Talking to a source from Sweden who is currently in Canada this afternoon.
Ek> So what's the latest
S> Well, it's definitely coming to a head. JP has been working hard to keep everyone interested, but now even players...former teammates even...they want resolution.
Ek> Is it true that this may be setting us up for a Selanne or Niedermeyer type midseason entrance.
S> It sure looks that way. And don't think for a second that rumour isn't prevalent, because as you know, it is. However, you must take Swedes at their word, in that they are usually blatently honest as you know.
Ek> Yes, as was the case with Forsberg the last few years. He told us he would go back to Philly, Colorado, or Nashville and he did.
S> Exactly. And Mats started the summer telling everyone he wouldn't come in midway into the season. He said he owed it to the team he was playing for to start camp with them.
Ek> He also said a decision would come in August.
S> Yes, exactly. And I believe it will however we may not know about it. I expect that Mats will be telling the team he wants to play for by Sunday Night, but that team may need to do some things that delays us officially knowing.
Ek> That would be if it's the Rangers.
S> Yes.
Ek> If it's Montreal, Vancouver or Philly or even Colorado?
S> It won't be Philly.
Ek> But the others.
S> With the exception of Vancouver, the other teams may try an delay the announcement and I believe that Mats will allow the teams that. Honestly, this is the last weekend of the summer. Either the news will go down today or not until Tuesday....at least officially. But it will be hard to squelch it.
Ek> Unless he's retiring.
S> Yes, if he retires he should do so at 8pm tomorrow night. Then he avoids major press until tuesday.
Ek> Bad news always comes out after closing on Friday?
S> Yes, and good news first thing Monday...but with the Holiday...Tuesday.
Ek> What's your opinion
S> He's a Ranger or a Canadien. about 50/50. And Gomez will be moved. It is already being worked on.
Ek> To Vancouver?
S> Likely.
more to come...
from earlier today
As expected this list of 28 from yesterday is now 25 and we will continue to see it shrink today...
Mark Popovic has signed in Russia and will play for St. Petersburg.
And TSN is reporting that Stu Barnes has retired...
Meanwhile...in the world of Mats, I am hearing from several sources that he may announce that he is NOT coming back this season...The rumour mill is buzzing since yesterday about this and Darren Dreger on ESPN alluded to the same in his blog today stating: "However, the advice being given to Sundin is to avoid using the term "retire," if necessary take a break, but leave the option of return wide open."
That may be where this is headed, but I wouldn't put too much stock in it yet because I still believe that only Mats really knows, and my sources closer to him still believe that a return is still the most likely scenario with one source saying, "He knows that once you stop at this age getting going again at the same level is close to impossible."
I am speaking with a MAJOR SOURCE regarding this at 2pm today so check back around 3 ET for the absolute latest.
I spent the last week formulating and tweaking these 28 (NOW 25) players I feel could all have an impact on a franchise and yet are still very much available. Then we took the signed UFA's off of the THE RUMOUR CHART and came up with the following rankings based on a computer simulation we ran...These are the impact players and the teams I am hearing rumoured with them. I attached the e-ratings of these rumours as well. If you would like to see the probabilities where I feel they will end up check out THE RUMOUR CHART
1. Forsberg: Avs (e4)
2. Sundin: Rangers (e3), Canadiens (e3)
3. Sakic: SIGNED A DEAL TODAY FOR ONE YEAR
4. Selanne: ANA( e4), Habs (e3), Kings (e1)
5. Barnes: Retired
6. Berard: Tryout with Philly
7. Sanderson: Buff (e2), FLA (e1), CBJ (e2), ATL (e2)
8. Cullimore: FLA (e3), PHO (e1), BOS (e1)
9. Lapointe: PHO (e2), DAL (e3), Buf (e1)
10. Shanahan: NYR (e4), Mon (e3)
11. Dowd: NSH (e3), PHL (e2), NYI (e1)
12. Perreault: EDM (e2), NSH (e1), DAL (e2)
13. Hedican: NYI (e4), OTT (e3), WAS (e1)
14. Hamilton: BUF(e3), NJ (e1), NYI (e1)
15. Glenn Murray: Van (e3), PHO (e2), OTT (e3), SAN (e1)
16. Parrish: Nash(e3) NYI (e3)
17. Brisebois: NYI (e2), WAS (e2), NAS (e1)
18. Robitaille: LA (e3), STL (e3), Pitt (e1),
19. Malik: OTT (e3), Was (e2), Pit (e1)
20. Smolinski: Pit(e3), Ott (e2), Avs (e1)
21. Popovic: Signs in Russia
22. Semenov: NAS (e3), Cal (e3), Bos (e2)
23. Carney: CBJ (e3), TB (e2), CAR (e3), EDM (e1)
24. Richardson: CBJ (e4), Bos (e2)
25. Isbister: ATL (e3), CAR (e2)
26. Yelle: Cal (e2), Ott (e2), Min (e3), Buf (e1)
27. Mark Smith: Atl (e3), CBJ (e1), NJ (e3), Avs (e2)
28. Gelinas: LA (e1), ATL (e2), NYI (e1)
From earlier today...
Sources this morning have informed me that Schneider may be a Canadien as early as "this evening or tomorrow morning." There is much speculation surrounding this move as it may be a trigger move that comes from the Canadiens being officially "out of the Sundin Sweepstakes."
Sources in NY are "extraordinarily quiet" I am finding and others are in agreement.
I apologize that this is such a short post, but I need to get back to some sources with whom I have been playing phone tag and try to tie a bigger story down.
Today is one of those "impossible to get off the phones days," which I love. Just a constantly opening puzzle.
The E-System was devised with the intelligent hockey fan in mind as a way for Eklund to give subtle clues to rumors that are posted, as well as gauge the likelihood of a rumor turning into an actual trade or free agent signing.
E1 - This is a rumor that comes from a single reliable source not in any way directly connected to the players or teams involved.
E2 - This rumor is simply more than one reliable sources not in any way directly connected to the players or teams involved and not connected to each other. It does not have to equate to two E1s. It could be several E1s.
E3 - This rumor comes from a single source with ties somehow to the players or teams involved.
E4 - This rumor comes from more than one source with ties to the players or teams involved.
E5 - This rumor comes from source telling Eklund the deal is 100% done and just has not been announced yet.
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