Sundin to California -- What About the Rangers?
Is Mats serious about a comeback?
Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2008 at 3:00 PMMats Sundin apparently will be visiting Los Angeles very soon.
Can you see him in a Rangers uniform? That would be an interesting sight, to say the least.
All we know, at the moment, is that the somewhat fading ace is soon due in Los Angeles, but we're not sure why. Although the hint is that it could be the first step to a comeback. If so, the Swift Swede may – the key word is MAY – begin a conditioning regimen that eventually will lead to another NHL contract. And should – the password is SHOULD – those pieces fall into place, what are the chances of him signing on with the Rangers?
Right now, it's a long-shot simply because there's no way of gauging precisely how serious the former Toronto Maple Leafs captain is about a return.
From Canada's TSN (Darren Dreger) we're informed that Sundin's agents (J.P. Barry, Claes Elefalk) "are downplaying the siginficance of Sundin's expected trip to Los Angeles." But we also know that "downplaying" – and sometimes "upplaying" – is part of the repping business, so there's no need for pessimism now.
What's required simply is patience. We have to see what unfolds; whether Mats does, in fact, begin working out and skating. If that happens, the next issue is whether he feels competent enough for a return. If the answer is affirmative, the Rangers should be in line with a bid. Then again, so will the Maple Leafs.
"If Mats does come back," Toronto coach Ron Wilson tells me, "I believe that it will be with the Leafs. This is a guy who has Maple Leafs tattooed all over his body."
No argument there. But Sundin has had his fill for Canada's Hockeytown and loves New York. He just might want to do a Jaromir Jagr-Wayne Gretzky and close his big-league career in The Big Apple.
With a 6-2-1 record, the Rangers return to the ice on Friday night in Columbus. They've enjoyed a much-needed breather since Monday's 2-1 loss at the Garden to Sean Avery and the Stars. Make no mistake, scoring could soon become a MAJOR issue if Markus Naslund fails to build on his goal against Dallas and Chris Drury doesn't light some goal lamps.
Perhaps the enervating preseason grind, the European expedition and return home have combined to brake the two pivotal veterans. So far, the Blueshirts have averaged 2.55 goals per game, ninth worst in the league.
Scoring is an issue, which helps explain why there's a tendency to focus on Drury and Naslund, especially the captain. But Tom Renney supports him one-hundred percent. At 6-2-1 he can afford to, but if the drought continues, the coach may start wishing that Sundin's comeback trail ends on Seventh Avenue!
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