Festering feud

Peca, Tucker still steaming over the summer

Michael Peca said Darcy Tucker promised to deliver this hit. AP

By Terry Koshan, SLAM! Sports

Darcy Tucker is vacationing at his parents' farm in Alberta, far away from the distractions that can be part of being a member of the Maple Leafs.

So when he was told yesterday that New York Islanders foe Michael Peca has been quoted in Newsday as saying he wants to exact some revenge on Tucker for a hit in the playoffs last spring, Tucker verbally shrugged.

"I don't care to hear [Peca's comments]," Tucker said. "Is it a slow news day?"

When Tucker was given the gist of Peca's thoughts, he had little to say.

"Oh well," Tucker said. "We'll see."

Thanks to a low bodycheck by Tucker in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarter-finals last spring, Peca required reconstructive surgery on his left knee and apparently is looking forward to meeting Tucker again on the ice.

Local Look Michael Peca expressed enthusiastic optimism regarding his return to the Islanders' lineup for the upcoming season. But the injured captain was still seething about what he calls "a gutless play" - the hip check laid on him by Toronto's Darcy Tucker during the playoffs in April that caused a season-ending knee injury and subsequently painful rehabilitation. Click here for the full Newsday story.

"All I keep telling myself is if I can have him experience the first three weeks after (anterior cruciate ligament) surgery that I felt -- not that it has to be ACL surgery, but just the misery and the discomfort and everything -- I'm certainly going to repay that," Peca told Newsday. "Whatever I do, if anything, is going to be within the rules of the game. I don't feel I'm stepping over any boundaries or anything."

The Leafs, who eliminated the Islanders in seven games in a bitter and controversial series, don't play the Isles until Dec. 6 in New York. Peca said he hopes to be back, "before the New Year." After Dec. 6, the Leafs and Islanders don't hook up again until Feb. 25 at the Air Canada Centre.

Berg, finally?

Leafs assistant to the president Bill Watters ended the week in the same manner in which he began it -- hopeful the club will sign defenceman Aki Berg before the latter's arbitration hearing, scheduled for Aug. 5.

"I did hear back from [Berg's agent] Larry Kelly and I am optimistic we can get something done early next week," Watters said.

Berg is thought to be seeking a two-year deal worth $1.5 million US a season.

But a report of a possible signing of Cory Cross by the end of the weekend appears to be misleading. Cross said yesterday he would like to return to the Leafs, but "we're still waiting. Their first offer wasn't very good."

Cross has been told his recurring abdomen problem will completely heal, but the Leafs remain wary of his past injury problems.

Gavey geared up

Centre Aaron Gavey knows his name won't be automatically included on the Leafs' opening-night roster, but the 28-year-old resident of Sault Ste. Marie is confident he will show enough to Leafs brass to make the club out of training camp.

"I'm coming with full expectations of making the hockey team," said Gavey, who signed a multi-year pact on Wednesday. "I hope you can sense in my voice how excited I am. The only thing I am going to do is come in and work hard."

Gavey had 17 points in 71 games with the Minnesota Wild last season.

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