Bob Gainey is one of the most secretive and unpredictable NHL GMs, just call him Poker Face Bob!!
Even with winger Alex Tanguay and centre Robert Lang in the fold, it seems the Montreal Canadiens still have an eye for Mats Sundin.
Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey met with the unrestricted free agent centre on Wednesday, a development that was not surprising to Sundin’s agent JP Barry.
“Montreal was always a serious contender for Mats services,” Barry told RDS reporter Renaud Lavoie on Friday. “They are a very skilled, exciting hockey team, with great fans and one of the best hockey markets in the world.”
Barry told TSN that he intends on continuing to talking to the 11 teams who have shown interest in the 37-year-old and expects his client will make a decision on whether to return by the end of December. Barry’s next move is to find the serious bidders in the group in the event Sundin decides to return.
Habster:
I wouldn’t want to play high stakes poker against Bob Gainey. Mr. Gainey can bluff with the best of them, especially after his recent visit to sunny California to visit the Big Swede and discuss his future plans.
If you recall, it was only a few weeks ago that Gainey was saying he and the organization were moving in a different direction with Plan”B” by signing Robert Lang (by no means in the same class as Sundin!!).
How things change when a team is struggling to score goals and wins only two games in their last seven.
- With only $2 million in available cap room and a roster bursting at the seams with players on one way contracts, Gainey will have to make some roster moves (Hello Mr. Dandenault and Mr. Begin!!) in order to make an offer which is agreeable to the Sundin camp.
- Reliable sources are now saying Sundin is not limiting his choices to the Eastern Conference and will seriously consider playing for a Western conference team, even a west coast team like the Ducks or Canucks.
- Mike Gillis still hasn’t removed his huge 2 year/$20 million deal from the table. I’m guessing he is willing to give Sundin the full $10 million for half a season…..consider it a nice signing bonus!!! Add into the mix that the Canucks are playing good hockey (12-6-2 26 pts) at the present time and it is conceivable that Mats sees a potential playoff berth with the Canucks.
- The Canadiens aren’t exactly playing great hockey the last 7-8 games and if Sundin is serious about his desire to play for a Stanley Cup contender, then he might have some doubts about the Habs’ chances……unless they straighten things out soon.
- The Canadiens are 1 of 11 teams vying for the big Swedes services, not great odds!!
All Habs readers, tell us what you think about the Habs on again, off again and now on again courtship with Sundin!!!???
I said all along that Sundin was going to pull a Forsberg and only play half the year. No one seemed to believe that, although Sundin was the one that said he didn’t want to play half a season. Mind you, no one has been honest in this case, Gainey dumped most of the salary cap room on bleeping Robert Lang, and said he was tired of waiting on Sundin. So is the 4 MILLION DOLLAR MAN, Robert Lang going to become a FOURTH LINE CENTER if they somehow manage to sign Sundin?
Gainey makes some good moves as a G.M., but he makes just as many outright stupid ones. Maybe the blank expression on that “poker face” is simply the result of not having a brain operating behind it full time.
Funny how “Poker face Bob” is talking with “I signed with pokerstar” Mats. My guess? They are really playing poker.
However, the possibility to trade some of our forwards to get that 4th defencemen is there and could make room for Sundin. I’m just not sure who. Trading Lang could make Gainey look bad for future free agents signing, Koivu is playing a career year and the other centers aren’t close to the salary dump the Habs need to do. But something along the lines of Lang-Dandenault-prospect for a good D not too expensive could work. We’ll have to wait and see… or not see since probably nothing will happen.
Hey guys,
Sorry for the delay in responding!!!
“something along the lines of Lang-Dandenault-prospect for a good D not too expensive could work”.
BB, I agree with you about the above players who could be traded for a decent #4-5 defenseman.
The only concern I have is with two UFA fringe players like Dandenault and Lang, Gainey won’t get a lot in return unless he throws a great prospect into the mix.
People are saying that Gainey should pursue Jay Bouwmester……that’s easier said than done as Jacques Martin is not very well liked by some of the NHL GMs because his asking price in trade talks is always high and unrealistic. I can’t imagine what the asking price would be for his #1 defenseman…..maybe Higgins, O’Byrne/Halak, a prospect and a 1st round pick!!!!….a lot to ask!!??
Especially if he doesn’t want to sign a long term contract with the Habs!!!!
Habster you are right about dealing with Jacques Martin. That’s why in the poll I wanted to remind readers that Gainey would have to ‘give up the moon’ in a trade for Bouwmeester.
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