Habs get exclusive negotiation rights with Sundin

[V-HAB]

... After it became clear that they couldn't sign him, the Leafs gave the Canadiens the exclusive rights to negotiate a contract with their captain. The window opened on Thursday - Canadiens' general manager Bob Gainey spent an hour on the telephone with Sundin - and closes at high noon on July 1, when Sundin qualifies as an unrestricted free agent. Until that time, Toronto has the same rights as 28 other teams to talk with Sundin - zero.

Gainey would not disclose what the Canadiens would give up, if he can convince Sundin to sign on the dotted line, but it could be as much as a first-round pick. Gainey characterized his conversation with Sundin as "an introductory phone call" and said they would hook up again in the near future for a follow-up chat. Gainey plans to sell Sundin on Montreal in the same way he would talk to any unrestricted free agent in July, explaining why he would be a good fit for the Canadiens and why the Canadiens would be a good fit for him.

Source: www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080621.DUHA21/TPStory/Sports

[Carson!]

wow, only 2 teams have the right to talk to Sundin? who is the other one?

[Mr. Hockey]

i heard that the rangers. im not to sure tho

[Carson!]

wow, so it's between the habs and the rangers. Either way, do you think that Sundin will be able to play with teams who have other talents?

he made the most points on his team last season...by a bit, and maybe thats how he plays better, when he doesn't really have anyone else to do more of the scoring, so he gets into all of the successful play...maybe being on a team with more scoring, will slow his point count down.