<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Given their current predicament, there really is only one unthinkable result to this season for the Maple Leafs. That would be to miss the Stanley Cups playoffs – already a likely result – and then allow Mats Sundin to walk out the door as an unrestricted free agent at season's end. To avoid that nightmare, one of two events must occur before the Feb.26 trade deadline. Sundin must be dealt to a contending team eager to pay a ransom for his considerable skills. Or he must be signed to a new, multi-year contract. What the Leafs cannot permit to occur, however, is for Feb.26 to come and go without Sundin being either traded or signed. That would be utter madness. The opportunity to realize enormous gains in prospects and draft picks would be gone, and if the idea is to retain him at a sensible salary under the cap, any leverage the Leafs might have, such as Sundin fervently wishing to remain a Leaf for a hometown discount, would be lost. Either they'd then have to overpay Bryan McCabe-style to keep him or they'll be forced into a bidding war July 1. This is significantly different than last summer when the Leafs held an option on Sundin for the '07-08 season, and then he agreed to re-work his deal to help the team with the cap. Moreover, if the club misses the post-season, you'll be looking at a new management team and quite possibly a new coaching staff. That would be a tough sell to Sundin, who turns 37 next month, and introduces the strong possibility he'd signed elsewhere and the Leafs would get nothing for losing their best player and top asset.</div> The Toronto Star
they need to take their losses and get a few good draft picks, Trade Sundin and build for the future. If you want to see stability and a well run organization, look across the hall at what BC and the Raptors are doing, its not perfect but its sure as hell better then what Jr. is doing over in Leafs land.
I think we need to call up the Marlies. They are like 23-5-2 or something. We do need to trade Sundin. He has not much more to offer and I say we trade him to Detroit, or St. Louis and get some picks and young defense and forwards. I saw we package in McCabe and Tucker and go tons of young guys. It will take a few years, but it will be worth it.
Those defensive contracts hurt, alot Detroit might take Sundin, but it'll prob be a 4-5 seed in the west who takes him, to become a 2-3 team. Could be St. Louis.
It'd be hard to see him go. The dude's been one of my favourite athletes ever. But they really need to get something back for him while they can and not make the exact same mistake they did with Brian McCabe. The problem, I believe, is that once you trade Sundin there's no denying that the team is in full-out rebuilding mode. There are still a lot of other big contracts that need to be moved and I have no faith in front office's ability or willingness to do that. More than likely, it'll probably be status quo.
