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Thursday, September 2, 1999
New centre rarin' to go
Flames' Savard can't wait to strut stuff
"I wouldn't say I didn't get a chance in New York," said the Flames' centreman, in town and attending the team's long-drive contest -- a forerunner to today's annual golf tournament -- at Canyon Meadows.
"They drafted me. They gave me a chance. I learned a lot there last year, playing with Gretz and all the other centres there.
"But, you're right, I didn't get as much ice time as I'd like. You get a lot of your points on the powerplay and I didn't get any time there."
With the departure of Andrew Cassels to Vancouver, Savard will be expected to fulfill his promise this year. The Flames really have no true playmaking centre on the roster, outside of him.
"I had a talk with coach Sutter today and he mentioned Cassels, as a matter of fact. He told me he played really well here and that he's expecting the same out of me. I take that as encouragement, and a challenge.
"He told me I was going to get a chance to do some things this year. That's all I wanted to hear.
"This is obviously the best thing that could've happened to my career.''
General manager Al Coates thought enough of Savard to swap draft choices -- No. 8 to the Rangers, No. 11 coming back to the Flames -- to land him at the entry draft in Boston in June. Coates obviously had one eye on Cassels, who received a whopping $7.5 million US over three years to bolt to the Canucks.
At 22, and afforded limited opportunity so far in the big leagues, it's obvious Savard hasn't reached his peak yet. How high he can go, though, remains to be seen.
As the man said, there are no hard feelings against the Rangers. And he, like everyone else, has been watching with keen interest at the spending spree general manager Neil Smith has been on this off-season.
"There's a lot of pressure in New York at any time,'' said Savard. "And as for the spending, well, if you've got the money ...
"I know there's going to be pressure here, too. This team wants to get back in the playoffs. So do I. So do the Rangers.
"We're all after the same thing."
True enough, but they certainly have different ways of going about it.
NOTES: Tough guy Rocky Thompson repeated as long-drive champ, pounding a tee-shot 317 yds. Centre Cory Stillman, at 301, and winger Hnat Domenichelli, at 295, rounded out the top three. D Derek Morris was longest in qualifying at 319 yds. ... Jarome Iginla's agent, Don Meehan, talked contract with Coates yesterday, but Iginla said the two sides are still dickering ... Calgary Hitmen star Pavel Brendl left Edmonton yesterday bound for New York. He and the Rangers are said to be close to a contract agreement ... Rookies are set for medicals Saturday, on-ice Sunday, while the vets test on Monday, on-ice Tuesday.
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