Mats Sundin arrived in Vancouver on Monday and quickly left the airport in a van. (CBC)Mats Sundin is in Vancouver, but don't expect the veteran forward to be in the lineup Tuesday night when the Canucks host the Philadelphia Flyers.
Sundin flew into town on Monday and was hustled past a pile of local media at the airport to be whisked away by van.
The former Toronto Maple leafs captain is scheduled to hold a press conference Tuesday afternoon after practising with his new teammates earlier in the day.
"It's going to fun to see him and watch him practise," said Vancouver forward Henrik Sedin, a fellow Swede. "We're really excited here. It's fun to get him here."
Canucks coach Alain Vigneault hasn't decided when Sundin will make his debut in a Vancouver uniform.
"I'm going to find out how he feels, what he's been doing on and off the ice," Vigneault said. "Until I sit down with him, talk to him and go through a normal process on where a player stands, I've no idea what's coming up."
Sundin, 37, officially signed with the Canucks on Dec. 18 after spending 13 seasons with the Maple Leafs and months of speculation over his future.
Vancouver general manager Mike Gillis signed the big Swedish centre to a one-year contract that, pro-rated, will pay him about $5 million US for the rest of this season.
Sundin notched 30 or more goals five times in the past six campaigns, leading the Leafs with 32 goals and 78 points in 74 games last year.
He has scored 555 goals in 17 NHL seasons with Toronto and the Quebec Nordiques.
