[Devils-list] Berard to attempt return : to sign with the New York Rangers

[JM2714@aol.com]

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Berard to attempt return to ice
By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY
Defenseman Bryan Berard will sign a NHL tryout contract next week to begin a=
=20
remarkable comeback story that seemed like an impossibility after he suffere=
d=20
a horrendous eye injury in a NHL game, March 11, 2000.
Berard, 24, is expected to sign with the New York Rangers, although as of=20
Friday evening a few other teams were still making bids to land the former=20
No. 1 draft pick. Word around the NHL was that the Phoenix Coyotes, Carolina=
=20
Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Atlanta Thrashers, Detroit Red Wings and St=
.=20
Louis Blues had all made overtures.
The official announcement will come early next week, after Berard completes=20
negotiations with insurance companies that paid him $6.5 million because=20
doctors concluded that the damage to his right eye constituted a=20
career-ending injury. Berard was playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs when he=
=20
was struck in the eye by Marian Hossa's stick as Hossa followed through on a=
=20
shot. The damage was extensive enough that surgeons pondered removing the ey=
e=20
that night.
The injury was considered career ending because Berard couldn't meet the=20
minimum 20/400-vision standard required by NHL rules.
However, several factors convinced Berard over the last two months that he=20
could play again =E2=80=94 including receiving a specially designed contract=
 lens=20
that doctors hope will allow him to pass the NHL eye test. If not, Berard ha=
s=20
been advised that Casey Martin's successful challenge of the PGA's cart=20
standard through use of the Americans with Disabilities Act makes it seem=20
likely that the NHL would be unable to prevent him from playing again.
The major reason why Berard decided to launch a comeback is that he believes=
=20
he has adjusted well to the virtual blindness in his right eye. Wanting to=20
get in shape, Berard started playing pickup hockey and realized he didn't=20
have any trouble handling the puck.
He has also been living in the weight room, and those who saw him at the U.S=
.=20
Olympic Orientation Camp in Colorado Springs earlier this month were=20
surprised at how much he had beefed up since he officially retired. Many of=20
the players at the Olympic camp said he played so well that they quickly=20
forget he was legally blind in one eye.
What makes Berard's pursuit of a comeback more poignant is that he will in=20
essence end up paying a substantial amount of money for the chance to wear a=
=20
NHL jersey again. Although no one is talking about negotiations with the=20
insurance company, it's obvious that insurance companies will want him to=20
return a portion of the money they paid to him.
The buzz around the league is that Berard is going to receive a four-year=20
deal guaranteeing him about $2 million for the first year, with the team=20
holding the option of picking up the final three years at $3 million, $3 1/4=
=20
million and $3.5 million.
Because his insurance payment was tax free, it would take Berard three years=
=20
at that pay level to regain the money he will have to re-pay insurance=20
companies. That speaks to how badly he wants to play again
If the Rangers, or another team's sign Berard to the tryout contract, they=20
get the opportunity to watch him in training camp before making the final=20
decision of committing the $2 million guarantee. The Rangers are a logical=20
choice for Berard for several reasons =E2=80=94 including the fact he is fro=
m Rhode=20
Island and it's only a three-hour trip for his family to attend his games.
Berard is an unrestricted free agent because the Maple Leafs didn't make him=
=20
a qualifying offer after the injury.
Players have played in the minor leagues while blind in one eye, and former=20
NHL player Willie O'Ree admitted after he retired that he had played his=20
entire pro career with vision in only one eye. Berard will wear a half shiel=
d=20
in his comeback.
   =20
   =20
   =20


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<HTML><FONT FACE=3Darial,helvetica><FONT  COLOR=3D"#004080" SIZE=3D3>Berard=20=
to attempt return to ice
<BR>By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY
<BR>Defenseman Bryan Berard will sign a NHL tryout contract next week to beg=
in a remarkable comeback story that seemed like an impossibility after he su=
ffered a horrendous eye injury in a NHL game, March 11, 2000.
<BR>Berard, 24, is expected to sign with the New York Rangers, although as o=
f Friday evening a few other teams were still making bids to land the former=
 No. 1 draft pick. Word around the NHL was that the Phoenix Coyotes, Carolin=
a Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Atlanta Thrashers, Detroit Red Wings and=20=
St. Louis Blues had all made overtures.
<BR>The official announcement will come early next week, after Berard comple=
tes negotiations with insurance companies that paid him $6.5 million because=
 doctors concluded that the damage to his right eye constituted a career-end=
ing injury. Berard was playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs when he was struc=
k in the eye by Marian Hossa's stick as Hossa followed through on a shot. Th=
e damage was extensive enough that surgeons pondered removing the eye that n=
ight.
<BR>The injury was considered career ending because Berard couldn't meet the=
 minimum 20/400-vision standard required by NHL rules.
<BR>However, several factors convinced Berard over the last two months that=20=
he could play again =E2=80=94 including receiving a specially designed contr=
act lens that doctors hope will allow him to pass the NHL eye test. If not,=20=
Berard has been advised that Casey Martin's successful challenge of the PGA'=
s cart standard through use of the Americans with Disabilities Act makes it=20=
seem likely that the NHL would be unable to prevent him from playing again.
<BR>The major reason why Berard decided to launch a comeback is that he beli=
eves he has adjusted well to the virtual blindness in his right eye. Wanting=
 to get in shape, Berard started playing pickup hockey and realized he didn'=
t have any trouble handling the puck.
<BR>He has also been living in the weight room, and those who saw him at the=
 U.S. Olympic Orientation Camp in Colorado Springs earlier this month were s=
urprised at how much he had beefed up since he officially retired. Many of t=
he players at the Olympic camp said he played so well that they quickly forg=
et he was legally blind in one eye.
<BR>What makes Berard's pursuit of a comeback more poignant is that he will=20=
in essence end up paying a substantial amount of money for the chance to wea=
r a NHL jersey again. Although no one is talking about negotiations with the=
 insurance company, it's obvious that insurance companies will want him to r=
eturn a portion of the money they paid to him.
<BR>The buzz around the league is that Berard is going to receive a four-yea=
r deal guaranteeing him about $2 million for the first year, with the team h=
olding the option of picking up the final three years at $3 million, $3 1/4=20=
million and $3.5 million.
<BR>Because his insurance payment was tax free, it would take Berard three y=
ears at that pay level to regain the money he will have to re-pay insurance=20=
companies. That speaks to how badly he wants to play again
<BR>If the Rangers, or another team's sign Berard to the tryout contract, th=
ey get the opportunity to watch him in training camp before making the final=
 decision of committing the $2 million guarantee. The Rangers are a logical=20=
choice for Berard for several reasons =E2=80=94 including the fact he is fro=
m Rhode Island and it's only a three-hour trip for his family to attend his=20=
games.
<BR>Berard is an unrestricted free agent because the Maple Leafs didn't make=
 him a qualifying offer after the injury.
<BR>Players have played in the minor leagues while blind in one eye, and for=
mer NHL player Willie O'Ree admitted after he retired that he had played his=
 entire pro career with vision in only one eye. Berard will wear a half shie=
ld in his comeback.
<BR>   =20
<BR>   =20
<BR>   =20
<BR></FONT></HTML>

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