Archives for July 4, 2001

\’In the playoffs, he scored three goals for the Sabres–all on the power play–and had seven points in 13 games, with 10 penalty minutes.\’

Darius Kasparaitis' shot didn't matter. Really, it was just a matter of time. Dom's bags were packed, and the U-Haul truck was in the driveway with the motor running. Hasek didn't think he could win here and was eager for a fresh start before the season had even ended. Hardly a playoff game, we'd all been attending a farewell ceremony.

'"You look at Montreal when Patrick (Roy) went away and (Jocelyn) Thibault came in – they didn't really give him a chance. They thought he was going to be the exact same person that Patrick was. . . . You have to really look at it as I'm a different person, I'm a different goalie, and it's not going to be the same pattern but it can give you success and it can give you results," Biron said.'

'But what the Sabres need isn't a good pep talk. They need scorers. They need some sign that ownership is still committed to putting a winning product on the ice, and that the Rigas family won't stand idly by after sending two of the team's greatest stars, Hasek and Michael Peca, out the door.'

'In addition to his skills as a pugilist, Ray brings experience and leadership to the locker room. Those traits might be particularly valuable since the departures of ex-captain Peca, superstar goalie Hasek and Doug Gilmour, a respected veteran who is now an unrestricted free agent.'

'The Los Angeles Kings signed free-agent right wing Steve Heinze to a three-year contract Tuesday night.'

'The 31-year-old Heinze established career highs with 27 goals and 27 assists in 79 games and ranked 12th in the NHL with 12 power-play tallies. He added three goals and four assists in seven playoff games with Buffalo, which acquired him at the trade deadline for a third-round draft pick.'