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Just Say Yes - AUG.06.08

Nancy Henderson

Entry posted by Nancy Henderson

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<table width=80% align=center border=0><tr><td><img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/09/henderson_headshot.jpg align=left hspace=4>When it comes to the (less than) graceful retirement of athletes, I’m beginning to think we should institute a “Logan’s Run” policy.

I realize that today’s very fit players can stay in the game longer than their brethren of yore. But no matter how hard you work out in the summer, you cannot stop time. And just because you can play doesn’t mean you should. When your teammates are younger than your kids, it is time to give your head a shake. Chris Chelios, if your flashing red palm crystal didn’t tip you off, not dressing for a single game in the Stanley Cup final should have.

<img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2008/08/aug0608_favre_t.jpg border=0 align=right vspace=1 hspace=4>Brett Favre, you have made the money, set the records, won the big prize, and most importantly had the teary media farewell. The team was preparing to throw an epic Number 4 retirement party, where you and everyone else could bask in the outpouring of love, gratitude and nostalgia. Your awkward reappearance on the sidelines does nobody any good. Even if you triumph in Tampa, you have merely delayed the inevitable for a year or so and you have at least dented your legacy with the Packers.

It’s tough to give up the sport that has been your dearest dream, your livelihood and the thing that defines you. Going from adored star with an impressive salary to an anonymous management suit or small business owner with a real-world paycheque surely sucks. But it’s the Circle of Life, Simba. Get over it already. Players certainly have enough cash to hire a life coach to help them take the next step. And they are unlikely to get a great deal of sympathy from the wage slaves who cheer for them and have undoubtedly changed jobs and careers plenty of times themselves.

<img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2008/08/aug0608_bourque_t.jpg border=0 align=left vspace=1 hspace=4>It must be infinitely harder to leave before you win a championship. How much nicer to have the Ray Bourque exit – leaving on the highest of high notes. Difficult it may have been, but our own Trevor seems to have managed it properly. And I still have hope that some great day his name will be etched on Lord Stanley’s mug as part of a winning team.

But what if you haven’t won it all, and you’re still pretty much on top of your game? Which brings us, as everything seems to these days, to the burning question of the off-season. Is it sundown for Sundin? Is he going to retire this week? Or will he wake up Friday morning as if from a dream, smack his forehead (there appears to be plenty to smack) and announce: “D’oh!! What was I thinking? Retire? I haven’t won anything yet! Oh and I left all those hardworking Canucks employees and loyal hockey fans in Vancouver dangling for months. After they offered me all that lovely money, too. That probably seems a little rude. Of course I would be delighted to sign the deal”.

<img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/images/upload/2008/07/07_matsSunding.jpg border=0 align=right vspace=1 hspace=4>Perhaps Mats would like to wait until 2009, choose the team with the best chance for victory and offer his services. Scott Niedermayer took half a season off to ponder retirement, but that was only after he led his team to a championship. And frankly, Scott has so many Stanley Cup rings it must take a mighty effort just to hail a taxi. So I can understand cutting him some slack while he weighed his options. Still, this year the Ducks leaned on him not to do it again. This is, after all, a TEAM game.

So, c’mon Mats. I’ve always liked the way you play. It would be great to see you here. You’d love the city and goalie and for a change, you’d like the defense too. With you in the lineup we start to look like a bit of a winner. You’d be a local hero before you even stepped off the plane. Make our day and our year. Tire of retiring and just say yes.</td></tr></table>

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Jagori

Well said.

Most canuck fans at this point are literally becoming sick at the sight of Mats Sundin's name flashing on this website, but that same sickness is still sitting in a pool of anticipation..

We all sick of the waiting. But we all still want the "Yes".

I cant imagine whats going through MG's head during this whole endeavor.

I see more and more giving up on the chance of Sundin wearing our jersey, at this point I think more people are asking one question

"What the hell is plan B Mike?"

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Jagori

Curious Nancy,

Sundin has spent the last 2 months fishing, relaxing and spending time with family. A much needed vacation Im sure.

