft pick goes to TO if Sundin signs? Yes i realize he'd have to sign in the next 60 or so minutes.

"The Leafs would have to trade Sundin's negotiating rights to the Canadiens to facilitate an early signing." That's from the article. I really don't see how an "early signing" helps anyone except FLetcher, in terms of getting his ducks in a row for tonight / next week. Sundin would certainly benefit from negociating from a UFA position. Montreal isn't in the habit of blindly giving away first round picks, even if it is a 25th overall.

Sundin would be just what the Doctor ordered.

STOP TEASING US DAMN IT a 1st for the rights is pretty steep to just talk.