By LARRY BROOKS
June 24, 2008
Glen Sather is seriously considering a 2008-09 go-for-it-now first line tandem of Mats Sundin and Jaromir Jagr, sources in Europe and North America have told The Post.
Sundin, the 37-year-old long-time Maple Leafs captain who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, has made it clear New York is his desired destination. Indeed, we're told that the Rangers have held conversations with both the centerman and his representative, J.P. Barry, after having received permission to do so by Toronto.
Barry is employed by CAA Sports, the same firm for which Jagr's agent, Pat Brisson, works. Jagr, who told The Post on Sunday, "There is no rush [on a contract]," has returned to Europe for the next week to 10 days.
Sundin, who rejected Toronto's requests to waive his no-trade clause leading up to the Feb. 26 deadline and thus infuriated acting GM Cliff Fletcher - who had a conditional deal set to go with Montreal - recorded 32 goals and 46 assists with a plus-17 rating last year.
As an over 35-year-old player, Sundin would be eligible to receive bonuses on a one-year contract that can be attached against the 2009-10 cap. The same, of course, applies to Jagr. The Rangers have just under $25M remaining on the 2008-09 cap of $56M. The numbers could work if Jagr and Sundin were each to agree to base salaries of $5M with deferred bonuses.
The numbers, however, aren't the Rangers' primary concern; Chris Drury is. For if Sundin signs and assumes the role of first-line center, the Rangers would have to move Drury out of the middle and onto the wing.
