[Devils-list] Wildfire in Wyoming worries Devils' Holik
JM2714@aol.com
JM2714@aol.com
Wed, 1 Aug 2001 07:13:44 EDT
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Wildfire in Wyoming worries Devils' Holik 08/01/01BY RICH CHERE
STAR-LEDGER STAFF
>From his summer property in Jackson, Wyo., Bobby Holik watches the thick
smoke as it blots out paradise. As the Devils' veteran center monitors the
constant air attack from firefighters hoping to save some of the West's most
expensive real estate from a wildfire that has swept perilously close to the
resort community, Holik is terrified for his neighbors and friends who
already have seen their land scorched by the windswept blaze. And he is
nervous for those waiting helplessly. "I'm watching the helicopters and
planes drop fire retardant on the fire. It's a tough go," Holik said
yesterday. "We're not in any imminent jeopardy right now, but it's very
close. I know people who have been very affected by it. A lot has been
burned. There is a lot of commotion in town." Holik, who is preparing to fly
to Toronto for a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Sunday, has been
summering in Wyoming for years. He once owned property there but now just
rents in an area where actor Harrison Ford is a neighbor. "The valley is
filled with smoke. The fire, which is picking up right now, is a couple of
miles from us," he said. "We're across the valley, so there is a big river
between us, but this is the worst fire they've had here in town. Some of the
town has been evacuated." The fire started last Sunday in a camping area and
has claimed almost 5,000 acres. Flames have come within several hundred feet
of homes valued at $5 million. Grand Teton National Park was not considered
to be at risk, but the concern was that high winds could spread the blaze
before it could be fully contained. "Usually the wind picks up. We were in
Colorado for nine days with a friend," Holik said. "When we got back, a lot
of her land had been burned. Harrison Ford has a big chunk of land out here,
where he spends summers." Holik is hoping that firefighters can control the
fire before he flies east for his salary arbitration hearing. A restricted
Group 2 free agent, he filed for arbitration as a bridge to becoming an
unrestricted free agent next summer and the showdown before an arbitrator
will take place on Sunday. "I don't look at arbitration as anything but a
logical step towards free agency. I'm not going to hold out, so hopefully
this will be a fair way to do it," Holik said. "My agent is prepared." After
earning $2.7 million last season, Holik could become the highest paid Devils
player if his arbitration award tops the $4.581 million goalie Martin Brodeur
is scheduled to make this season. General manager Lou Lamoriello could refuse
the arbitration award and allow Holik to instantly become an unrestricted
free agent, but that is not likely. If the decision severely upsets the
team's salary structure, Lamoriello might look to trade Holik before he
becomes unrestricted and can walk away next summer. "I wouldn't trade a
player unless I thought his abilities were not up to the decision and the
figure was so out of whack," Lamoriello said. "Bobby is a very important part
of our team. Whatever the end result is, we'll respect it and go forward."
Lamoriello said the team is also prepared for its arbitration hearing with
Petr Sykora on Aug. 11.
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<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT COLOR="#0000a0" SIZE=5><B>Wildfire in Wyoming worries Devils' Holik </FONT><FONT COLOR="#0000a0" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="arial" LANG="0"></B>08/01/01<B>BY RICH CHERE
<BR>STAR-LEDGER STAFF
<BR></FONT><FONT COLOR="#0000a0" SIZE=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="arial" LANG="0"></B>From his summer property in Jackson, Wyo., Bobby Holik watches the thick
<BR>smoke as it blots out paradise. As the Devils' veteran center monitors the
<BR>constant air attack from firefighters hoping to save some of the West's most
<BR>expensive real estate from a wildfire that has swept perilously close to the
<BR>resort community, Holik is terrified for his neighbors and friends who
<BR>already have seen their land scorched by the windswept blaze. And he is
<BR>nervous for those waiting helplessly. "I'm watching the helicopters and
<BR>planes drop fire retardant on the fire. It's a tough go," Holik said
<BR>yesterday. "We're not in any imminent jeopardy right now, but it's very
<BR>close. I know people who have been very affected by it. A lot has been
<BR>burned. There is a lot of commotion in town." Holik, who is preparing to fly
<BR>to Toronto for a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Sunday, has been
<BR>summering in Wyoming for years. He once owned property there but now just
<BR>rents in an area where actor Harrison Ford is a neighbor. "The valley is
<BR>filled with smoke. The fire, which is picking up right now, is a couple of
<BR>miles from us," he said. "We're across the valley, so there is a big river
<BR>between us, but this is the worst fire they've had here in town. Some of the
<BR>town has been evacuated." The fire started last Sunday in a camping area and
<BR>has claimed almost 5,000 acres. Flames have come within several hundred feet
<BR>of homes valued at $5 million. Grand Teton National Park was not considered
<BR>to be at risk, but the concern was that high winds could spread the blaze
<BR>before it could be fully contained. "Usually the wind picks up. We were in
<BR>Colorado for nine days with a friend," Holik said. "When we got back, a lot
<BR>of her land had been burned. Harrison Ford has a big chunk of land out here,
<BR>where he spends summers." Holik is hoping that firefighters can control the
<BR>fire before he flies east for his salary arbitration hearing. A restricted
<BR>Group 2 free agent, he filed for arbitration as a bridge to becoming an
<BR>unrestricted free agent next summer and the showdown before an arbitrator
<BR>will take place on Sunday. "I don't look at arbitration as anything but a
<BR>logical step towards free agency. I'm not going to hold out, so hopefully
<BR>this will be a fair way to do it," Holik said. "My agent is prepared." After
<BR>earning $2.7 million last season, Holik could become the highest paid Devils
<BR>player if his arbitration award tops the $4.581 million goalie Martin Brodeur
<BR>is scheduled to make this season. General manager Lou Lamoriello could refuse
<BR>the arbitration award and allow Holik to instantly become an unrestricted
<BR>free agent, but that is not likely. If the decision severely upsets the
<BR>team's salary structure, Lamoriello might look to trade Holik before he
<BR>becomes unrestricted and can walk away next summer. "I wouldn't trade a
<BR>player unless I thought his abilities were not up to the decision and the
<BR>figure was so out of whack," Lamoriello said. "Bobby is a very important part
<BR>of our team. Whatever the end result is, we'll respect it and go forward."
<BR>Lamoriello said the team is also prepared for its arbitration hearing with
<BR>Petr Sykora on Aug. 11.
<BR>
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