Peca has great memories from Edmonton
Canadian Press
7/18/2006 5:32:57 PM
TORONTO (CP) - Michael Peca was never going to return to Edmonton but it wasn't until Tuesday that the Oilers officially lost another component from their Western Conference championship team.
Peca joined Chris Pronger, Jaroslav Spacek, Georges Laraque and Sergei Samsonov as key departures.
''You know what, I think Edmonton, over the course of the last few weeks, has got unduly criticized,'' Peca said after signing with Toronto. ''With Chris's departure and some unrestricted guys choosing to go elsewhere, it really doesn't have much to do with Edmonton, the city or the fans. In fact, it's probably one of the greatest places I've played in.''
He said geography played a part in his decision to leave.
''If you're used to a certain travel schedule in the East, it's a tough adjustment and it was for me,'' said Peca, who before going to Edmonton played on Long Island and Buffalo. ''Being away from family for those road trips is tough. The travel in the Western Conference is tough.''
Peca, a Toronto native, was traded to Edmonton from the Islanders last Aug. 3 in exchange for forward Mike York and a fourth-round draft pick. He had a slow start to the regular season last year and ended up with only nine goals and 14 assists in 71 regular-season games before picking up his game in the playoffs with six goals, five assists and a plus-5 rating in 24 games.
''I think it was just a case where I was coming off not playing for a season (during the lockout),'' said Peca. ''For me, all my preparation stems from my approach to the mental side of the game. Knowing that when I wake up in the morning and we play Colorado that night I know I'm going to face Joe Sakic, or if it's San Jose that means Joe Thornton. I didn't have that at the start of the year.
''I really didn't know to prepare myself almost,'' Peca added. ''But as time went on with meetings and discussions we figured out what would need to be done for me to help the team and we did figure that out but unfortunately it took longer than we all liked.''
He loved every minute of the playoff run with the Oilers but once free agency hit July 1, Peca zeroed in on hometown Toronto.
''Being that Toronto is where I'm from, being close to family and friends, being in the Eastern Conference, those were all elements that went into it,'' said Peca. ''Being in the Eastern Conference was important but not an absolute necessity, there were teams in the West that I was strongly considering, but it just came down to where I saw was the best fit professionally.''
Peca said he was lured by the atmosphere and the fans in Toronto.
''I've wanted to play for this organization my whole life,'' he said. ''The demands of playing on this stage, I enjoy that, you're coming to play on Broadway every Saturday night. As a player that's what you thrive for.''
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