Madferret
7-27-05, 10:54 AM
How 'Swede' it would be
Elliott Pap
Vancouver Sun
Markus Naslund remained uncertain Tuesday about his future with the Vancouver Canucks, but he did confess to one thing: He'd like to play with fellow countryman Peter Forsberg. In an phone interview from his hometown of Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, Naslund confirmed a report in the Swedish press that he and Forsberg are considering the possibility of becoming a package deal.
"Who wouldn't want to play with Peter?" Naslund responded when queried about the report. "We'll see if that could work out or not. I mean, I think you can ask pretty much any winger in the league and they wouldn't mind playing with him."
It would appear the only way the two unrestricted free agents could play together in the new salary-capped NHL would be to accept a discount, as Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne did two seasons ago in Colorado, or to sign with a non-contender that has plenty of room under its cap.
Naslund and Forsberg are considered among the NHL's elite and would likely command close to the individual salary cap of $7.8 million US. But if they want to win -- something Naslund has stated is vital to him -- then they'll need quality teammates.
So how do you fit everyone into a $39-million budget? Naslund admitted he couldn't answer that question. "I have no idea," he said. "We'll have to see. It will be interesting. I think everything is still pretty uncertain."
The Canucks have exclusive negotiating rights to Naslund until Aug. 1 and intend to make him an offer. Colorado has the same exclusive rights to Forsberg, but may not be able to afford him after committing $13 million to two players, Joe Sakic and Rob Blake.
Naslund is expecting an offer this week from Canuck general manager Dave Nonis. They spoke briefly on the weekend.
"It's obviously flattering the Canucks want me back," said a guarded Naslund, who turns 32 on Saturday. "I'll wait and see what the offer is. I can't do much more than that and I think I'm going to leave it at that. I don't want to say anything further because I know how things can be read or mis-read."
Forsberg's agent, Don Baizley, cut the 2003 Kariya-Selanne package so he is familiar with the tactic. However, Baizley doesn't represent Naslund and would have to join forces with Mike Gillis.
"I'm not going to comment on every little thing that's in the papers," Baizley told the Denver Post. "I will say that, right now, my instructions from Peter are to negotiate only with Colorado."
Gillis could not be reached.
The Swedish newspaper Expressen quoted Forsberg as saying: "We have asked our agents to seek out the possibilities of us signing with the same team." Canuck assistant GM Steve Tambellini wouldn't comment on a Naslund-Forsberg scenario, citing tampering rules (regarding Forsberg) that are in effect until Aug. 1.
He did reiterate that Vancouver intends to sign Naslund.
"We want him back," Tambellini said. "I think the people in Vancouver and British Columbia have great respect for him as a person, so we're going to do everything we can to get him back in a Canuck uniform."
- It's believed the Todd Bertuzzi reinstatement announcement will come before the weekend, although Bertuzzi's agent, Pat Morris, said Tuesday he has not been given any heads-up from the league.
"The decision will come down when they've completed it," Morris said. "It wasn't completed [last Friday] when people said he was getting 10-20 more games. It wasn't even started."
Bertuzzi / Naslund / Forsberg.... :eek:
Elliott Pap
Vancouver Sun
Markus Naslund remained uncertain Tuesday about his future with the Vancouver Canucks, but he did confess to one thing: He'd like to play with fellow countryman Peter Forsberg. In an phone interview from his hometown of Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, Naslund confirmed a report in the Swedish press that he and Forsberg are considering the possibility of becoming a package deal.
"Who wouldn't want to play with Peter?" Naslund responded when queried about the report. "We'll see if that could work out or not. I mean, I think you can ask pretty much any winger in the league and they wouldn't mind playing with him."
It would appear the only way the two unrestricted free agents could play together in the new salary-capped NHL would be to accept a discount, as Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne did two seasons ago in Colorado, or to sign with a non-contender that has plenty of room under its cap.
Naslund and Forsberg are considered among the NHL's elite and would likely command close to the individual salary cap of $7.8 million US. But if they want to win -- something Naslund has stated is vital to him -- then they'll need quality teammates.
So how do you fit everyone into a $39-million budget? Naslund admitted he couldn't answer that question. "I have no idea," he said. "We'll have to see. It will be interesting. I think everything is still pretty uncertain."
The Canucks have exclusive negotiating rights to Naslund until Aug. 1 and intend to make him an offer. Colorado has the same exclusive rights to Forsberg, but may not be able to afford him after committing $13 million to two players, Joe Sakic and Rob Blake.
Naslund is expecting an offer this week from Canuck general manager Dave Nonis. They spoke briefly on the weekend.
"It's obviously flattering the Canucks want me back," said a guarded Naslund, who turns 32 on Saturday. "I'll wait and see what the offer is. I can't do much more than that and I think I'm going to leave it at that. I don't want to say anything further because I know how things can be read or mis-read."
Forsberg's agent, Don Baizley, cut the 2003 Kariya-Selanne package so he is familiar with the tactic. However, Baizley doesn't represent Naslund and would have to join forces with Mike Gillis.
"I'm not going to comment on every little thing that's in the papers," Baizley told the Denver Post. "I will say that, right now, my instructions from Peter are to negotiate only with Colorado."
Gillis could not be reached.
The Swedish newspaper Expressen quoted Forsberg as saying: "We have asked our agents to seek out the possibilities of us signing with the same team." Canuck assistant GM Steve Tambellini wouldn't comment on a Naslund-Forsberg scenario, citing tampering rules (regarding Forsberg) that are in effect until Aug. 1.
He did reiterate that Vancouver intends to sign Naslund.
"We want him back," Tambellini said. "I think the people in Vancouver and British Columbia have great respect for him as a person, so we're going to do everything we can to get him back in a Canuck uniform."
- It's believed the Todd Bertuzzi reinstatement announcement will come before the weekend, although Bertuzzi's agent, Pat Morris, said Tuesday he has not been given any heads-up from the league.
"The decision will come down when they've completed it," Morris said. "It wasn't completed [last Friday] when people said he was getting 10-20 more games. It wasn't even started."
Bertuzzi / Naslund / Forsberg.... :eek: