Time To Call Byron

Bruins roster

It is time for Bruins GM Harry Sinden to swallow his pride and get goaltender Byron Dafoe signed. Dafoe had an excellent 1998-99 season with a 1.99 goals-against average and a league-leading 10 shutouts. He was a runner-up to Buffalo's Dominik Hasek for the Vezina Trophy.

Dafoe is an unrestricted free agent and is asking $4 million a season, but Sinden has stick to his original offer of $3 million. Dafoe could have filed for salary arbitration, but chose not to.

"We thought we could negotiate with the Bruins," said his agent, Ron Salcer. "Byron was the MVP of the team the last two years and had a great season. But they made no efforts to negotiate. It's been a take-it-or-leave-it situation."

The Bruins need Dafoe back in the lineup soon. There has been talk of the two sides going for arbitration, but the problem is that the deadline for it has passed and the league or NHLPA might be unwilling to set a precedent with an exception.

Despite of their woes and the horrendous start of the season, Bruins coach Pat Burns sounded optimistic after Monday's 3-3 tie with Colorado.

"I thought we deserved better than what we got," said Burns. "It was certainly a good effort from all four lines. You have to stay positive and hope we're going to get out of it. I thought the last game we had a pretty good effort, too. It's a question of things have to go our way someday."