Sure, Mats Sundin deserves to call his own shots, but does he need to screw over the rest of the league while doing it?

I have no problem with Mats Sundin saying he needs more time to make a decision about whether or not he wants to play hockey again next season.

I do have a problem that he waited until after pretty much all the offers were on the table before he announced that decision.

Given the number of hints he gave out between the end of the regular season and the day before the start of the silly season, Sundin's proclamation wasn't totally unexpected, but do you really he didn't come to this conclusion until late in Day Two of the bidding for his services?

I don't think so.

Lots of people say this is Mats being Mats; that he always takes one day less than forever to come to a decision, but I don't buy it.

By waiting to see where the money was and what the money was, Sundin did to the league what he did to the Leafs when he opted not to waive his no-movement clause at the trade deadline.

Now don't misunderstand. Sundin was within his rights to not waive his no-trade and he's certainly within his rights to decide when, where and even if he wants to play again. He earned that both contractually and simply by being one of the better players in the game for the many years he's played the game.

That said, however, shouldn't there be at least one time - for appearances sake if nothing else - when Sundin gives a little something back?

Something akin to: "Hey folks, I'm flattered by all the wheeling and dealing and all the interest and especially in the almost mind-numbing financial offers, but to be perfectly fair, I really haven't decided if I want to play again next season or ever and until I make up my mind in that regard, you should consider your free-agent planning without me in the mix."

Seems reasonable doesn't it?

I mean here's a chance for a guy to say: "Do what you think is best for you and your team, just leave me out of the mix for now because I honestly don't know where I'm going from here. Not yet anyway."

But no, GM's didn't get that.

Instead they got this: "I would like to thank all the teams who have expressed such sincere interest in my services," Sundin said in a release through J.P. Barry his agent out of Creative Artist Agency.

"The numerous options provided to me were impressive and I have no doubt that each one presented a unique opportunity for me to finish my career in a terrific hockey environment. I spent a great deal of time (Tuesday) reflecting upon the (estimated nine) teams who stepped forward and the opportunities that each provided.

"Unfortunately, I am simply not close to being ready to make a decision about resuming my career at this time. I wish all the teams the very best and thank them for their interest."

Nice wording, but just a bit disingenuous don't you think?

In waiting, Sundin threw a wrench into the marketplace for a great many teams and not just the ones waiting on him to decide. The free-agent game is often a trickle-down affair where teams make plans on landing a player with what they believe is a legitimate (and often overwhelming) offer. If it works, fine, but if not, other plans have to be made, other options have to be explored and, in a scenario rarely considered by the players being courted, other players' lives are affected in kind.

Normally they have a Plan B and a C and a D, but they are all tough to execute when you still think you are in the running with Plan Mats.

Had Sundin opted out before the start of free agency, don't you think that it's at least possible that the Vancouver Canucks might have targeted another centre or a player who could play centre; a Marion Hossa might not have been a perfect fit, but a Brian Rolston might have gotten a good deal, maybe even a better one (and one he wanted to accept) that he settled for in New Jersey.

Doesn't the same ring true for the Edmonton Oilers or the New York Rangers?

Heck, officially, you can't even take the Leafs out of that equation. Sure, Sundin left them the short straw when he refused to be traded for a package that would have given the Leafs true value for a player who if he isn't ever going to play again, would have paid a very small price to move and maybe even play for the championship that has forever eluded him.

He did it again, admittedly on a lesser scale, when he opted not to answer the Montreal Canadiens' call just prior to the opening of free agency. The Leafs wouldn't have gotten all that much for his rights, but even a third-round draft pick is better than nothing.

Now the Leafs are still holding out a slim hope that Sundin might just opt to re-sign with them as if somehow that would wash given the decisions he's made so far.

Come back to the Leafs: For what? Is there another scenario other than fans booing him simply because he could have come back AND rewarded the Leafs with a fistful of draft picks and prospects but instead opted to return empty-handed? I don't think so.

And what are the other teams supposed to do? Should they continue to pray that Mats has a change of heart after he's done strolling the streets and cafes of his homeland he might perhaps get the urge to play again?

Should the Rangers assume he's not coming and try to make peace and prosperity with Jagr or has that ship sailed?

What about the Canucks and the Oilers and all the others. If they had known in advance they perhaps could have done something else in Day One or Day Two, but there's not a whole lot left out there now.

Should they target some restricted player, who will surely want a five-, six- or seven-year deal or should they just hold their breath?

Those decisions would have been a whole lot easier if Mats sent his very polite note on June 30 instead of July 2.

Of course, maybe there's nothing those other teams can do now and with Sundin knowing exactly who has what amount of money to spend it does seem to play to his advantage.

One can't help but wonder if that wasn't the plan all along.