Mats Sundin to Join Team Pokerstars?

It has been rumored that professional hockey player superstar Mats Sundin will be announcing tomorrow that he will join team PokerStars. At least he has decided to join one team, so far since he is unsure whether he is going to continue his career in the NHL or which team he is interested in playing for.

There are several teams looking to add Sundin to their roster for the 2008-2009 season and looking to pay upwards of 10 million per year for up to three years. The teams that are most interested are: New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadians, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Rangers.

J.P. Barry, Sundin’s agent stated that he very well might make his decision on where to play or if he would like to even play in the NHL after the start of the regular season. “We are going to talk to him later this week just to get an update from him, but right now we are not putting any pressure on him because he has to get that feeling that he wants to play,” J.P. Barry said. “But right now, he’s no closer.”

It’s quite surprising that Sundin may be joining Team PokerStars and if he does he will not be the only professional athlete. Months ago PokerStars signed Boris Becker who was a professional Tennis player. One has to assume Daniel Negreanu who is an avid hockey fan is behind or involved with signing Sundin to team PokerStars.

It is also interesting to ponder what commissioner Gary Bettman would say about this if Sundin returns to the NHL. Having hockey players endorsed by online gambling sites may stir interest and controversy that the NHL doesn’t need, especially when trying to gain a share of the American market.