TORONTO (Feb. 22) -- The baton has officially been passed from Cliff Fletcher to Mats Sundin. And, now, the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs is waiting to see if Sundin will run with it, or hand it back.
Though Fletcher -- in a characteristically dignified manner -- sidestepped the discussion of anything remotely specific today, sources tell THE FAN-590 that he presented Sundin's agent -- J.P. Barry -- with at least one, and possibly two, trade proposals. It now appears that it is Sundin's time to finally decide whether he wants to remain in a hopeless situation here for the rest of the season, or allow himself to be dealt to a team in contention for the Stanley Cup.
"I met with Mats and his agent earlier today and we had a lengthy discussion," Fletcher said this evening. "Mats has a lot of thinking to do, and I imagine I'll hear back from him and [Barry] sometime in the next day or so."
It remains purely speculative as to which teams Fletcher has negotiated with, but any club outside the group consisting of Detroit, Anaheim, San Jose, Calgary, Vancouver and Montreal would constitute a surprise. Of course, trade deadline negotiations can take all sorts of twists and turns, so nothing can be ruled out. Including other offers that Fletcher might consider running past Sundin, involving teams that have not been widely mentioned. But, the GM made clear the obvious again today: That Sundin would only have interest in going to a franchise with a legitimate chance of playing deep into the post-season. The abovementioned clubs -- subject of numerous Sundin-related rumors -- fall directly into that category, or very close to it.
How many of them would accept Sundin as a rental property is up for heated debate. Most clubs giving up future parts would likely request that Sundin agree to a contract extension for 2008-09. But, the 37-year-old has provided no indication that he'll want to play anywhere next season, having repeatedly stated his intention to consider the remainder of his career a year at a time.
Barry's arrival here from his home in Calgary, however, is no coincidence. Though the much-respected agent has an extensive stable of NHL players, Sundin ranks among his most prestigious clients, and the big Swede's situation is clearly among his most urgent matters. If Sundin agrees to be traded, it's believed a deal will be announced no later than Monday; likely sooner than that. Even if this scenario extends beyond the weekend, it will be absolutely shocking if Sundin is in the Leafs' line-up for Saturday night's home game against Atlanta. Under no circumstance will either side allow the risk of injury to scuttle a potential deal. If Sundin is playing against the Thrashers, it will almost certainly indicate that he has refused to waive his no-trade clause.
Veteran defenceman Bryan McCabe also met with Fletcher today about potentially waiving the no-movement section of his contract. It's believed the New York Islanders and, possibly, the Detroit Red Wings are interested in acquiring McCabe -- in the midst of a deal that carries a salary-cap hit of $5.75 million per season. Both Tomas Kaberle and Darcy Tucker have thus far declined to forgo their no-trade privileges in meetings with Fletcher. Pavel Kubina has not yet been approached about his contract protection, and it's unlikely he will be. If they so desire, the Leafs have a window of opportunity this summer to peddle Kubina, whose no-trade clause will be temporarily waived by virtue of the club missing the playoffs.
Fletcher is considering trade proposals for other players on the Leafs, but almost all eyes are now focussed on Sundin, who will clearly yield the most beneficial return. No one should be surprised, or disappointed, if the Leafs' captain has granted permission for Fletcher to seek a deal. Sundin -- both pragmatic and enduringly classy -- knows he has everything to gain by joining a club with legitimate playoff designs, and he surely understands what his willingness to be dealt could mean for the future of the Maple Leafs.
All that remains to be determined is a proper fit. Which is likely, but not necessarily a sure thing.
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