What are you thoughts if he actually signs, will he have the stamina to produce with the kind of expectations that the fans of any team will be expecting?

Trevor will tell you, it takes commitment to your body to have the ability to keep up with alot of the young successful players today.

I have no doubt Sundin can make the right plays at the right time sure...

But I highly doubt he will have the energy, stamina and determination to put forth a 10 million dollar effort.

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VaNux

I would love to se Sundin sign here, as would the majority of our fans. I do not mind being patient, just so long as the patience does not adversly affect our ability to improve the club. Some feel that MG should "retract" the offer :lol: I do not, but, I do think that he should be pursuing other options as well, and if one of them makes sense, he should take it. I have complete faith that MG is making the correct decisions, despite the fact, that we may not hear of them. I am curious however, to know what MG's threshold for waiting is. I also wonder how many "deals" (if any) have been passed up due to Mats?

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vancan19™
Curious Nancy,

Sundin has spent the last 2 months fishing, relaxing and spending time with family. A much needed vacation Im sure.

What are you thoughts if he actually signs, will he have the stamina to produce with the kind of expectations that the fans of any team will be expecting?

Trevor will tell you, it takes commitment to your body to have the ability to keep up with alot of the young successful players today.

I have no doubt Sundin can make the right plays at the right time sure...

But I highly doubt he will have the energy, stamina and determination to put forth a 10 million dollar effort.

I want this over! Why did they have to put Sundin's face on the front page of Canucks.com?

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SHUFFMAN

Do you seriously think Mats is gonna sign here?? If the money was an issue he'd of jumped at it a month ago!! He has already said that coming back to the NHL is more then just the money aspect. What else does Vancouver have to offer? Are they any closer to a cup with Nassy and Mo gone, even if Mats comes thru? Has Gillis built a team that has any allure for Mats?? IMHO the only team he'll sign with is the Leafs................................. ;););)

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The Guy

Me tooo

lolz yes!

anyways, I think we have a possible cup contender if we get hot, which is basically required for ANY team to win the cup these days!

We have a fantastic goalie (and he brings his game most of the time), decent forward group (which would be significantly bolstered by Sundin), and a superlative defense corp.

I think he will sign here, but I am dying to know WHEN!

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Mert

very well said, i think there is no chance mats is coming here or montreal, and is waiting to see if NYR can clear the cap space. The offer from the Nucks was made over a month ago, and the MTL deal has been longer than that. Sure, he may be poendering retirement, but after sitting on these two offers for over a month and weighing his options neither seem to be temping enough to tip the scales. Vancouver is on the west coast and he doesnt want the travel scheduale. Mats is/was a loyal leaf and doesnt want to go to their biggest rival (probably the biggest hockey rivalry of all time) So he contiunes to contemplate retiring if the blue shirts cant clear the cap space...if they do, expect mats to sign within the week

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Hafizzle
when I saw sundins face on the front page my eyes lit up, untill I read the headline.....

haha same here man.

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WiLBoY
when I saw sundins face on the front page my eyes lit up, untill I read the headline.....

when i saw his head on the front page i was like NO WAY

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vanhalendlrband

With the way Kes is playing, and a possible surge with Burrows turning into something a lot more. Prospects like Raymond. Ryan Shannon, our defense, Pavol Demitra, the Sedins, Bernier, and Roberto Luongo. If Mats Sundin wants a cup, he's gonna have to come here to get one. Detroit will not do it again, Montreal will most definitely not they're the the new Ottawa.

Mats Sundin come here you'll love it when you're holding the cup 2 years straight and a medal at the olympics.

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-DLC-

Well said....I very much enjoyed the read.

Not much to add at this point, other than I really do hope Mats makes the right decision. And, with the amount of time he's spending on making it, it's clearly evident that he's not quite ready to leave the game yet.

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xereau

The entire reason for going after Sundin is his alleged 'class' and 'leadership ability'.

