Mats Sundin was still a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs last night, proudly representing the Blue and White with the Bruins in town, playing in his 967th game since joining the franchise in 1994. The Leafs play four more times between now and the Feb. 26 trade deadline, and as of yesterday, there was still no word on whether Sundin will surrender his no-trade clause, allowing the franchise to flip him for some goodies and take one giant step toward a much-needed makeover.
Sundin is a proud guy, and he doesn't want to be perceived as quitting on the franchise, which could frame his legacy in Toronto. Crazy as that sounds, there are still some Boston fans who hold Ray Bourque's 2000 surrender on Causeway Street against him. Which only proves some fans don't know devotion from dementia.
Unlike Bourque, though, the 37-year-old Sundin figures to be back next fall, likely with at least a two-year Toronto contract in hand. Given that quick turnaround, it should be pretty easy for the Leafs to convince everyone that Sundin didn't quit, but packed up for the good of the franchise, if not all of hockey, only to return for September's training camp for another valiant try to win the franchise's first Cup since 1967.
If the Leafs can't sell that to vox populi, then hey, they really are in the hands of a bunch of schoolteachers.
With nine days to go, only one trade of any consequence has been made: last Monday's Ottawa-Carolina deal that brought Cory Stillman and Mike Commodore to the Senators and Joe Corvu and Patrick Eaves to the Hurricanes. A good deal for both, and similar to Sundin's situation here, Commodore and Stillman both are targeted to become UFAs July 1. It's possible, even in this cap era, that all four will be teammates next year in Raleigh. Likely, no, but possible.
As the weekend approached, Marian Hossa sounded more and more as if he wouldn't get a deal done with the Thrashers, which should only intensify the offers Atlanta GM Don Waddell receives this week.
"What kind of miracle is going to happen now?" a seemingly resigned Hossa said to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The talented Slovak (read: friend of Zdeno Chara) is in his third year with the franchise, more than enough time to get a new deal done. But according to one GM, Hossa's agent, Rich Winter, has not told Waddell his client's asking price. Rather than bid into a vacuum, Waddell has waited, which in the end could force him to deal Hossa or let him walk in July.
The Bruins will be among the many to reiterate interest in Hossa, the depth of their offer depending on whether they would be taking him as a rental or could tie him up long term in what would amount to a sign-and-trade with the Thrashers. The latter scenario almost certainly would cost the Bruins assets such as Phil Kessel and Mark Stuart, Boston's top picks in 2006 and 2003. A steep price, for sure, but Hossa's age (29) and career goal count (296 in 687 games) would justify the payment.
Meanwhile, the much-anticipated signing of Peter Forsberg remains just that, anticipated. No one is certain whether the star Swede is ready to cut a new deal, most likely with Philadelphia, or formally put in his retirement papers. Rumors into the weekend had it that Foppa still wasn't convinced that his feet could stand the day-to-day rigors of NHL play, and he is beyond the point in life where he wants North America to be some double-runnered test flight. With Simon Gagne sidelined by yet another concussion, Forsberg's delay has only enhanced his bargaining position, provided it's Philly he wants to call home again.
Out in Los Angeles, veteran blue liner Rob Blake likely will be leaving the Crowns for a second time, although this parting will be far more congenial than his 2001 departure to Colorado (where a Cup awaited him at the Will Call window). Working wisdom out West is that Blake will waive his no-trade only for Anaheim or San Jose, allowing him an easy return to the Kings in September. If it's Anaheim, also considered a key contender in the Sundin (if) sweepstakes, that could lead to the Ducks then dealing away another blue liner - be it Mathieu Schneider or ex-Bruin Sean O'Donnell.
Imagine the mix of thump and style in an Anaheim backline corps that included Blake, Chris Pronger, and Scott Niedermayer. Could lead to GM Brian Burke being hauled into a Senate hearing on unfair trade practices. Oh, the thought of one of our proud members of Congress - no doubt a Republican - grilling Burke over the deepest hockey secrets, such as what temperature water freezes at, just why do they call it the five-hole, why do referees and linesmen dress in prison stripes, and, gee, if hockey's so good, why isn't it on ESPN?
