OTTAWA (AP) -Of all the trades completed at the NHL draft on Friday, 12 involving first-round selections, there was one blossoming deal that caught everyone’s attention.
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin could be on the move, and his destination might be Montreal.
The Maple Leafs give the archrival Canadiens permission to negotiate a contract with Sundin, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. That’s the deadline the Canadiens have to lure the Maple Leafs’ career goal leader before he can negotiate with any other team.
Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey made an introductory phone call Thursday to Sundin, who was in his native Sweden.
“We got to know each other a little bit and that way we would get to know each other better,” Gainey said.
Gainey added he has the framework of a deal with the Leafs in place should he sign Sundin. Toronto made a contract offer to Sundin before allowing him to talk to Montreal.
The rest of the first night of the draft belonged to teams who made big moves.
Calgary was the busiest club, swinging two trades involving active players. The Flames dealt center Alex Tanguay to Montreal for the Canadiens’ first-round pick (No. 25), and their second-round pick next year. The Flames then acquired Los Angeles Kings center Mike Cammalleri in a trade involving three teams.
Calgary sent its first-round pick, No. 17, to Los Angeles. The Kings then dealt that pick and the 28th selection to Anaheim for the Ducks’ first-rounder, No. 12 overall.
Tanguay is an eight-year NHL veteran and a five-time 20-goal-scorer. He spent the past two seasons with the Flames, enjoying a career-high 81-point season (22 goals, 59 assists) two years ago. His numbers tailed off last season, when he had 18 goals and 40 assists.
“It’s time for us to make these kinds of moves to support the players and the work that’s been done and see if we can increase our opportunities to play with the best teams in the league,” Gainey said.
The Flames acquired Cammalleri, who is entering the final year of his contract. He is a five-year NHL veteran, whose numbers dropped off dramatically last season, when he had 19 goals and 28 assists. That followed a career-best 80-point campaign (34 goals, 46 assists).
Another high-profile player dealt was Florida Panthers captain Olli Jokinen, who was traded to Phoenix. The Panthers got defensemen Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton and the 49th pick in this year’s draft in return.
Jokinen is coming off three consecutive 30-goal seasons.
The Panthers lost a player that has been the face of the team this decade, but bolstered their defense.
“I think that was the best package for sure,” Panthers GM Jacques Martin said. “I think what this package gives is it really addressed our needs as far as defense.”
Ballard is a three-year NHL veteran, who has 19 goals and 68 assists in 233 career games. Boynton is an eight-year NHL veteran, who spent the past two seasons with Phoenix.
Columbus acquired Flyers forward R.J. Umberger and Philadelphia’s fourth-round pick (No. 118), for the Blue Jackets’ second of two first-round picks (No. 19) and their third-rounder (No. 67).
Washington traded defenseman Steve Eminger and their third-round pick to Philadelphia for the Flyers’ first-round pick (No. 27).
Sundin’s veteran experience would certainly add presence to the Canadiens, a young team that fell short this season. Montreal finished first in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, but was eliminated by Philadelphia in the second round of the playoffs.
Should he sign with Montreal, Sundin would return to the province where he began his career after being the No. 1 pick in the 1989 draft by the Quebec Nordiques. He spent four seasons with Quebec before being traded to Toronto in a deal that included then Leafs captain Wendell Clark.
Sundin’s sudden interest to consider other teams comes after he declined to waive his no-trade clause at the trade deadline in February, when the Leafs toyed with the possibility of dealing him.
Add A Comment