Joke of the Week: Replace Roenick with Peca

I'm not much for "jokes of the week," but the news (and I use that term loosely) stories that appeared this past week indicating that the Coyotes were interested in obtaining the rights for Michael Peca, and that he was seen as a "replacement" for Jeremy Roenick, certainly qualifies for a good laugher.

Michael Peca was mentioned recently as an example of the type of player that the 'Yotes would like to acquire. These words were no sooner out of GM Cliff Fletcher's mouth than our dependable "let's bend the truth a little, it's a slow news day" Arizona Repulsive was all over it like a rash. The problem with this becomes obvious when the not-necessarily-accurate story is picked up and run as "news" on other sports sites.

For example, the AZ Repulsive practically had JR picking up Peca at the airport, and JR on his way out of town with Peca as his replacement. ESPN noted that Fletcher hadn't even spoken to the Sabres, and only raised Peca's name as an "example" of the type of player he would like to acquire.

Oh, the semantics of it all.

The question is, why would the Coyotes want Peca, a hold-out for the 2000-2001 season and a second line center at best, to replace All Star Olympian Jeremy Roenick? With big bucks coming in from naming rights to the new arena, and a possible deal involving Peca that almost went through last year freeing up plenty of salary money by dishing the likes of Keith Carney, the Coyotes will certainly have the wherewithal to sign Peca and give Roenick the salary and compensation he wants. Who made this an either/or situation anyhow? With Mika Alatalo recently inking a three year deal with TPS in Finland, why would the acquisition of Peca mean anything to JR's status?

The news out of Buffalo, both from newspapers and fan message boards, is that the Sabres desire Shane Doan in a trade for Peca, whose worth seems to have inflated with his hold-out rather than the other way around. And what would be the point of giving up Doaner?

There is not too much of this that makes any sense, thus I give you "the joke of the week." The only strange part about it is Wayne Gretzky and Cliff Fletcher making all kinds of noise about "probably losing JR to free agency" and lusting after Michael Peca, when my sources tell me that they haven't even bothered to contact Roenick to start up contract talks again, while Jeremy waits, anxious to get it done, wanting to stay in Phoenix, ready to look at an offer and sign it. The bullshit will soon be so deep that they will have to hand out hip boots at the arena. No wonder Jeremy is sulking about the Coyotes not wanting him and Peca replacing him. Do you blame him?

This rather strange management style also begs another question. Actually, several questions. What's a Coyote fan to think? First we have Gretzky saying he's going to build the team around Keith. Keith is gone. Then he says that keeping Khabibulin is the number one priority. Khabby is gone too. Then he says that the Coyotes are JR's team now.

So, Gretz, when are you going to sign my Hockey Boy, eh? Your money from my season tickets is hanging in the balance here. My thousands of dollars will go to the Phoenix Mustangs or worse without JR, because the Coyotes certainly won't see a dime of it. It will be used on road trips to go see JR play for another team. What does airfare to Chicago run these days, anyhow?