Souray we doubted you

It was at 10:25 of the first period when Sheldon Souray blasted the shot that moved him into a tie for the lead as the top-scoring defenceman in the National Hockey League.

Three minutes and 44 seconds later, he lost it back to Shea Weber. But in a city where there used to be several statistical subplots in play at the same time season after season, there's finally one to follow.

NO MISTAKE

And 34 games into the season, you'd have to say Souray has proved that Kevin Lowe didn't make the mistake so many people figured he'd made when he gave the native of Elk Point a five-year, $5.4 million front-loaded contract through the 2011-12 season off the one-year phenomenon of having scored 26 goals with the Montreal Canadiens while at the same time having that eye-sore of a statistic - a minus 28.

As the days count down to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Souray has suddenly put himself into a position, along with Weber, of deserving serious consideration for a spot wearing the red maple leaf.

Last year, healthy for only 26 games and scoring only three goals and producing only 10 points, didn't prove anything.

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Heeeerrrrre's Mats!

VANCOUVER -- Mats Sundin has yet to touch down at the Vancouver International Airport, but the local hockey populace is already consumed by where he’ll land on the Vancouver Canucks’ roster once he starts applying his considerable frame and well-rounded game after arriving in town on Saturday.

Trying to project the exact date of Sundin’s debut has the talk-show phones lines lighting up like a Christmas tree for good reason.

As much as the durable Swede is a point-producing machine with 1,321 points in 1,305 career regular-season games -- and he should mesh seamlessly into a dressing room that houses four of his countrymen -- his on-ice transformation may take longer.

Or, it may not.

Sundin hasn’t played in nine months, only recently committing to the remainder of this season, and the 37-year-old even pondered retirement before agreeing to a pro-rated, one-year contract for $5.625 million US.

Once Sundin gets over the jet-lag, gets familiar with the system and gets to know his new linemates, the guessing game will commence.

Is it better to start Sundin off slow and work him into the lineup in a fourth-line role?

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Bruin Cap Conundrums

General manager Peter Chiarelli has done an excellent job assembling the Bruins roster, using pieces in place from the former regime and acquiring talent via trades or free agency to mold a team regarded as one of the leading contenders for the Stanley Cup.

But the reality of the NHL in the era of the salary cap is that building a powerhouse team is one thing. Keeping it intact is another.

And with the new year soon upon us, Chiarelli faces an interesting number-crunching challenge in trying to get all of his core players safely locked up for the coming seasons.

“There’s only a certain amount of money available,” Chiarelli said recently. “We have to be a little creative.”

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Best of the Week

Sundin a Canuck!!

After six long months, the Mats Sundin saga is finally over as the unrestricted free agent has agreed to a contract with the Vancouver Canucks.

"I am truly excited to be joining the Canucks," said Sundin in a team statement. "Once I made the decision to return to play a few weeks ago, the Vancouver opportunity was simply the best overall fit. I want to thank Mike Gillis and the entire Canucks organization for their professionalism throughout this entire process."

The signing ended months of rumours and speculation around the coveted centre, who was undecided on whether or not he would return to the National Hockey League for an 18th season.

"We are very excited to have Mats join the Vancouver Canucks," said general manager Mike Gillis. "Playing previously in two Canadian markets and consistently being among team and League leaders in scoring, Mats has proven that he can excel under pressure. He adds a wealth of experience, leadership and skill to the Canucks."

The Montreal Canadiens were given exclusive rights to talk to Sundin this past summer in the week leading up to the free agent signing period. The club's negotiating window passed without an agreement and as many as six NHL teams lined up to acquire his services.

Among the teams interested over the last six months were the Canadiens, Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers.

The Canucks had the most lucrative offer for Sundin, with a two-year, $20 million contract that was never pulled off on the table.

Sundin, 37, finished with 32 goals and 46 assists for 78 points in 74 games last season with the Leafs, leading Toronto in scoring for the fourth straight year.

