Bondra stealing the show in Washington

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2001

By Lucas Aykroyd

When you can shoot the puck 100 miles per hour and lap the rink in 14 seconds, your chances of robbing NHL goalies blind increase incrementally. That’s what Washington’s Peter Bondra has done this year. The 33-year-old Slovak right wing has twice as many goals as any of his teammates. After getting through some rough off-season contract negotiations, he’s showing why he ranks first in franchise history in such categories as hat tricks, shorthanded goals and playoff game-winners. Playing alongside Sergei Gonchar, “Bonzai” offers a shifty presence on the point on the Capitals power play. This two-time NHL goal-scoring champion (1995, 1998) could be poised to make off with another title. EuroReport’s Lucas Aykroyd caught up with the veteran sniper after the Caps nabbed a 4-3 overtime victory over the Vancouver Canucks at GM Place on 14 February 2001.

EuroReport: As of tonight, your team has won 21 games since the start of December. What’s been the key?

Peter Bondra: I think we play well as a team and we work hard. The key for us is special teams. We’re good on the penalty kill, and, lately, on the power play too. We seem to win games on the PP.

EuroReport: With the success you’ve enjoyed personally this year, you must feel good about your decision to stop seeking a trade.

Bondra: Yes, definitely! I mean, sometimes when things don’t go well, you wonder about your future. At that point, things weren’t right. Obviously you want to sign a contract and play well. Good thing [Capitals GM] George [McPhee] didn’t trade me! I’ve just worked hard and worked through everything. If you do those things, then you’re rewarded.

EuroReport: Were you bothered by the recent rumors that you might be dealt to Anaheim for Teemu Selanne?

Bondra: Oy! That’s a good one! I hadn’t heard that one. Was that in the papers? Really? Well, rumors start everywhere, so who knows? I’m really happy where I am. But hey, I can’t control that stuff.

EuroReport: How much would it mean to you to catch Pavel Bure in the NHL goal-scoring derby and get your name on the Rocket Richard Trophy?

Bondra: I don’t really go out there to “chase Pavel.” I just want to play a solid team game, and if I score, it’s fine. If I don’t, let’s just make sure we win. I try to be a team player. I’m not saying Pavel is not, but we’re playing for the playoffs, and you can’t just open up and try to play on your own. You have to play the system.

EuroReport: Has it been fun having your older brother Juraj along for a visit on this road trip?

Bondra: Oh, it’s been fun! He was my idol when I was growing up and he brought me into the game. To have him around, it’s something special for me. You try to put on a little bit of a show. You want to be your best. We played for four years together back in Kosice, professionally. Then we went our separate ways in 1990. He went to France for four years. Then he retired. He was a coach, and now he’s working with Sherwood. He’s a rep for their equipment in Slovakia. Now he’s just visiting for a couple of weeks and having some fun.

EuroReport: Any chance he’ll be over here for the playoffs?

Bondra: Actually, you know what? George McPhee told me after the game he’ll bring him to the playoffs, along with his whole family! He’s like a lucky charm for us.

EuroReport: Adam Oates is almost the same age as your brother, and he’s still rolling along as a playmaking center.

Bondra: He’s our best player. He plays hard, on the power play, penalty-killing, everything. He’s playing 25 minutes a game and he’s there every night.

EuroReport: What does Richard Zednik need to do to take his game to the next level?

Bondra: Well, he’s working hard. He’s creating an awful lot of chances for himself. Sometimes you just have to relax and the puck starts to go in. He’s sometimes a little bit disappointed when he doesn’t score, but hey, he’ll learn. I would say, even in my case, it can take three, four, five years to realize the chances will come. Then he’ll put the puck in the net on a regular basis.

EuroReport: What do you think about the obstacles Slovakia faces as far as using its top players in the early portion of next year’s Olympic tournament?

Bondra: It’s not really set up for us. I don’t think we can do too much about it. But hopefully the schedule will help us maybe to get two or three more players for those first few games. I guess we have to deal with it. There’ll be a lot of tough decisions for the coaches and players. Hopefully we’ll make it into the A Group. Then everything can happen for us. We have a good team.

EuroReport: Looking ahead to the playoffs, this team has about half the players it had during the run to the finals in 1998. Does that experience give you an extra edge heading in?

Bondra: Definitely! We have all those guys from three years ago, but we also have young guys, and we’re faster than we were then. If we’re playing well at the end of the year, anything is possible. I really like our chances.