An excerpt from TSN:

The Montreal Canadiens have acquired forward Robert Lang from the Chicago Blackhawks, in return for a second-round selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft (acquired from Toronto along with Greg Pateryn, in return for Mikhaïl Grabovski, July 3, 2008).

When asked if the acquisition of Lang meant free agent Mats Sundin was no longer in their plans, Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey replied “yes.”

Gainey admitted that the discussions with Sundin were not fruitful.

“At no time did I have any feeling we had (Sundin) locked up or anyone else did.”

“We had developed a priority and had we been able to entice Mats Sundin to comeback and play and comeback and play with the Canadiens, we would have done that as early as June of this summer,” he explained.

With little for certain about the Sundin situation, the Canadiens decided to move in a different direction.

“We also developed back-up plans and today we decided to use one back-up plan instead of continue on a course that didn’t seem as if it was going to be fruitful. There was no indication that we would see Mats Sundin with our team.”

Later in the TSN article:

“He adds to our depth and experience and to the level of our attack,” explained Gainey.

Lang has played in 875 regular-season games with six different teams (Los Angeles, Boston, Pittsburgh, Washington, Detroit and Chicago), recording 635 points (234 goals and 401 assists), including 77 powerplay goals.

“Added to the group that’s there, I feel we responded to our needs for this year,” said Gainey.
Lang was excited about the deal.

“You never want to get traded or have to move your family, but I think it’s going to be a great situation,” Lang told the Canadian Press. “It’s a great hockey town.”