| I
applaud the Buffalo Sabres front office. They have
'stuck to their guns' and haven't given in to the
high-priced demands of today's athletes. I am
speaking, of course, of the situation facing the Sabres
and their (former) captain, Michael Peca.
I
would love to see number twenty-seven out there with his
patented body checks and his proven team leadership
abilities. But enough is enough. Peca is
certainly worthy of a raise, and even an upper echelon
contract. How high into the ranks of the
overly-wealthy sports figures is the question at hand.
The two sides still stand around $900,000 a year apart.
The Sabres offered a deal which they considered fair
market value, but one that Peca said wasn't even worth
looking at. Instead of suiting up for the now-red
clad Sabres (yes, another change if uniform for the boys
from Buffalo) he has decided to play for team Canada in
the Spengler Cup later this month.
The Sabres most recent offer was to give Peca $2.6
million over three years and an option year of $2.8
million, while Peca is holding out for $3.5 million per
year, this after a very sub par year by the Buffalo
centerman. Peca was quoted recently as saying he
felt the Sabres couldn't afford not to hold out much
longer, he must not be watching the games when they
play. Many other players have stepped up and
filled his role quite well. While having Peca on
the ice would definitely be an improvement, I for one do
not feel an extreme sense of urgency.
Situations
like these make me appreciate players like the Sabres'
Rob Ray, who took a substantial pay decrease in order to
keep playing for the Sabres. Perhaps players like
Peca and other professional athletes have forgotten why
they started playing sports? I think Buffalo
should not give in and pay the ransom demanded by Peca,
let him go and play for Team Canada. For Peca's
sake, I hope no one delivers a good open ice hit like he
is famous for, otherwise that $2.6 million won't even be
there.
In
other Sabres' front office news, how about the deal that
sent Michael Grosek to Chicago in exchange for Doug
Gilmour, and $3 million of his contract, and J.P.
Dumont.
Dumont
is currently the Sabres' leading goal scorer with 14
goals as of 12/16/00 and on a five game goal scoring
streak that included a hat trick against Boston and a
two game performance against the New York Rangers.
The Blackhawks have since dealt Grosek to the
Rangers.
Perhaps
Buffalo should continue to make trades with the
Blackhawks, the trade before this one sent Buffalo's
Christian Ruutu ( I think that's how he spelled it, but
since he is out of hockey now who cares) for that so-so
goalie Dominik Hasek.
Yep,
Keep up the good work. |