Mats Sundin to Rangers? It's possible!

Mats Sundin to the Rangers? While the thought had crossed the minds of fans earlier in the free agent season, that thought was almost a foregone conclusion after the signing of Markus Naslund and the trade for Nikolai Zherdev.

With over $14 million a season invested in their top two centers it would be hard to believe that Rangers GM Glen Sather would dole out another huge contract to bring the long time Swedish center to New York, but a source close to the team’s thinking believes it can be done.

“He’s been on the radar ever since the season ended,” said the source who asked to remain anonymous. “There was some talk at the trading deadline as well, but the organization didn’t want to give up any of its young players.”

Since the free agent period opened, Sundin was pursued heavily by the Montreal Canadiens. He was offered a one-year deal said to be worth $7 million with bonuses for one year from his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.  

The Red Wings and Flyers have been involved in talks as well, but perhaps his best offer came from the Vancouver Canucks for $10 million a season. The thought of playing with Vancouver cooled off after he released a statement saying he would take more time deciding where he’d play next season. In that time the source says, he’s been in contact with countryman Markus Naslund.

“Originally it was to ask about playing in Vancouver,” the source says. “After several conversations he started to question whether there was any way he could finish his career centering Naslund and playing in New York.”

With less than $2 million left under the 2008-09 salary cap it’s almost impossible for the Rangers to clear space for the 37 year-old center. Rumors have surfaced that if such a move would take place, the Rangers would then have to shed themselves of a big contract, most notably, Michael Rozsival who just singed for $5 million a season for the next four years.

The source also states that while they love the incumbent leader in minutes played, they aren’t “in love” with him.

“He plays a similar game to [Dmitri] Kalinin and the team is really high on him. Everyone feels he can bounce back after a disappointing season.”

While the source didn’t reveal if the Rangers are currently shopping Rozsival, there’s no doubt the Rangers will do everything in their power to bring Sundin to Broadway.

“He called to inquire, that’s the important thing. He’s expressed interest in making it work financially even if that means taking a bonus-laden deal and a pay cut. He’s also expressed that he’d play wherever the team needed him. That desire to be here makes this very possible.”

For the last several weeks the Rangers have held off on signing any more depth players on defense. While they have had their eye on a few players yet to sign with other teams, they believed they couldn’t make another move until Sundin made his.

That is why the Rangers have held off on making a deal with Brendan Shanahan who is patiently waiting for word from Sather. Shanahan is Sather’s back up plan. Once Sundin decides, Shanahan’s fate will be decided as well.

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