NHL odds: Sundin's decision coming soon

By Jordan Walters
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Sports Betting at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook

Mats Sundin’s decision on whether to play next season in the NHL is coming soon, and it figures to make either fans in Toronto or Vancouver happy.

"I will make a decision in the end of July or beginning of August," Sundin said. "If I am going to play it's for the full season and I want to be there from the beginning of August."

Sundin, 37, was offered a two-year, $20 million contract by the Canucks, and the Montreal Canadiens also want to sign Sundin, who was given his freedom by the Maple Leafs to negotiate with other teams. Yet Sundin still says Toronto is where he may play again.

"The Maple Leafs are not out of the picture if I decide to play," he said. "They made me a very good offer, even if it isn't even close to what the Canucks have offered.”

Although the Maple Leafs missed the playoffs for the third straight season, Sundin had a solid year in 2007-08, leading Toronto in goals (32), assists (46) and points (78).

A report Sunday in a Swedish newspaper suggested that Sundin had agreed to join the Canucks, but that was quickly dismissed by Sundin's agent J.P. Barry.

"It was a false rumor," Barry said. "I've been getting bombarded with calls because of it."

Vancouver GM Mike Gillis figures it's now a race between his club and the Leafs.

"What I took from it was that it sounds like he is considering two teams, Toronto and us," Gillis said of a Sundin newspaper interview.

Gillis also said the team is using the fact Vancouver is playing host to the 2010 Winter Olympics as a carrot to try and lure Sundin, who captained Sweden's team that won the gold medal at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy.

 

Vancouver's financial offer would make Sundin the NHL's highest-paid player, surpassing the $9 million to be earned this upcoming year by Washington's Alexander Ovechkin and Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby.

"When you're a professional hockey player, the money is one part of the total picture before a decision," said Sundin. "But there are plenty of other things that play in as well. If it was only about the money, I would have already signed with Vancouver."

NHL futures coming soon to WagerWeb.com