Sundin's agent says no deal with Canucks

by Rob Peters | July 20, 2008 at 02:05 pm

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A Swedish newspaper ran an article Saturday saying that Mats Sundin was Vancouver-bound, but today his agent denied the claim. Vancouver has offered Sundin a two-year, $20-million deal that would make him the highest paid player in the NHL. Big numbers for a player who's never been to the Stanley Cup.

Agents have been known to bluff in the past, so I wonder what the real story is. Does anyone know anything about the Swedish newspaper that published the article?

A Swedish newspaper has reported that Mats Sundin has agreed to a deal with the Vancouver Canucks, but the centre's North American agent has denied the claim.

J.P. Barry, Sundin's North American agent, has confirmed to CBCSports that the report by Dusan Umicevic in Sweden's Daily News is false.

Sundin became an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career on July 1 and has been the subject of intense interest from several clubs.

The Canucks offered Sundin a two-year, $20-million US contract and the Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings and the New York Rangers were also among those pursuing the centre.

The Swede has posted 555 goals and 766 assists for 1,321 points in 1,305 NHL games with Toronto and the Quebec Nordiques. He was selected first overall by Quebec in the 1989 draft and traded to Toronto five years later.

A hockey blogger translates the original article that caused all the speculation. Anyone familiar with the newspaper?

I don't know squat about this newspaper or its creds, but they posted a piece about Sundin today that I had to run through a translator. It reads as follows:

Rangers wanted to have him, Detroit likewise. Probably half NHL also. But according to information to today's news has Mats Sundin now certain himself traveled to extend his career, in an entirely other klubb. He leaves Toronto, the ice hockey's capital, where he been bigger than the town's mayors, for Vancouver, where he becomes law friend with among the other brothers Sedin.