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I first noticed Miroslav in the same way that most people do: "Who is that guy named Satan?" I was playing a NHL 97 videogame when I noticed this guy named "Satan" kept getting the
puck. I investigated a soon found out he was no devil at all. His name is pronounced shu-TAHN, and there is actually a punctuation mark similar to a tildae(~) that goes above the "S" to form a "Shh"
sound. He played relatively unnoticed by spectators with the exception of the odd "Devil" remark. Even though he led the league in shooting percentage(21.0%) in the 96-97 season, he still remained generally
unnoticed by hockey fans. It wasn't until Miroslav was traded to the Buffalo Sabres did he start to gain some much deserved recognition. Upon his arrival in Buffalo, Miroslav scored 10 points in his first
12 games. He has led the Sabres in scoring every season he has played for them, despite harsh treatment from the front office. Before the 98-99 season(a season in which he would score 40 goals and lead the
team in nearly every offensive category), the Sabres management did not want to increase his contract(which was below the league average) and were furious that he did not report to camp. Miroslav signed a one-year
contract for the same amount he earned the year before($800,000) on a plane to their first game. Well, after his 40 goal season, the Sabres wanted to resign Miroslav for a meager $1,000,000. This may seem
like a large amount of money, but compared to other players of his caliber who make nearly $5,000,000 to $10,000,000 a year, the Sabres offer seemed like an insult. He held out two weeks into the 99-00 season
before signing for $2,000,000, a little below what he was asking.Miroslav has always been loyal in honoring his contracts, and has inproved his point production each and every season. This young Slovakian from
the small town of Topolcany is one dynamic player to watch. How does he inspire me? Miroslav's consistency and persistence are what I admire. He has improved his game every year, and does not get
discouraged at the lack of attention he receives. He's an excellent skater who has great instincts around the net. But most impressive of all, is his deadly accurate shot which influenced me to give him the
nickname "The Slovakian Sniper." |
