With most National Hockey League training
camps set to open this week, Robert Esche continues to wait for a phone
call.
But Esche has been anything but inactive during his first summer as a free
agent.
Esche spent last week in Pittsburgh working out with the Penguins. The
29-year-old Esche got his foot in the door via his friend Mark Recchi, an
18-year NHL vet and Penguins assistant captain. Practicing against young
stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, Esche showed off his new and improved
physique to the Penguins executives.
"I lost a lot of weight this summer," Esche said. "I feel good and quick,
something that I never really had in the NHL. I've never been in that good
of shape."
The Penguins, who already have goalies Marc-Andre Fleury and Dany Sabourin
under contract, are probably not in the market for a goalie. But as injuries
mount during September - or as teams discover their young goalies are not
ready for prime time - Esche's value could increase.
"It will probably be in the middle to the end of September before something
happens," Esche said. "But that's how you get your foot in the door."
For the last five NHL seasons, Esche hasn't had to worry about job security.
But even with two brilliant playoff performances on his resume, the
Philadelphia Flyers cut Esche loose after the end of last season when his
contract expired.
The Flyers wanted a youth movement. As a result, they will miss the second
act of Esche's NHL career.
Meanwhile, Esche spent the summer in the Westmoreland area, raising money
for projects like the Kennedy Arena in Rome and agreeing to run the former
Kitty's on the Canal in Utica. He has spent his entire adult life on the
road as a hockey player, yet Esche continues to return to his native Mohawk
Valley to make his home.
"It's mentally draining waiting for the call, but things have been really
going good," Esche said. "We'll see what happens."
Esche's future, however, is no mystery. Wherever he lands professionally,
Esche has always been grounded personally.
And that fact guarantees success for Robert Esche.
Craig Muder's First Pitch column runs Mondays in
the O-D. Contact him at cmuder@uticaod.com.