Canucks Signed Mats Sundin!!! Mats, Canucks, Signed, Sundin

ravemother

Vancouver, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis today announced that the team has signed free agent centre Mats Sundin. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are very excited to have Mats join the Vancouver Canucks,” said Mike Gillis, Vancouver Canucks General Manager. “Playing previously in two Canadian markets and consistently being among team and League leaders in scoring, Mats has proven that he can excel under pressure. He adds a wealth of experience, leadership and skill to the Canucks.”

"I am truly excited to be joining the Canucks,” said Sundin. “Once I made the decision to return to play a few weeks ago, the Vancouver opportunity was simply the best overall fit. I want to thank Mike Gillis and the entire Canucks organization for their professionalism throughout this entire process."

Sundin, 37, joins the Canucks organization after playing over 1300 career NHL regular season games with Toronto and Quebec. In an additional 83 Stanley Cup Playoff games, he has recorded 74 points (35-39-74) and 72 penalty minutes. In 1305 regular season games, Sundin has recorded 555 goals, 766 assists, 1321 points and 1065 penalty minutes. At the conclusion of the 2007-08 season, he held the Maple Leafs franchise record for most goals (420) and points (987) in a Toronto sweater.

At the conclusion of the 2007-08 season, the 6-foot-5, 230 pounds centre ranked 22nd all-time in career goals (555), 34th all-time in career assists (766) and 30th all-time in career points (1321).

The Bromma, Sweden native has also represented his home nation in a number of international tournaments. During his international career, Sundin has won the World Championships on three occasions (1991, 1992 and 1998) and was captain of Team Sweden at the 2006 Winter Olympics, winning gold, alongside Canucks teammates, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin and Mattias Ohlund.

For his accomplishments on the ice, Sundin has been selected to play in the NHL All-Star game on nine occasions (missed 2003 due to an injury). In 2002 and 2004, Sundin was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team and was named to the Olympic Tournament All-Star Team in 2002.

Sundin was selected first overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques, becoming the first European hockey player to ever be drafted first overall.

http://canucks.nhl.com/team/app? ... ge&service=page

ACooperFan

i'm actually not too excited about him joining the Canucks... he waited forever...so "inchy"....

yes, he might have good skills....but so old laaa....

masterbear

Canucks did the same thing again! Looks familiar situation of ------ Mark Messier

rockypath

I totally don't understand why Canucks going after him for such big money. They can use that money to get a younger star who are still on the upward trend interm of skill and power.

ravemother

great addition in the depth and leadership in the dressing room.

but i agree, canucks can sign a youngster with a lot more potential to harvest.

hope he can perform and dun screw up the team chemistry.

Sundin is expected to skate with team on Dec 27, the earliest.

akshea

This is not for long terms guys.. He would only play for the rest of the season and we are not paying him full amount. I think we only have to pay him around 5 - 6 mil. instead of 10 mil.
This would give us better chance to win the cup this year. Even with the addition of Sundin we still have enough room to sign another decent player before the trading dead line.
Of course we can sign a youngster, but who ? and how are we gonna sign them ? we can't just go to any team and take a player off them. Signing the Sundin we don't have to lose anyone on our roster.  This is one of the best deal we have made and this would only do us good and no harm.
good for Mike Gillis and good for the Canucks.

rockypath

I am not as confident as you are. let's wait and see how he will fit into the team and see whether he can actually perform.

I really have a doubt that he can perform as good as in the Leaf since the team was not built around him as the conor stone.

masterbear

hope he's not just take it easy like Messier years ago! Wasting $ the the result was SUCKS

gleaner

Messier and Sundin are totally two different players....diff skill sets...diff playing style...

Mat will do okay here.... he is not here to make friends...we have him here to take  the team to another round of the playoffs.

rockypath

Statistically, Messier is a greater hocky player than Mat. Mat only got 1321 points (555 goals and 766 assits) while Messier got 1887 points (694 goals and 1193 assists). In addition, Messier won 6 Standley Cup and 5 trophies.

I really doubt Mat can do better than Messier in Vancouver. Let's see and I really hope I am wrong.

Here is a summary of Mark Messier's NHL accomplishments;
Year    Team                 GP   G   A   Pts   Pim
1979-80 Edmonton Oilers      75  12  21    33   120
1980-81 Edmonton Oilers      72  23  40    63   102
1981-82 Edmonton Oilers      78  50  38    88   119
1982-83 Edmonton Oilers      77  48  58   106    72
1983-84 Edmonton Oilers      73  37  64   101   165
1984-85 Edmonton Oilers      55  23  31    54    57
1985-86 Edmonton Oilers      63  35  49    84    68
1986-87 Edmonton Oilers      77  37  70   107    73
1987-88 Edmonton Oilers      77  37  74   111   103
1988-89 Edmonton Oilers      72  33  61    94   130
1989-90 Edmonton Oilers      79  45  84   129    79
1990-91 Edmonton Oilers      53  12  52    64    34
1991-92 New York Rangers     79  35  72   107    76
1992-93 New York Rangers     75  25  66    91    72
1993-94 New York Rangers     76  26  58    84    76
1994-95 New York Rangers     46  14  39    53    40
1995-96 New York Rangers     74  47  52    99   122
1996-97 New York Rangers     71  36  48    84    88
1997-98 Vancouver Canucks    82  22  38    60    58
1998-99 Vancouver Canucks    59  13  35    48    33
1999-00 Vancouver Canucks    66  17  37    54    30
2000-01 New York Rangers     82  24  43    67    89
2001-02 New York Rangers     41   7  16    23    32
2002-03 New York Rangers     78  18  22    40    30
2003-04 New York Rangers     76  18  25    43    42
NHL Totals                 1756 694 1193 1887  1910  

Trophies
Hart Memorial Trophy - 2 (1990, 1992)
Conn Smythe Trophy - 1 (1984)
Lester B. Pearson Trophy - 2 (1990, 1992)

Championships
Stanley Cup - 6 (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1994)
Team Pages:
Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks