Ex-Leaf taking life as it comes
Nieuwendyk back with the Panthers after back trouble Coach Martin banking on him to provide leadership
SUNRISE, FLA.—
Hurricane Wilma smacked his house around. A chronically fitful back kept him out of the lineup for 14 games. And his team has lost 14 of their last 15 matches. But life, says Joe Nieuwendyk, is good. Or at least as good as it gets around here, for a 39- year- old squeezing the last drops out of a long and fine hockey career. Nieuwendyk and his close buddy Gary Roberts were, of course, denied passage on HMS Maple Leaf when the NHL finally embarked on its post- lockout season. As free agents, both signed on with the Florida Panthers, a club in need of veteran stewardship. Roberts, also bothered with injuries, did return in time to score against his former teammates back at the Air Canada Centre in a 2- 1 Halloween loss. But last night was the first time Nieuwendyk faced Toronto since removing the blue and white. He picked up an assist in a 2- 1 loss.
“ I’m just trying to get back into the flow of things,’’ said the classy forward, who resurfaced with the Panthers last week, but then sat out on Saturday, his body not yet ready for back- toback assignments. It remains a question mark whether Nieuwendyk will ever be able to handle consecutive night games again, though he’s certainly optimistic.
“ I think that’s temporary,’’ he said, after the morning skate. “ I’ve just been back for a couple of games now and we have four in six nights here so it’s a bit of a load.’’ That load is burdensome in many ways, as the Panthers struggle and management looks to Nieuwendyk and Roberts for some steadying ballast.
“ With Joe back in the lineup, he brings some leadership,’’ said coach Jacques Martin. “ He’s excellent on faceoffs, he’s good in deflecting pucks and he’s a big part in the dressing room as well.’’ Nieuwendyk understands his role. But it’s hard to fulfill expectations in absentia.
“ We were brought in here to help a young team. We’ve tried to do that. It’s been frustrating because I haven’t been playing a whole lot in order to contribute. Gary has been in and out as well.’’
“ But it’s not just about us either. It’s about everybody coming together and that’s what we’re trying to work on. We’re looking for answers every night. It’s been a bit of a challenge but I believe in the people in this locker room.’’ The Oshawa native would dearly love to have remained a Leaf but the salary cap economies of the new NHL rendered him unattractive in free agency. No way, though, will Nieuwendyk be making his retirement home in Florida, as do so many Canadians.
“ Too many hurricanes.’’