Published: Monday, September 15, 2008

PATIENCE A VIRTUE: The Montreal Canadiens have had their fill of Mats Sundin and his procrastinating and have declared themselves out of the derby. The Vancouver Canucks? Well, they're still hanging in.

"We're prepared to wait until a decision is made [by Sundin] or until something better comes our way," Canuck GM Mike Gillis said Sunday. "Montreal made a decision to go in a different direction. We're still waiting for the type of profile player I want to bring in here in the right age category and, until that happens, we're going to be patient."

Habs' GM Bob Gainey met Sundin in person on Sept. 6 and then six days later traded for 37-year-old centre Robert Lang. Sundin is also a 37-year-old right-shot centre, although of considerably more ability. "Sundin didn't give us any indication that he was going to make a decision," Gainey told The Montreal Gazette. The Canucks have a standing offer to Sundin of $10 million a season for either one or two years.