An excerpt from the Vancouver Province (Jim Jamieson):
Circle Aug. 1 on your calendar. One way or another, it’s the day all the pain and frustration Vancouver Canucks fans have been feeling in the drawn-out courtship of Mats Sundin will be over.
Sundin’s Calgary-based agent J.P. Barry confirmed on Tuesday that Sundin has established that self-imposed deadline for his decision on whether he will continue his hockey career, and, if so, whose free-agent offer he’ll accept.
New Canucks GM Mike Gillis hoped to blow Sundin out of the water with a two-year, $20 million offer on July 1 that would make the big Swedish centreman the highest-paid player in the league. Sundin also received offers to remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs — where he’s played the past 13 of his 17 NHL seasons — as well as from the Montreal Canadiens. Barry also said there are other NHL clubs in the mix as well.