Well I may not be the first to say this, and some of you might not like to hear this, but:

Mats Sundin has shown NO class to Canucks fans by putting us in this position of uncertain anxiety. It is ridiculous for him to not have made up his mind at the free agency deadline. He had several months to mull over his future before July 1st. He has essentially taken the entire Canucks team and fan base emotionally hostage.

As far as his leadership ability goes, just what does this stunt project to other players, past/present and all around the league and world. Leading means you set a positive example for those around you. What Mats has shown to NHL'ers and amateurs alike, is that you can hold an entire culture hostage for whatever vague personal reason(s) you see as fit. Imagine the snarled mess this game would be in if everyone acted this way.

The decision to play or retire should have been made LONG before the free agency deadline. This waffling and weak mindedness shows me that he is not ready to lead anything, anywhere. Mike Gillis, re neg your contract offer and lets get this team out of the gates on a solid footing this season.

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Tomas Freeman
The entire reason for going after Sundin is his alleged 'class' and 'leadership ability'.

Well I may not be the first to say this, and some of you might not like to hear this, but:

Mats Sundin has shown NO class to Canucks fans by putting us in this position of uncertain anxiety. It is ridiculous for him to not have made up his mind at the free agency deadline. He had several months to mull over his future before July 1st. He has essentially taken the entire Canucks team and fan base emotionally hostage.

As far as his leadership ability goes, just what does this stunt project to other players, past/present and all around the league and world. Leading means you set a positive example for those around you. What Mats has shown to NHL'ers and amateurs alike, is that you can hold an entire culture hostage for whatever vague personal reason(s) you see as fit. Imagine the snarled mess this game would be in if everyone acted this way.

The decision to play or retire should have been made LONG before the free agency deadline. This waffling and weak mindedness shows me that he is not ready to lead anything, anywhere. Mike Gillis, re neg your contract offer and lets get this team out of the gates on a solid footing this season.

Ok the first paragraph really got me going. How we percieve the offer to him as fans has ABSOLUTELY no bearing whether or not he retires or plays the game for another year. That is his decision to make not yours. To sit there and call him all that is merely showing how little you think of him as a player. Which is obvious in the following paragraphs anyways. I'm addressing your first paragraph, I won't even go near the others. The season is still two months away, MG knows this as does everyone else who can read a calendar. In the hockey world two months is an eternity. So please do everyone a favor and ease up on your fanatisism a little and give us all a break from your arrogance. Since when does Mats Sundin owe ANY canuck fan relief from as you put it emotional hostage ?? Let go Luke ! Mats will decide on Mats schedule not yours, mine or even MG's. Whether the man decides to even play in Vancouver or not really has no bearing on you as a fan UNTIL HE ACTUALLY SIGNS ON THE LINE of a Vancouver Canuck contract. So please do everyone a favor and keep your fantac self deluded comments to yourself. Thanks

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talflick

Me tooo

Are you kidding? I saw his face and thought "OH F**K OFF, YOU'RE KIDDING ME!"

I nearly wept on the spot and the caption cheered me up immediately.

I'm probably the only fan that doesn't want 20$ mil tied up in Sundin but the only real talent I see left in him when he plays the Habs is his Clutch and Captainyness... he's like Sakic--he can score late in the game to try and push a tie... but then again, Naslund did that a few times last season.

I'm pretty sure he won't sign here, if he signs anywhere other than Toronto I swear those idiotic leaf fans will take an axe to the CN tower and let it fall into the harbour :P

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Battlwedge

Ok people.. seriously.. i highly doubt the nucks will win the cup this year, but The reason Gillis wanted Sundin, is for his experience and leadership to the younger players, so in teh next couple years, we CAN go to the cup and rightfully take it after it was stolen last time we were there.

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xereau

What experience? He is really good at missing the playoffs.

What leadership? Just look at all of the former leafs around the league tearing it up.. err nm.

Name a single player mentored by Sundin who has gone on to do amazing things.

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