Before I go on, I want you to know that Sundin likely will sign with one of the teams I am about to mention. How, or why, I don't know, but there is a lot of sillyness going on when it comes to Sundin right now.
First, lets get things straight. He's going to sign for at least $7 million within the next month.
The Ducks are at the cap, so how are they expected to add seven million dollars? Several reporters will tell you they will make a trade to pave the way for Sundin, but who?
Niedermayer and Pronger are making just under seven million, but I don't expect either to be dealt. Todd Marchant is a likely trade piece, but his 2.5 million salary wont even get half the job done. Sure, you could add Getzlaf, Perry or Kunitz to the deal to clear the seven million, but why would you trade a player that will be good on your team for five more seasons to add a guy who will play half of this season, and maybe next...it won't happen, the Ducks are not getting Sundin.
The Rangers are another team who apparently will make room for Sundin should he want to come. The Rangers have just under 2 million in cap space, so their challenge is a little easier. They are not trading Gomez or Drury, so scratch that idea. Naslund, Redden and Rozsival are also not being dealt, so there goes that as well. After them, nobody is making over 2.1 million, meaning Sundin to Broadway just isnt possible.
Then there are the Sens. First, Sundin would never play for the Leafs arch rival, it just wouldn't be right. The sens have four million in cap space, so they could clear an extra three if they had to. Chris Neil and Vermette would have to go, but they could go anyways and the team wouldnt really miss them. Statistically Sundin could go to Ottawa, but I'd bet against it.
Montreal is no longer interested, and the Leafs like they're chemistry where it is. If I had to take a guess, I'd say he goes to Vancouver. They have the cap, he cna be the richest NHLer on the Ice, and with Luongo in net, he'd have a chance to win everynight.
Teams like Anaheim, Ottawa and NYR can dream big, but in the end they just don;t have the ability to bring the big Swede in.
