Peter Worrel is now on the Colorado Avalanche!

[Shell]

Wow, this one sure caught me by surprise.. glad to see him out of our conference though!

Colorado acquires Worrell from Florida
Canadian Press
7/19/2003

DENVER (CP) - The Colorado Avalanche acquired tough Peter Worrell and a second-round pick in 2004 on Saturday from the Florida Panthers for forwards Vaclav Nedorost and Eric Messier.

Worrell, 25, had two goals and three assists with a team-leading 193 penalty minutes in 63 games. He was fifth in the league in penalty minutes, despite missing 19 due to injury.

In 2001-02 he led the NHL with his career-high of 354 penalty minutes.

``Peter Worrell will add a tremendous amount of grit and toughness to our lineup,'' Michel Goulet, the Avs' vice-president of player personnel, said in a statement. ``His presence adds another physical dimension to our team.''

The deal continues an off-season makeover for the Avs, who were upset in seven games by the Minnesota Wild in the first-round of the playoffs.

They lost goalie Patrick Roy to retirement but later signed star forwards Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne.

Nedorost, a 21-year-old playmaking centre, picked up four goals and five assists in 42 games last season.

Messier, 29, split time between defence and forward last season, collecting four goals and 10 assists in 72 games.

[talkingcanes]

Colorado has certainly been busy! Wonder how Bates will like playing WITH Worrell? Glad he's now out west.

[StormShaman]

Damn, no Boulerice/Worrell II this season.

[Shell]

Sure, on February 3rd.. it is going to be Jesse's birthday present to me. I'll be sure to tape it this time! LOL

[1Irbegirlforever]

I second that Shell...I am also glad to see him out of our conference! Although I also wonder how Bates will handle having to play with one of our public enemy #1 opposition. Oh well, maybe Bates will "accidently" knock Worrell in the teeth...it could happen.. :roll:

It will be interesting to see what happens now that the avs are making so many changes to their roster.

[StormShaman]

I'm just wondering about poor Marty Gelinas--that poor *******'s got to face the guy 6 times this coming season.

[Jeff O Rocks]

I am glad we don't have to look at him as often...but I will miss seeing his reaction to Jesse in our arena....I am sure there is someone in the WC that will revel in kicking his A S S and making him cower! :D

[nccanes]

..chuckle... Weren't the Avs one of SHC's least favorite teams even w/o Worrell? :evil:

[Jeff O Rocks]

..chuckle... Weren't the Avs one of SHC's least favorite teams even w/o Worrell? :evil:

Yes...I remember her letting the Avs have it and then always typing ..sorry Bates or batesb!! ;)

[MCAngel]

:angel:

[Jeff O Rocks]

So, Bates just went from playing with Sakic a few months ago t maybe being on the 4th line now that Worrell is on the 3rd? Great... :roll:

:angel:

I am sure playing on the same line or same team with Worrell is just what Bates has always dreamed of.. :D I bet everytime he gets near him, he will have this incredible urge to say... JESSE!! :laugh:

[guinevere]

Worrell devastated by trade to Avalanche
By DAVID J. NEAL
Miami Herald

Left wing Peter Worrell wanted to play for a winner and be a Panther his entire NHL career. General manager Rick Dudley wants to make the Panthers a winner.

A head-on clash of those desires Saturday morning left Worrell playing for a winner - in Colorado.

Dudley traded Worrell, one of the most popular Panthers in and out of the locker room, and a 2004 second-round pick to the Avalanche - a perennial Stanley Cup contender - for top center prospect Vaclav Nedorost and veteran grinder Eric Messier.

"When it happened, I kind of went numb," Worrell said during a conference call. "I tried to make sure Dudley was being honest."

That numbness seemed to manifest itself as an unsteadiness in Worrell's voice until he began recounting his best memories from five-plus seasons with the Panthers. Slowly, he began breaking up, which is hard to do.

