Habster:
I know this sounds very un-Sundin or un-Gainey like but it wouldn’t surprise me if Sundin did the “wink-wink” thing and told Gainey he will sign with the Habs only after the July 1st UFA deadline. It would be a way to under mind the Maple Leafs from getting anything in return, not very honorable but as long as Sundin doesn’t sign a contract with the Canadiens before July 1st, it’s totally within the guidelines of the agreement.
It’s a stretch and a crazy notion to bring up but there is some bitterness on Sundin’s part on how MLSE and Cliff Fletcher handled the entire trade deadline affair last season.
There is also the risk of Sundin getting other offers from teams and being enticed to sign elsewhere. The saving grace is that Sundin has made it clear to his inner circle and the Leafs that he would be very open to signing with the Canadiens as opposed to other teams but anything is possible when a player hits the UFA open market.