Decision time for Mats

From Bob Mac

Unless someone pulls a rabbit out of the hat at the last minute, Mats Sundin will be, by the end of this week, either a Vancouver Canuck or a New York Ranger.

Sundin met with Rangers' GM Glen Sather on the weekend, but sources say the Rangers have yet to formally indicate exactly how much they are prepared, or able (because of the salary cap), to pay Sundin. Once Sundin's agent J.P. Barry gets that information, perhaps in the next 24 to 48 hours, Sundin is expected to make a final decision on where he will play.

Barry has a previously-scheduled meeting with Vancouver GM Mike Gillis on Tuesday, primarily to discuss contract negotiations for Canuck players Daniel and Henrik Sedin as well as Mattias Ohlund, but Sundin is also likely to be discussed at that time.

Sources say the plan is for Sundin to make a final decision before NHL rosters are frozen on Friday (Dec. 19).

It does not appear that any of the other teams that had expressed interest – Chicago, Philadelphia, Montreal and Tampa Bay, amongst others – are either in a position to move forward or have a strong desire to pursue Sundin any further.

So it looks as though it's coming down to the Rangers and the Canucks. The Canucks have no salary cap issues and have already offered Sundin a contract at an annual salary of $10 million. Once Sundin finds out how much less than that he would get in New York -- and it may be significantly less if the Rangers are even able to clear salary cap room for him -– he'll be in a position to compare it to the Vancouver offer and make a long-awaited decision.

In the meantime, Sundin is heading home to Sweden. He has completed his training in North America and plans to keep skating while in Sweden, spending Christmas there before joining his new NHL team immediately after that.

Or at least that is the plan.

Baby Bruins

Defenseman Dennis Wideman, a relative graybeard by comparison at age 25, was talking about the explosive development this season of the Bruins’ Baby Bombers — Phil Kessel, David Krejci, Milan Lucic, Matt Hunwick, Blake Wheeler and even Wideman himself.

“Those guys are all 100 times better than they were last year,” Wideman said, ignoring the fact that his improvement curve is just as steep. “If they keep going like this, and keep getting better and keep working, it’s scary what they could accomplish.”

It’s already frightening to see how far they’ve come just up till now. You can throw Patrice Bergeron into this bunch, too, considering he’s only 23 years old and is showing such remarkable progress in rebounding from that awful concussion of last year.

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Your Calder Candidates

HF

There was a surprising amount of movement from top to bottom in the Hockey's Future staff Calder poll in the past month, as not a single player held down the same position they did in November’s poll and four new names cracked the top 10.

1. Drew Doughty, D (LA)
6’1, 203 lbs. DOB: Dec. 8, 1989
Acquired: 1st round, second overall in 2008

In this season’s crop of rookie defensemen, Doughty is simply a man among boys. The Los Angeles Kings aren’t shy about admitting their first pick in 2008 has been arguably their best player this season, even though he just turned 19. He leads the next closest rookie in ice time by almost three minutes, logs more minutes than anyone on his team and is counted on as the Kings' power play quarterback.

2. Kris Versteeg, RW (CHI)
5’10, 180 lbs. DOB: May 13, 1986
Acquired: Trade with Boston on Feb. 3, 2007

Versteeg is quickly removing any doubt pundits had about his hot start being a fluke. Two months into the season, Versteeg has maintained a near point-per-game pace and is slowly taking on more responsibility in Chicago. He currently leads all rookies in points and leads all rookie forwards in ice time.

3. Derick Brassard, C (CBJ)
6’1, 190 lbs. DOB: Sept. 22, 1987
Acquired: 1st round, 6th overall in 2006

The leading vote getter in the November Calder poll has slipped to third, but the decline has more to do with the elevated play of the two players who surpassed him than it does his own production. Brassard still sits second in rookie scoring with 20 points in 25 games and is tied for the lead on the Blue Jackets in plus/minus with an impressive +8.

