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Let's make a deal Berard comeback hinges on insurance settlement
Updated: Tuesday September 25, 2001 2:04 AM
TORONTO (AP) -- The agent for Bryan Berard is hoping to negotiate a deal that would allow the former NHL defenseman to come back without returning all of his $6.5-million insurance settlement. Under agent Tom Laidlaw's proposal, Berard would repay the insurance company by turning over his NHL salary each year he plays. But should he be forced to the sidelines again, the payments would stop. The deal would allow the insurance company to recover at least part of the money it paid Berard after his right eye was severely damaged when he was accidentally struck by Marian Hossa's stick in a March 2000 game in Ottawa. Berard is now expected to sign a four-year deal with the New York Rangers worth an average $2.875 million a season. "We've got to get the insurance issue cleared up first so Bryan is not risking everything he's got put away financially," Laidlaw said on Monday.
Laidlaw said he expects to get an answer from the insurance company this week. Berard's career was thought to be finished after the injury. The 24-year-old has undergone seven eye surgeries and would need to have a special contact lens inserted in his right eye to improve his vision. Laidlaw doesn't expect a fight from the NHL, which has a bylaw that requires all players to have eyesight of 20/400 or better. It's not clear where the special lens would leave Berard's vision. "With the labor laws like they are now, if a guy proves than he can play, it's kind of hard to deny him employment based on a handicap," Laidlaw said. An NHL spokesman said Monday that the league would not get involved in the matter until a contract is actually signed. Laidlaw said Berard wants to play again. "Essentially, he's already got the money in advance," the agent said. "Now he wants to play for it. It's a unique thing. I admire him for it. ... "He wants to play the game but he's going to have to risk something to do it."
The risk is that Berard won't be able to insure himself this time around. "Most players carry individual disability policies on themselves so that if they get hurt and can't play any longer -- like Bryan did -- they get money," Laidlaw said. "As I understand it, he would not be able to get a new policy." Five teams have interest in Berard although the Rangers appear to be his choice. Berard, who had 30 points in 64 games during his last season with Toronto, is an unrestricted free agent because the Leafs didn't bother giving him a qualifying offer this summer since they thought he was retired.
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