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Sundin trains in Vancouver but not sure of return date

Source: Agencies | January 1, 2009, Thursday | Print Edition

SWEDISH center Mats Sundin practiced with the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday for the first time since signing for the team earlier this month and said it was nice to be back on the ice.

However, he acknowledged it will be a challenge joining a team midway through the season after ending a five-month wait while he decided if he wanted to end his professional career.

Sundin said he felt in good physical shape, but compared his conditioning to that of a player just arriving at training camp at the start of the season. No decision has been made yet on when he will play in a regular game.

"I don't underestimate the challenge to come in mid-season," Sundin told reporters, saying it would be for the coaching staff to decide when they thought he was ready to play.

Vancouver plays Philadelphia at home, and Sundin will not join the team on its next road trip so he can remain in Vancouver to practice.

The former captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs and member of Sweden's Olympic team agreed to a one-year deal worth about US$5 million for the season, choosing Vancouver over a competing offer from the New York Rangers.

Vancouver had offered him a two-year, US$20 million contract last summer but Sundin said the deal he signed this month would allow him and the team to evaluate what they wanted to do at the end of the season.

Sundin said he realized during his extended off-season that if he wanted to resume his career at the age of 37 it had to be now or never. "It's nice to be back on the ice," he said.

Taken by the Quebec Nordiques with the first overall pick in the 1989 NHL draft, Sundin has been one of the NHL's most dependable scorers, collecting 1,321 points in 1,305 games.

Vancouver (20-14-3) is second in the Northwest Division.


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