Call Bryan Marchment Mr. Hard Bargain.
The Toronto Maple Leafs signed the tough, free-agent defenceman to a one-year, $2-million contract yesterday, about $1-million less than he collected last season with the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks.
With a National Hockey League labour stoppage looming for 2004, some free-agent prices are dropping. Combine that with the fact this is a wished-for homecoming for the 34-year-old Toronto native and the Leafs got a deal to help shore up the blueline.
"When I got the phone call, I got butterflies in my stomach," Marchment said. "I've enjoyed everywhere I've played, but I'm very happy and very excited to finally put on a Leafs jersey.
"A lot of people call me old school. Maybe that's why I like Toronto so much."
The Maple Leafs needed a hard-hitting defenceman to replace Robert Svehla, who is expected to retire from the NHL, and Glen Wesley, who signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Marchment had three assists in 14 games with Colorado. With the Sharks, he had two goals and nine assists in 67 games. Marchment has 2,126 penalty minutes in 814 career games with seven previous NHL clubs.
Marchment is known as a thumping defenceman who has occasionally taken cheap shots in his 15 years in the NHL.
"I have a lot of friends that are around the league," he said. "I've either earned their respect or lost it, one or the other.
"I play for the guys in the room. I don't have friends on the other team when I'm playing."
Marchment's value to teammates was well illustrated when he played with the Edmonton Oilers. On April 18, 1997, in a playoff series against the Dallas Stars, Marchment suffered a freak injury when he lost his balance on the ice just as a Star was exiting the penalty box. Marchment fell through the open gate, his helmet flew off and he smashed his head on the concrete step. The impact left him convulsing in a pool of blood. It shattered his Oiler teammates. Doug Weight wept. Other players had to be consoled on the bench, afraid Marchment was dying before their eyes.
It turned out to be a serious concussion, and he underwent scans to check his recovery. Marchment says he has not had another concussion since and changed from the flimsy European-style helmet to something more substantial.
At 34, he figures his game is still evolving and he can contribute.
"If anything, I think my game has improved the last few years," he said. "You're never too old to stop learning and keep improving.
"I've played with guys that are 40 and 41 that are still playing in the league and that are elite defencemen. I think defencemen get better with age. It's like a fine wine."
Before the signing, the Leafs were essentially down to two quality defencemen, Bryan McCabe and Tomas Kaberle.