We know John Ferguson Junior doesn't want to trade Mats Sundin and won't even consider the notion unless the Maple Leafs fall way out of the playoff picture. And we know Mats Sundin is a true-blue Leaf who hasn't thought about waiving his no-trade clause.
We know all that. But we also know that if Sundin were to be made available and was prepared to waive his no-trade, well, we know he would fetch quite a price.
It is hard to imagine a more impactful, dominant, productive and reasonably healthy rental than what Sundin would be.
Sundin this year would be far more attractive than an ailing Peter Forsberg was last year and Forsberg netted the Philadelphia Flyers a solid player in Scottie Upshall, a very good prospect in Ryan Parent as well as first-round and third-round draft picks.
The price on Keith Tkachuk was a first, a second and a third round pick. On Ryan Smyth, it was two prospects - Robert Nilsson and Ryan O'Marra - and a first rounder. Heck, an injured Todd Bertuzzi got Florida a good prospect in Shawn Matthias and a second round pick.
Sundin, if he were made available, would blow all of those right out of the water. If the Leafs didn't get two or three credible players or prospects and the same number of significant draft choices, John Ferguson would be accused of not doing his job.
Which, funny enough, is what some people will say if the Leafs don't try to make a Sundin trade happen before the deadline.