It wasn't the cellular phone. It was emotion stacked into audible sobs.

Worrell, the Panthers' seventh-round draft pick in 1995, is ninth in Panthers history in games (342) and second in penalty minutes (1,375). With the possible retirement of original Panther Paul Laus, he would have become the second-longest serving Panther behind Viktor Kozlov.

"In all honesty, I see a bright future for this team, and I really wanted to be a part of it," Worrell said. "I've been here in the lean years. I've seen a lot of players come and go. I guess it was my turn to get the ticket punched."

Polite and knowledgeable about a vast array of topics, Worrell was one of the most-requested and willing Panthers for public appearances, even after his DUI conviction last year.

Dudley knows Worrell is as loved by Panthers fans as he is detested by other teams' supporters.

"My whole intention here - and it has been since the moment I arrived here - is to be one of the top teams in the league and be an elite team," Dudley said. "Sometimes you have to make trades that aren't tremendously popular to get there. And this is one of those times."

Before Worrell reached an agreement with Florida last week on a one-year deal, he filed for arbitration. Dudley, who detests the often-adversarial arbitration hearings, said that prompted him to start calling other general managers. He knew Avalanche GM Pierre Lacroix liked Worrell and needed an enforcer.

Once Lacroix mentioned Nedorost's name, he had Dudley's interest. The Panthers signed Worrell, then dealt him.

"Clearly, this wasn't a situation where we were actively trying to trade a player, but when a certain player Nedorost was involved in the deal, it got me excited," Dudley said. "He's one of those talents you don't often get a chance to acquire.

"And with Eric Messier, he fit the other thing we were looking for. He's a winner, a guy who has played in a very good program, and he's well-known for his contributions."

The Avalanche has Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg as Nos. 1 and 1A down the middle, a future Hall of Fame ceiling for 21-year-old centers trying to make it in Colorado.

"I'm glad they traded me to Florida because it's so hard playing behind Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and those stars," Nedorost said.

Colorado drafted Nedorost 14th overall in 2000. After another year in the Czech Extraleague, Nedorost made Colorado's roster out of 2001 training camp. A goal and an assist in his NHL debut was followed by a goal and an assist in his next 19 games. He was sent down to Hershey (Pa.) of the American Hockey League on Nov. 29, 2001, staying there for most of the remaining season.

Still, the Hockey News ranked Nedorost as the NHL's No. 4 prospect in their Future Watch.

Last season, Nedorost was in and out of the Avalanche lineup until being demoted Feb. 27. Five games later, he suffered a sprained knee that kept him out for a month. He returned to pick up four points in five AHL playoff games.

Messier, 29, has been in the Avalanche organization since signing as a free agent in 1995. He became an NHL regular in 1997-98.


I guess he's just a big teddy bear at heart..

Guin

[Guyute]

Poor Peter. :roll:

otoh... brilliant move by Dudley. Nederost is well worth the risk.

[nccanes]

Thanks for posting it Guin. I enjoy seeing the other point of view.

Have to say, Worrell isn't one of my faves, but he's not supposed to be. Sounds like he was a great team guy for the Panthers and their fans. Goes to show you that going to "a contender" isn't always the most important thing for a player.

[Jeff O Rocks]

I agree Eileen...I am not a fan of his either, but it makes you feel sad for him that he wanted to stay with the Panthers and make them a winner. I can imagine taking a team from "shi* to shinola" is a dream of every player that spends years trying to build like that.. :roll:

[Shell]

well, plus, he was one of the big guys for the panthers and won't be anything but a thug for colorado. As the prospect said, it is hard playing behind Sakic and Forsberg. Now add Selanne and Kariya!

[Jeff O Rocks]

well, plus, he was one of the big guys for the panthers and won't be anything but a thug for colorado. As the prospect said, it is hard playing behind Sakic and Forsberg. Now add Selanne and Kariya!

True..it will be like going from a high school hot shot football player to being 3rd string in college...... :roll: