TORONTO - Mats Sundin didn't sound like a man on the move Saturday morning.
The Toronto Maple Leafs captain, speaking to reporters after the pre-game skate at Air Canada Centre, didn't sound enamoured with the idea of waiving his no-movement clause to join another team before the 3 p.m. ET trade deadline Tuesday.
"I never believed in rental players to start with," Sundin told reporters. "I think if you want to be part of the team that has a chance to win the Stanley Cup or a team that is going far in the playoffs, my opinion has always been that you want to be there from training camp or the start of the season to be part of the group."
Still, no final decision had been made as of Saturday afternoon.
Cliff Fletcher, the Leafs' interim GM, met with Sundin on Thursday and Sundin's agent J.P. Barry on Friday and asked them to consider waiving the no-movement clause and to get back to him in a day or so with their decision. Sundin is slated for unrestricted free agency July 1.
Asked whether he would soon get back to Fletcher with an answer, Sundin said: "Yeah, I mean, I don't think it's going to change ...I can't see any reason why it would."
Anaheim, Detroit, San Jose, Montreal and Ottawa are among the teams that are believed to have interest in him but Sundin had no idea when asked Saturday.
"I don't know even know what teams are interested," said Sundin, 37. "I haven't followed that part of it.
"I'm just trying to solve my own situation here."
What seems almost surely out of the question, if even Sundin does waive his no-movement clause, is signing an extension with another team.
"I can't commit to anyone for next season," said Sundin. "I want to play this season out, I want to listen to my body, see how I feel physically and mentally and see if I can get ready for another year at this stage of my career."
The popular scenario played out among Toronto media and fans is seeing Sundin traded to a contender with the Leafs getting a nice package in return and then Sundin returning July 1 as a free agent. That's news to Sundin.
"I haven't even considered it, I haven't even thought about that," he said.
But he understands why Fletcher approached him.
"Listen, that's part of the business of hockey," said Sundin. "We missed the playoffs two years in a row and now we're on the verge of a third year -- we're in a tough position -- so obviously this is part of the business. We're in the winning industry and everybody has to be accountable and that's just part of it.
"Cliff's got to do what he's got to do, that's part of the business," Sundin later added. "He's got to do what's best for the Toronto Maple Leafs."
Asked whether he thought he'd be in a Leafs uniform Wednesday night at Florida after the trade deadline came and went, Sundin replied: "I hope so, I hope so."
