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Berard resumes career with Rangers
NHL.com | Sept. 29, 2001
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BOSTON (AP) - Bryan Berard, who nearly lost his right eye when struck by a stick 1 1/2 years ago, returned to the ice with the New York Rangers on Saturday night after being cleared to play by the NHL earlier in the day.
Berard, who hadn't played in an NHL game since he was accidentally struck by Marian Hossa's stick on March 11, 2000, agreed to a seven-day tryout agreement with the Rangers.
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"I don't want to just go out there and say I played again," Berard said before the game. "I want to go out and be the best, and that's one of the reasons I picked the Rangers."
The 24-year-old defenseman stepped onto the ice just 2:40 into the preseason game against Boston and stayed on for exactly one minute during his first shift.
Berard's former club, the Toronto Maple Leafs, were one of a handful of teams interested in giving him a chance to return to the NHL. However, the four-year veteran chose to make his comeback attempt in New York.
NHL rules state that a player must have at least 20/400 vision. After he was injured, Berard's vision was no better than 20/600, but he was given a special contact lens that has improved his eyesight enough to receive League approval.
A statement released by NHL executive vice president and chief legal officer Bill Daly removed the final obstacle to Berard's return.
"An examination of Bryan Berard's right eye was performed on September 26 by Dr. Mark Fromer, Clinical Professor of Opthamology for the New York Medical College. Dr. Fromer has certified to the League, both orally and in writing, that Mr. Berard's visual acuity in his right eye is 20/400, which satisfies the standards set forth in NHL By-Law 12.7. While we intend to carefully observe Bryan's progress, on the basis of Dr. Fromer's examination and certification that Mr. Berard's eyesight satisfies the League's existing standards, Mr. Berard has now been cleared as eligible to play in NHL games."
Berard, who has had seven eye operations since the injury, finished with 30 points in 64 games with Toronto in the 1999-2000 season.
He became an unrestricted free agent because the Maple Leafs didn't make him a qualifying offer this summer, thinking that Berard was retired.
"I never did actually retire," Berard added. "But I thought my career was done."
Berard passed a physical and eye exam for the Rangers on Wednesday and agreed to a seven-day contract in which New York can sign him to a longer deal at any time.
Berard reportedly has agreed to a four-year deal worth at least $11 million.
His base salary this season will be $2 million, all of which will be paid to the insurance company, from which he received a $6.5 million payout when it appeared his career was over.