Saving their necks
As frightening as it was to see Richard Zednik, his carotid artery sliced open Sunday night in Buffalo, make his bloody dash to the Florida bench, don't bet on NHL players rallying for mandatory use of protective collars. In fact, very few are likely to pull them on voluntarily.
However, that won't stop the Players Association, headed by Needham attorney Paul Kelly, from continuing the conversation.
"We discussed visor use and other on-ice safety issues with each of the teams during the just-completed fall tour," wrote Kelly, responding via e-mail to a query in light of the Zednik incident.
Kelly, who took the job at the start of the season, took until the end of last month to meet with all teams individually.
"We intend to further discuss these important issues, with input from medical professionals, at our upcoming summer player meetings," he wrote. "The [NHLPA] takes seriously its responsibility to educate players about on-ice safety issues."
It took NHL players decades to come around to the idea of helmets, the last of the holdouts (onetime Bruin Craig MacTavish) finally leaving the building just over 10 years ago. Commissioner Gary Bettman, for much of his tenure, has tried to coax the players into adopting mandatory eye protection.
Zednik was rushed via ambulance to Buffalo General Hospital and was on the operating table within 15 minutes of the mishap. It took surgeons two hours to suture the wound and replenish the five units of blood he lost.
Sabres physician Les Bisson was the first doctor at his side, similar to months earlier when Bisson was the first to reach fallen Buffalo Bill Kevin Everett, whose recovery from paralysis has been extraordinary.
"Bisson will always be a special man in [Zednik's] life," wrote Buffalo News columnist Jerry Sullivan. "After all, he saved it."
A humble Bisson said he believes neck guards would be a "good idea" for NHL practices, with ambulances not available and doctors not assigned.
"If that happens to Zednik in a men's league," said Bruins goalie Tim Thomas, "he's got no chance. That's it."
Nifty Middleton has some moves left
Rick Middleton is moving up, and Bob Sweeney is moving over.
Middleton, who has been serving as vice president of the Bruins' Alumni Association, has ascended to the top spot, with Sweeney shifting over to direct the club's charitable endeavors as head of the Bruins' Foundation. Gord Kluzak, like Middleton a NESN commentator, remains with the alumni as treasurer, and Nevin Markwart as secretary. The group will hold an election to fill Middleton's VP vacancy.
"Charlie offered Swoop [Sweeney] the Foundation job, but he didn't want him to wear two hats, so to speak," said Middleton, referring to Charlie Jacobs, the club's executive son. "And the truth is, it's a lot of work to do both."
Among Middleton's early initiatives: oversee the building of a better website (www.bostonbruinsalumni.com) and streamline the process that has the Oldie Black & Goldies involved in many charity golf outings and hockey games.
Meanwhile, the 54-year-old Middleton also continues to build out his dessert business, highlighted by his signature dish, the "Nifty 16 Dessert Bar."
"We're holding our own," said the irrepressible Middleton. "It's like anything else that's worth doing; it takes a lot of work."
Etc.
The price of milk
Brian Burke, who cut through Boston Friday en route to the general manager meetings that start today in Naples, Fla., figures fiscal realities, and high asking prices at the trade deadline, could lead to more cases in which clubs keep UFAs-to-be, knowing they'll see them walk away come July 1. "More teams will milk the cow," said Burke, noting that it could be worth not making a trade for the sake of keeping the player and making a playoff run, "and then turn the cow loose." The Ducks did just that with Minsk-born defenseman Ruslan Salei in the spring of 2006, keeping him aboard to help with a playoff run that led to the conference finals. The Ducks got what they wanted out of him, and Salei used a strong playoff performance to leverage a four-year, $12.1 million deal out of Florida.
