Yushkevich sits while agent cries 'unfair'

By DAVE FULLER -- Toronto Sun The Maple Leafs yesterday offered to make Dimitri Yushkevich their highest-paid defenceman.
Instead, he remains the club's biggest headache.
Negotiations between the Leafs and the Group 2 free agent ended yesterday with Yushkevich's agent accusing the Leafs of giving Bryan Berard preferential treatment.
Berard signed a two-year deal with the Leafs on Wednesday worth $1.5 million US this season and $1.8 million the next.
"What upset me is that, when they signed Berard, and I wanted the same treatment, I didn't get that," Yushkevich's agent, Mark Gandler, said.
"I feel that's unfair."
Gandler implied the Leafs had promised his client would be paid a specific amount of dollars more than Berard should Berard sign first.
"The difference between (Berard's salary) and (their offer to us) is not as significant as what had been indicated previously," Gandler said.
"I'm thoroughly frustrated. Obviously, Dimitri is not going to be on the team (when the Leafs open their season tomorrow in Montreal)."
While the Leafs have increased their offer to Yushkevich to $1.95 million from $1.5 million, the sides are still about $150,000 a part on a one-year deal, and $500,000 apart on a three-year contract.
Leafs negotiator Bill Watters was quick to deny Gandler's charge, but admitted the negotiations had taken a step backward.
"I was hopeful (yesterday morning) but it didn't work out," Watters said. "We didn't accomplish anything."

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