Post by TestSubjekt on Aug 16, 2006 16:31:04 GMT -5
August 16, 2006) — Rory Fitzpatrick won't need his E-ZPass for the commute to work this season.
He will, however, need to show his United States passport a whole lot more.
Provided there are no surprises in a medical exam, Fitzpatrick will likely sign a contract with the NHL's Vancouver Canucks by the end of the week.
The 31-year-old, lifelong resident of Irondequoit heads to Vancouver today to meet with Canucks officials.
"Nothing is 100 percent until he goes out there and everything checks out, but I'm cautiously optimistic," said his agent, Steve Bartlett.
The deal being discussed is a one-way contract, meaning the Canucks have no intention of sending Fitzpatrick to the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose.
Fitzpatrick spent the past 2 ½ NHL seasons with the Buffalo Sabres but hasn't been offered another contract by general manager Darcy Regier.
"Buffalo likes 'Fitzy' and said there could be something (before training camp) if we wanted to be patient," Bartlett said. "In this marketplace, I don't think you can be patient.
"You can be patient if you don't have another offer, but quite frankly we had some strong interest elsewhere."
Fitzpatrick scored four goals, five assists and nine points in 56 games with the Sabres last season. A veteran of 11 pro seasons, Fitzpatrick didn't become a full-time NHL player until called up to Buffalo from the Rochester Americans midway through the 2002-03 season.
Signing with Vancouver means that the convenience of living at his Irondequoit home and commuting to Buffalo is gone.
"It's two countries away; we're going from one coast to the other," Fitzpatrick said.
He will, however, need to show his United States passport a whole lot more.
Provided there are no surprises in a medical exam, Fitzpatrick will likely sign a contract with the NHL's Vancouver Canucks by the end of the week.
The 31-year-old, lifelong resident of Irondequoit heads to Vancouver today to meet with Canucks officials.
"Nothing is 100 percent until he goes out there and everything checks out, but I'm cautiously optimistic," said his agent, Steve Bartlett.
The deal being discussed is a one-way contract, meaning the Canucks have no intention of sending Fitzpatrick to the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose.
Fitzpatrick spent the past 2 ½ NHL seasons with the Buffalo Sabres but hasn't been offered another contract by general manager Darcy Regier.
"Buffalo likes 'Fitzy' and said there could be something (before training camp) if we wanted to be patient," Bartlett said. "In this marketplace, I don't think you can be patient.
"You can be patient if you don't have another offer, but quite frankly we had some strong interest elsewhere."
Fitzpatrick scored four goals, five assists and nine points in 56 games with the Sabres last season. A veteran of 11 pro seasons, Fitzpatrick didn't become a full-time NHL player until called up to Buffalo from the Rochester Americans midway through the 2002-03 season.
Signing with Vancouver means that the convenience of living at his Irondequoit home and commuting to Buffalo is gone.
"It's two countries away; we're going from one coast to the other," Fitzpatrick said.
He wasn't a bad 7th defenseman for us.