Tricks of the trade
Ex-Bruin Brad Stuart, lost in the ongoing train wreck in Los Angeles, could be on the move again in the next few days. Remember, the Bruins wheeled him out early last February when the ex-Shark balked at staying on Causeway Street. Stuart and Wayne Primeau netted Andrew Ference and Chuck Kobasew, one of the top deals Boston GM Peter Chiarelli has swung over the course of his 18-plus months on the job. One rumored deal last February had Stuart going to Dallas, a swap that might have included Niklas Hagman and perhaps Trevor Daley. Now Stuart is on the go again (maybe to New Jersey?), and Primeau, fully healed after a long stint on the injured list earlier this season, is among three elder Flames - Rhett Warrener and Marcus Nilson are the others - who can't crack the Calgary lineup.
Circling back to the Wheels?
Word around Detroit was that the Red Wings might bring back onetime superstar Sergei Fedorov, should the Blue Jackets officially put up the "For Sale" sign. Fedorov, once one of the game's dominant players, has been sidelined with a concussion the last month. The Wings have lost valuable forward Dan Cleary (fractured jaw) until the start of the playoffs, so bringing back the 38-year-old Fedorov could make sense, although the crowd at The Joe hasn't been kind to him since his free agent departure to Anaheim. Not to worry, ancient Wing Chris Chelios told the Detroit News, "He's going to be a favorite if he ever comes back here." Meanwhile, don't count out the Hurricanes kicking the tires on Fedorov. They lost captain Rod Brind'Amour Thursday night (torn left ACL), leading him to season-ending surgery. During the 1998 Olympic break, Carolina rolled out a huge Group 2 free agent offer for Fedorov, which the Wings begrudgingly matched.
Hot property on Comm. Ave.
Look for Boston University defenseman Matt Gilroy, a junior, to turn pro within days, if not hours, after the Terriers wrap up their season. Much like ex-UMass defenseman Thomas Pock, who signed with the Rangers in March 2004 after four seasons with the Minutemen, Gilroy is considered the hottest college free agent on the market. "No question," said one league GM, "he'll have 30 offers on the table when he's ready." Gilroy, who grew up on Long Island, originally joined the Terriers program as a walk-on, agreeing to switch from forward to defenseman for a shot at making the club.
A better handle?
Up until their impressive 5-2 win Thursday over Dallas, the Coyotes were 0-3-0 since the return of Rick Tocchet behind their bench. The win may help shed the new nickname, "Bad Luck Schleprock," that his boss, Wayne Gretzky, put on Tocchet when the losses began to mount.
Seller's market
Chiarelli a couple of weeks ago said his hopes of landing a top-six forward were fading, simply because demand around the league far outpaced supply, which will be sure to peg the asking prices high this week (see: Marian Hossa). Red Wings GM Ken Holland said last week that GMs have to look at fixes deeper down their rosters. "What I'm seeing three years into this CBA," he said, "is that teams need cheaper players on the back end of their rosters. If you don't have those players coming through the draft, where do you get them?"
Loose pucks
The Rangers prevented the Lightning from making an anticipated Group 2 offer in the offseason to Henrik Lundqvist by handing the Swedish netminder a deal worth slightly more than $42 million over six seasons. The Bolts still need a goalie if they want to nose into this year's playoffs, and rumors have then sniffing around Colorado's Jose Theodore and Edmonton's Dwayne Roloson . . . "Boston Legal" - only the greatest TV show ever - rolled out a new episode last Tuesday. Sitting right there as a courtroom spectator was ex-Yale forward Bill Zito, these days a successful agent, representing Bruins goalies Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask. Zito didn't expect to get so much face time, making the trip to the Manhattan Beach studio only because his girlfriend, Julie Tabloff, landed a gig to sit in the crowd, too. "I've taken a lot of grief from my hockey buddies who saw it, I can tell you that," said Zito. "And the irony was, I got more face time than Julie, but that's kind of based on where you sit. They tape for six hours, and it's just where the camera scans, I guess." Word is that Tabloff is seeking damages through the firm of Crane Poole and Schmidt. Brilliant.
Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at dupont@globe.com; material from personal interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report.
