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Spurned Sabre Grand-Pierre Could Be Core In Columbus - Sept. 22, 2000 – Vol. 54, Issue 03 - Aaron Portzline
Without mincing words, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre admits he can’t wait to get a crack at his former team, the Buffalo Sabres.
“I have the date of our game with Buffalo memorized,” Grand-Pierre said. “It’s January 23rd, in Buffalo. I am looking forward to that one.”
Grand-Pierre, 23, spent the past two seasons bouncing between Buffalo and its top affiliate, the Rochester Americans of the American League.
Two years ago, it was understandable, he said. He was green. He was still learning the game. Just getting a crack in Buffalo was an honor. But last season Grand-Pierre felt as if he deserved to stick around. Thus, shuffling in and out of Buffalo was not easy to take.
“We got off to a slow start, and I guess they thought it was because of me, that I wasn’t playing very well,” he said. “Next thing I’m in Rochester, and I spent a lot of time there.”
This summer, Buffalo and Columbus struck an expansion draft day deal that sent Grand-Pierre to the expansion Blue Jackets.
“(Grand-Pierre) was a key guy we wanted, so we went after him,” said Columbus president-GM Doug MacLean of the rugged, stay-at home blueliner. “We see in him a tremendous upside, a tremendous amount of potential that’s just waiting to get out.”
MacLean and Blue Jackets’ coach Dave King want Grand-Pierre to add an offensive element to his game and he’ll be given every chance to add it to his arsenal.
“He should be very confident in the fact that we traded tor him, MacLean said. “He should be as confident now as he has ever been.”
NOTEBOOK Goalie Marc Denis and the Blue Jackets finally agreed on a two-year contract following a lengthy negotiation. “I’m very thrilled to have this deal done,” Denis said. “I’ve been very excited about coming to Columbus since the trade and now with this situation taken care of I can focus on playing hockey and the start of training camp.” Denis, expected to back up veteran Ron Tugnutt. will make $600,000 this year and $650,000 in 2001-02…Left winger Krzysztof Oliwa will not skate with his new teammates until a week or so before the regular season starts as he recovers from knee surgery…Defenseman Rostislav Klesla. Columbus’ first round pick in the 2000 entry draft, looked good in rookie camp and has a solid chance to make the team.