4. Steve Mason, G (CBJ)
6’3, 186 lbs. DOB: May 29, 1988
Acquired: 3rd round, 69th overall in 2006

The Jackets seem to have an embarrassment of young, talented riches in their lineup these days. Last month, Brassard and Jakub Voracek were 1-2 in our Calder poll and now Mason has arrived on the scene. Canada’s World Junior hero in 2008 is the main man between the pipes in Columbus right now, at least temporarily. His 2.17 goals-against average is 10th in the NHL.

5. Patrik Berglund, C (STL)
6’4, 187 lbs. DOB: June 2, 1988
Acquired: 1st round, 25th overall in 2006

Paul Kariya was openly excited about playing alongside Berglund coming out of training camp and now it’s not hard to tell why. The big Swede has quietly, but firmly entrenched himself among the legitimate Calder Trophy candidates after scoring 16 points in his first 20 games. He has far and away the best plus-minus rating on the Blues at +11.

6. Blake Wheeler, RW (BOS)
6’5, 205 lbs. DOB: Aug. 31, 1986
Acquired: 1st round, 5th overall in 2004

It was widely expected Wheeler would need at least part of a season in the AHL to get accustomed to the pro game after three seasons at the University of Minnesota, but the hulking American has quickly proven he’s in the big league to stay. Wheeler isn’t overly physical for his size, but he uses his strength effectively to get space on the ice, proven by his nine goals and 15 points through 26 games. In early December, Wheeler’s +16 rating was best among rookies and on his team.

7. Mikhail Grabovski, C (TOR)
5’11, 179 lbs. DOB: Jan. 31, 1984
Acquired: Trade with Montreal on July 3, 2008

Grabovski’s start in Toronto was beginning to look awfully familiar to his days in Montreal – the talent was there, but he just couldn’t put it together. He didn’t score in his first seven games and he had just two points through his first 11 games, but suddenly things clicked and the Germany-born Belarussian went on the tear many expected he would sooner or later. Grabovski notched 16 points in his next 14 games, silencing critics. His 10 goals lead NHL rookies.

8. Jakub Voracek, RW (CBJ)
6’1, 205 lbs. DOB: Aug. 15, 1989
Acquired: 1st round, 7th overall in 2007

The former Halifax Moosehead got off to sizzling-hot start this season, but in an opposite-to-Grabovski sort of way, Voracek has been cold as of late. He hasn’t registered a point in four straight games and had just one goal and one assist in his past 13 games. Luckily, the young Czech had a solid enough start to keep him in Calder contention for the time being.

9. Luke Schenn, D (TOR)
6’2, 216 lbs. DOB: Nov. 2, 1989
Acquired: 1st round, 5th overall in 2008

Schenn kept up his all-out, defense-first approach and a physical element. Through 27 games, Schenn’s total offensive output was just two assists, but he was still logging top-four minutes on the Leafs and was still ranked second in rookie ice time. Before going down with a lower body injury in December, Schenn was leading all rookie skaters in hits and blocked shots.

10. Alex Goligoski, D (PIT)
5’11, 180 lbs. DOB: July 30, 1985
Acquired: 2nd round, 61st overall in 2004

At the beginning of the season, Goligoski was handed the unenviable responsibility of replacing the offensive presence of Sergei Gonchar and Ryan Whitney on the blueline. A tall task for a 23-year-old rookie, but he has come through for the Penguins so far. Through 25 games, he had four goals and seven assists – including five power play points – and led all rookies in average power play ice time at four minutes, 33 seconds per game.

Coyotes on the Brink

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Coyotes are expected to lose between $25- and $35-million (all currency U.S.) this year and with his primary business under financial duress, owner Jerry Moyes may not be able to cover the hockey team's losses any longer.

That leaves him three choices:

- Renegotiate the Coyotes' arena lease to effectively put the city of Glendale into the position covering some of the losses;

- Put the franchise into bankruptcy;

- Turn the keys over to the NHL, forcing commissioner Gary Bettman to find a new owner.

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