Mats Sundin’s decision not to skate or work out at GM Place during the all-star break is an interesting one. On one hand, Sundin is a veteran who knows his body well enough to decide how much work is necessary for him to be in game shape.
On the other hand, Sundin was labouring on the ice before the break and logic dictates that guidance from the Canucks’ training staff would have been more beneficial to his conditioning.
If Sundin takes a page out of Kyle Wellwood’s book and plays his best hockey after a few days off (as Wellwood did earlier this year), no one will say a word. However, should he struggle to produce offensively in the foreseeable future, he’ll be taking a fair amount of heat from the fans and media.
• The roller-coaster ride that is Fabian Brunnstrom continues. You remember Brunnstrom, right? He was all but signed in Vancouver last spring, but balked after Dave Nonis was fired.
Canucks fans gnashed their teeth earlier this season when Brunnstrom registered a hat trick in his NHL debut with Dallas, but they’re breathing easier now. Brunnstrom was reassigned to the AHL on Tuesday, and in an ironic twist, he’s now skating for the Manitoba Moose — the top farm team of the Canucks, which also carries players from the Stars.
• On the same day Wally Buono anointed Buck Pierce as the Lions’ starting quarterback, he also said he’d be open to talking about the possible return of Casey Printers.
Huh?
Printers was a catalyst in the most heated quarterback controversy this city has ever seen, and has shown no signs of regaining the form that won him the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player award in 2004.
At this point, Printers appears to be little more than a contingency plan in the unlikely event that Pierce heads south to an NFL practice roster. Introducing Printers to the Leos’ current QB situation would be inflammatory to say the least.
