Top prospect gets rave reviews on and off ice July 7, 1999
BY HELENE ST. JAMES
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

The first thing that stands out about Jiri Fischer is his size, which is huge. Then the fact that he seemingly has no downside, on or off the ice.

Fischer, the Red Wings' prize defensive prospect, stands 6-feet-5 without skates and weighs 220 pounds, can cover the length of the rink in something like three strides, has a bazooka shot and fists to match. And he's only 18.

Along with fellow defenseman Jesse Wallin, Fischer is the core of the Wings' future. And, pending training camp in September, he likely will remain in Detroit next season to begin what could be an elite NHL career.

"We're very, very high on him," assistant general manager Jim Nill said of Fischer, who spent the past five days at a mini-training camp in Troy. "He's our top prospect. He's got everything you want in a player -- excellent size, mobility, great character. He's our future investment."

Fischer, a native of Beroun, Czech Republic, is a delightful package deal -- along with tremendous hockey skills, he is extremely polite, speaks three languages, and insisted on completing his education even though it has meant spending two summer vacations in a classroom.

"I have never given anything up," Fischer said. "I think if I give one thing up, then come another one, another one, another one.... If I never give up anything I'll never do it, so that's why I finished high school."

Done with school now, Fischer spends three hours most mornings working out, followed by an afternoon bike ride.

"That's fun for me," Fischer said. "I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't party.... Working out for me is like for somebody else go to bar."

The Wings acquired this wunderkind in last summer's draft, when they had to pinch themselves to believe he was still available at the 25th spot. Fischer, who turns 19 on July 31, had been considered a top-10 pick but remained free when Detroit's turn arrived.

He debuted in Wings gear at last year's training camp, then went back to play a second year with Hull, his Quebec Major Junior team. He had 22 goals and 56 assists in 66 games, falling one assist short of equaling Boston Bruins defenseman Ray Bourque's 22 goals and 57 assists in 63 games his second year in the Quebec league. Fischer was equally dedicated in his own end of the ice, leading the team with a plus-11 rating. Along the way he racked up 143 penalty minutes.

Fischer capped an outstanding personal regular season by carrying his divisional sixth-place Hull Olympiques (23-38-9) through three upsets before they lost the Quebec league final in seven games to Acadie-Bathurst.

Although Fischer has a remaining year of junior eligibility, odds are he won't be back unless a contract hassle postpones his NHL debut. The Wings have offered him the maximum rookie cap of $975,000 a year for three seasons, but performance bonuses have yet to be ironed out.

Based on his Troy camp, the Wings are looking forward to September.

"We want him to dictate where he'll play," Nill said. "If he's ready to play in Detroit and that's what we think is best for his development, that's what will happen. But it's a big decision -- does he practice here every day and get maybe five minutes of ice time every fifth game, or does he go back to juniors and play 45 minutes every game, and play in world juniors?"

Although he would get to play more, it's doubtful there's anything left for Fischer to learn in juniors. He already plays great defensively and offensively and his hockey sense is well-developed. At last year's camp with the big boys, he soaked up knowledge like a sponge.

"The practicing with the guys and seeing their attitudes and how they act," Fischer said. "Not only on the ice but especially off -- how well they act to strangers. I saw that in Traverse City. Stevie Y and Brendan Shanahan, they don't know any fans and they talk to them like they're their biggest friends. It's great to see that they are right on the earth and not flying in the sky."

With the projections surrounding him, it would be easy for Fischer to slip into some sort of heavenly reverie. But he seems genuinely grounded and ready to take on a role he has waited for since he was a little boy.

"I have worked for this the last 15 years," Fischer said. "Every defenseman I watch, I look and see the best of what he has -- Nick Lidstrom is great with the puck and playing one-on-one; Chris Pronger, he's great defensively, offensively, and especially physically.... I just look at them and pick out the best of what they have and try to put it together and create some perfect player. That's my goal."