Make up your mind (Part II)

Back in February, the Rant brought you musings no Peter Forsberg holding the league hostage while he decided what to do for the season. I knew that if the league continued to allow this type of behavior that it would set a terrible precedent for the years to come. And I was right.

After Teemu Selanne, Scott Neidermeyer, and Forsberg last year, Mats Sundin has decided to do the exact same thing this year (which is to say that he has decided on absolutely nothing). Originally he was supposed to make up his mind on whether or not he wanted to play by the end of July. Both Vancouver and Toronto were reportedly offering him contracts to come and finish is stellar career with them. But he never made up his mind. Some felt he had decided to hang it up because he was not engaging in the same per-season work out activities has he had in the past. But there was no word and his decision kept getting pushed from one week to the next.

Now, Sundin is quoted as saying that he is definitely not going to decide by the beginning of the season. He said, "Others have started playing in the middle of the season. If I would feel like retiring, I would say it." Please note that he is using the horrible tactics of Selanne, et al last year to justify this decision. A bad precedent has been set here. Mr. Bettman, time to start actually acting like a commissioner and fixing a problem brewing in your league.

Word from the Rant to those who are looking to sign Sundin, last year's late signees did not turn their teams into champions. I would not count on Sundin being able to do it either.