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Richard Matvichuk packed his belongings and took a look around his home, which was about to burn to the ground.
With nothing more to do, he resigned himself to the fact that the fire raging
toward his house in Kelowna, British Columbia, which had caused nearly $100
million in real estate damage, was going to claim his home.
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Then ... "It stopped," Matvichuk said. "I guess it was about 150 feet out, and it just stopped."
Who would have guessed?
The dying flames near his home this summer might have been a sign that the luck
of the Stars defenseman, who labored through the worst season of his 11-year
NHL career in 2002-03, has finally changed. Ticketmaster
With last season's personal horror show buried in ash, Matvichuk moves on, needing
a rebound season as much for himself as for his team.
"I have one year before I am a free agent, so I am thinking this is the
most important year of my career," Matvichuk said.
It was a year ago when the alternate captain's "A" was sewn on his
sweater, and he seemed ready to increase his role as one of the Stars' headline
defensemen. But instead his role decreased, he lost confidence, the Stars lost
confidence in him and he struggled the rest of the season. Ticketmaster
"It sits in your stomach every time you go out there," said Matvichuk,
who in 68 games last season scored one goal and added five assists. "You
watch a tape or replay and every time a puck goes in the net, you're on the
ice. It gets really frustrating and you take it out on other people.
"But I am not thinking about that. I am only thinking about redeeming myself
and getting back to the role that I had. I want to be one of the leaders on
this team and one of the guys they have to count on."
With former Stars captain Derian Hatcher bruising bodies for the Detroit Red
Wings now, the Stars don't have much choice. Ticketmaster
Of course, they had planned to count on Matvichuk last season. But without Hatcher
as his partner on the blue line, Matvichuk at times looked uncomfortable. Other
times he looked downright bad.
When he suffered a broken left leg while blocking a shot on Jan. 11, Matvichuk
had no goals and four assists. Not that there was much worry. "Get him
to the big games in February, March, April and beyond," was the cry.
But after missing 14 games, Matvichuk returned no better, regardless of the
type of game.
On Feb. 27 in Ottawa, Matvichuk fell down in overtime, leading directly to a
turnover and the Senators' game-winning goal.
In Game 3 of the playoffs against Edmonton, while Hatcher was suspended, Matvichuk
was crossed up by Radek Dvorak, who blew around him and scored the game-winning
goal.
In an appropriate finish to his season, Matvichuk watched as Anaheim Mighty
Ducks forward Mike Leclerc slid a pass by him that led to the game-winning goal
with 66 seconds remaining in the Stars' playoff-ending defeat.
And to wrap up a personally forgettable season, Matvichuk lost his arbitration
case in early August.
"You look in the mirror and you have to blame yourself, because there is
nobody else," Matvichuk said. "I know I had a subpar season and it
wasn't acceptable. It's behind me."
The Stars are gambling that it is.
With Hatcher gone, Matvichuk is the Stars' big body, at least until John Erskine
proves he is NHL-ready. But while he may take much of Hatcher's minutes, it's
almost impossible for him to replace Hatcher's presence.
Hatcher is 6-foot-5, 230 pounds. Matvichuk is 6-2, 215.
"This will be a challenge for Richard, and we expect him to respond,"
Stars general manager Doug Armstrong said. Ticketmaster
To Matvichuk's delight, and relief, he will be returned to the shutdown role
he thrived in under former coach Ken Hitchcock. Next to Philippe Boucher, Matvichuk
will be back in the enforcer role he says he is more comfortable in.
The rest is up to Matvichuk.
It's up to Matvichuk to quell any doubt that his previous success was the result
of being teamed with Hatcher. It's up to him prove that the critics who say
his performance is too often dictated by matchups are full of it. It's up to
him to show he is worthy of the big contract every free agent-to-be desires.
He's been good before. Two years ago, he was the Stars' top defenseman. And
those around the league say it's still in him.
"He's dirty. Dirty like he plays hard. That's what he does," Colorado
Avalanche forward Peter Forbserg said. "He's a big boy and he's still very
physical. It hurts to play against him. He is just a very good overall player."
If it's any consolation, one year ago Hatcher was in a nearly identical position.
Coming off the worst year of his career and facing free agency at season's end,
he finished as a Norris Trophy finalist.
Will Matvichuk do the same?
The dying flames in Western Canada are at least a good sign.