Markus Naslund remained uncertain Tuesday about his future with the Vancouver Canucks, but he did confess to one thing: He'd like to play with fellow countryman Peter Forsberg.
In an phone interview from his hometown of Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, Naslund confirmed a report in the Swedish press that he and Forsberg are considering the possibility of becoming a package deal.
Very interesting. How about a threesome of Sundin, Forsberg and Naslund?
Probably not, but it depends on what they ask for of course. If they were motivated to join Sundin (and no knows whether that matters a whole lot to them) then they might take, say, 5 million each. I believe there are some scenarios (largely hypothetical- but what scenario isn't?) where we could make that work. Personally, I'm not sure that would be the best thing for the Leafs, anyway.
If these guys sign for 5 mill, then other players are gonna be a whole lot cheaper.
You may be right about that, Skittles.
But I don't know if any team in the league is going to want to pay two guys 7 million, so if they are serious about playing together, I think the trade off will be that they agree to get paid less than they deserve.
However, there is another issue. I have heard these rumours (I'm sure you guys have too) about guys who have missed many games due to injury- in this case Forsberg- being allowed bonuses that would not count against the cap in the first year at least. If true. that could make the tandem signing possible for some team.
I don't think that the NHLPA would be happy with two players who would command close to the maximum cutting a deal to play for less somewhere. All the rest of the UFA's will suffer.
I think after seing the Thornton offer of 5 years for 25 million. There will be a lot of offer's players of the same caliber for 5 million.
I expect Thornto to reject that and sing somewhere else for similar money. 7.8. million should be for Gretzky, Mario players. (unlike how the 95+ rating in wasn't in EAs games)
Wouldn't the Selanne and Kariya package deal to Colorado be a recent example of pals playing together for less ??
No it's not an example at all. Selanne made the same money or very close to the top money he was getting paid the season before and the only reason Kariya took less money was so that he'd qualify as a UFA the season after. That was about money not friendship.
No it's not an example at all. Selanne made the same money or very close to the top money he was getting paid the season before and the only reason Kariya took less money was so that he'd qualify as a UFA the season after. That was about money not friendship.
Are you quite certain friendship had nothing to do with it?
"We wanted to play together again," said Kariya. "We had success playing together in the past, we have a great friendship and we wanted to be back together but we weren't bound by it."
selanne still got paid big bucks, and Kariya got paid 1.4 mil because he expected to get something like 6-10 mil next season as a UFA. oh how did that bite him in the ass....
Sundin is so dominant internationally when he has the likes of Forsberg and Naslund supporting him. The Leafs should really try and pursue this, because it not only adds two more elite forwards to our team, but we'll likely have an upgraded Sundin as well, which would be fantastic.
If they bought out belfour and mccabe this would have been easily possible now its not even a dream. However that would have been a scary powerplay line.
Im thinking now we should follow all the other teams in signing our enemies maybe a tandem of Leclair Allison Amonte would work as a nice second unit and come fairly cheap since Leclair and amonte have already been paid 2/3.
And I'll bet they end up in Detroit or Philly, they were the teams willing to put their money were their mouth was, LeClair and Amonte 's money will be their's or Detriot with Hatcher, Whitney, and McCarty's money. The Leaf were not about to buy out players after they gave 5% back. Same old same old the Leafs make big noises but blink when it's time to walk the walk, I said all along no way the Teachers fund was going to pay guys millions not to play and spend millions on others.
And I'll bet they end up in Detroit or Philly, they were the teams willing to put their money were their mouth was, LeClair and Amonte 's money will be their's or Detriot with Hatcher, Whitney, and McCarty's money. The Leaf were not about to buy out players after they gave 5% back. Same old same old the Leafs make big noises but blink when it's time to walk the walk, I said all along no way the Teachers fund was going to pay guys millions not to play and spend millions on others.
There's talk in Denver the Avs will announce Monday they've signed both Peter Forsberg and Markus Naslund.
