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Wednesday, October 27, 1999
Juneau jolts Prospal awake
'No one is going to screw this up for me'
With Juneau signed, sealed and delivered, three forwards -- Vaclav Prospal, Mike Fisher and Steve Martins -- are wondering just where they fit in.
And it's Prospal, recently demoted to the fourth line, who is venting the most frustration.
"I'm not going to pretend I'm happy playing on the fourth line," Prospal said after practice yesterday. "The last few games, I thought the fourth line played pretty well (Saturday against Buffalo).
"Life's not fair sometimes," he said. "I don't give a damn what people say about me, no one is going to screw this up for me."
Prospal has often come under scrutiny for sporadic play.
After starting the season on the first line with Shawn McEachern and Daniel Alfredsson, the 24-year-old centred Andre Roy and Martins on Saturday.
But Prospal knows this game is all about numbers.
In nine games, he's scored one goal and five points.
"It's just a matter of luck that I didn't score goals the last two games," he said. "I thought we had some pretty good chances Saturday."
Of all three, Fisher's future might be the most uncertain.
The 19-year-old centre runs the risk of being returned to his junior team after playing 10 games with the Senators.
"You always realize it's there," Fisher said. "You've just got to perform when you get a chance to play."
Coach Jacques Martin says he likes what he's seen from the young rookie in his five games.
"I like his speed, his quickness and his determination," Martin said. "He's a young player. We're always evaluating, it's his first experience in the NHL."
As for his future, Martin said Fisher shouldn't concern himself about things that are out of his control.
Martins plans on doing the same.
Of the three, Martins has logged the least ice time, playing in just two games.
"It's kind of tough to know my place," he said. "But it's obvious they felt they needed something I don't have."
Martins says he hopes his game against Buffalo, where he scored his first goal, proved he can play.
"There are so many ups and downs," Martins added. "You've just got to stay on an even keel. I think I can still help this team."
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