Sedins update

Yesterday, a lot of websites reported that Mike Gillis, GM of the Vancouver Canucks, was flying to Sweden to talk with the soon-to-be UFAs Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

While the twins seem to have appreciated the gesture by Gillis, it also seems like not much have changed and the Sedins are still planning on testing the market on July 1. At least judging by Henrik Sedin's comment in Aftonbladet.

- It was nice that they flew over to see us. We met and talked a bit. They want to give their view on the whole thing and present what they think.

What happens now?
- We have to wait and see what happens. We have said what we want, but there are some differences of opinion. We will see what happens tomorrow.

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Öhlund looking for a change of scenery

- Plainly, I want to to try something new. It's going to be fun to see what happens this summer and which NHL teams that are interested.

That is what Vancouver's Swedish defenseman Mattias Öhlund said to Norrländska Socialdemokraten about his future. Öhlund, who has spent all his 11 NHL seasons with the Canucks, will be testing the market on July 1. He doesn't have a favorite team to end up on though. At least not one that he is willing to admit about.

- No, not really. This is a family decision, where a lot factors will play in. But at my age, it would of course be fun to end up in a club with a decent chance at winning the Stanley Cup.

Detroit together with Tomas Holmström?
- That would of course be fun. But it's nothing we have talked about.

To explain that last question: Holmström and Öhlund are from Piteå, a town in northern Sweden, and both have played on the same teams (Piteå HC and Luleå HF) back in Sweden.

Öhlund also says in the article that he will keep on playing in the NHL for another 3-4 years and then head back home to Sweden. Either to his hometown Piteå or to Stockholm, where he has a lot of his friends.
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Näslund continues in the NHL - where though?

Vancouver Canucks Captain Markus Näslund has decided to play for at least another year in the NHL, but it's far from sure if it will be with the Canucks. That is what he told Örnsköldsviks Allehanda, the local newspaper of his hometown in Sweden, which had an interview with him.

- When I had gotten a bit of a perspective, it wasn't a hard decision to make. I feel very motivated to play in the NHL, says Markus.

Playing for Modo Hockey is not an option though, at least not in the upcoming season.

- No, I want to continue over there, but for which team is far from done.

A clue that Näslund is on move, is that he has sold his house in Vancouver.

- We sold because I was unsure of the future. The door to Vancouver is not closed, but that I end up there is far from a matter of course, says Näslund.

- Money is not the important part, instead I prioritize the social part, what kind of hockey the team plays and what kind of player types they got.

Since Näslund's old agent, Mike Gillis, was named the new GM of the Canucks, Markus has just switched agent. The new one is, Don Baizley, who has been Peter Forsberg's agent since he got drafted. Will we see them playing for the same NHL team too one day? Chances are at least a bit bigger now with Näslund maybe testing free agency.
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