Bruins fans, the wait is finally over. We can all move on with our lives now. Byron Dafoe is signed.
After several months of deadlock over his contract, Dafoe has reached an agreement with Bruins general manager/president Harry Sinden. The contract is worth $9.3 million over three years.
Why it took two months for Sinden to budge $300,000 is what fans must ask themselves. It seemed as if Sinden was willing to lose his star goaltender for what was a pittance in the overall scheme of things. His inability to compromise cost Dafoe 13 games of playing time and $400,000 in salary.
It cost Sinden the confidence of his team in his being able to put a winner on the ice.
If this is what B's fans can expect in years to come, dark days will fall on Causeway St. Nevertheless, the 4-5-4 Bruins are welcoming back Lord Byron with open arms. Hopefully, his return will energize a team that is on a 4-0-1 tear following a truly horrible, embarrassing start.
If last year's stats are any indication, Dafoe will put the streaking B's back on track. He had a stellar season last year with a 32-23-11 record, 1.99 goals against average, and a league-leading 10 shutouts.
Dafoe hopes to be ready for the B's game against the New Jersey Devils tonight.
More news on the holdout front: Bill Guerin has come to terms with Edmonton Oilers management and agreed to two-year contract. After a bitter 33-day holdout that saw Guerin asking to be traded, the new deal is worth $2.6 million this year, and will be worth $3.1 million next season.
Guerin, the pride of Boston College and Wilbraham, MA, was the Oilers leading scorer last year with 30 goals and 34 assists in 80 games.
Moving on from contractual matters we now get down to what hockey is all about: violence. Just kidding. But Washington Capitals GM George McPhee wasn't when he slugged Chicago coach Lorne Molleken September 25.
It seems that Mr. McPhee was peeved at what he thought was thuggery perpetrated by the Blackhawks in a exhibition game at Columbus, Ohio.
Following the fight-filled game, McPhee proceeded to the Blackhawk dressing room, exchanged words with Molleken, and then struck him, giving both Molleken and the game of hockey a black eye.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman hit [excuse the pun] McPhee with a $20,000 fine and a one month suspension.
His suspension is now up. How about some advice for the returning pugnacious Caps GM: "Remember what mommy said, keep your hands to yourself."
It appears as though Dominik Hasek's final tour of the NHL will not go as planned. The Buffalo Sabres' goalie, who announced he will retire following this year, aggravated a groin injury he incurred last season.
Ouch. The Dominator, a two-time MVP and five-time Vezina Trophy winner as the league's top goalie, will be sidelined for several weeks. He had a 1-4-1 record before he was actually placed on the injured list.
Word is, Ray Bourque is thinking about hanging up the skates after this year. The Bruins' defensive stalwart has manned the blue line for more than 20 seasons. Bourque is certainly a throwback, playing for only one team in the age of free agency, and possessing an unbelievable work ethic.
Well into his late thirties, he logs inordinate amounts of ice time. Last year in the playoffs, he was on the ice for close to sixty minutes in a double-overtime game.
That is the equivalent of playing a full game. If he does chosoe to hang it up, Bourque will be sorely missed, and we will all lament about how one of the best to ever play the game never got to skate the Stanley Cup around.
After I finally have a glimmer of hope for my fantasy team with Byron Dafoe and Billy Guerin returning, my other goalie, Dominik Hasek goes and gets hurt. He joins Al MacInnis on the sidelines. This statistically proves that hell will freeze over before I have any success with my fantasy league. This is why I don't give offer tips in the column.
See you on the ice.
