Michael Peca Michael Anthony " Mike " Peca ( born March 26 , 1974 ) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward in the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . He most recently played for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL . He has also played for the Vancouver Canucks , Buffalo Sabres , New York Islanders , Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs . He retired on January 19 , 2010 after 13 seasons in the NHL . On August 4 , 2011 he was named general manager of the Buffalo Jr . Sabres . Personal life . Peca and wife Kristin live in Getzville , NY with their two children , son Trevor and daughter Emily . Playing career . Peca began his junior career with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League ( OHL ) after they selected him in the first round of the 1990 player draft . He was traded to the Ottawa 67 ' s where he blossomed into one of the leagues top offensive players . He was selected to represent Canada at the 1994 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships . He captained the Canadian team at the 2001 World Championships in Germany . His nickname was " Captain Crunch " because of his penchant for delivering bone - crushing open ice hits . Peca was drafted in the second round , 40th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft . Peca has twice won the Frank J . Selke Trophy for being the best defensive forward , in 1996 – 97 and 2001 – 02 . Peca captained the Buffalo Sabres to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1999 . He was a member of the gold medal - winning Canadian ice hockey team at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City . He was acquired by the Edmonton Oilers in a trade with the New York Islanders in exchange for Mike York . Peca was part of the Cinderella Edmonton Oiler team that made a run to the Stanley Cup Finals . Peca had 6 goals and 5 assists in the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs . Peca was hip - checked by Toronto Maple Leafs ' Darcy Tucker during the 2002 Stanley Cup playoffs in game five of the first round . The check blew out Peca ' s MCL and ACL on his left knee , ending his season and delaying his entry into the 2002 – 03 campaign . No penalty was assessed . On July 18 , 2006 , the Toronto Maple Leafs announced that they had signed Peca as a free agent to a one - year $ 2 . 5 million contract for the 2006 – 07 NHL season , making Tucker and Peca teammates . During a game against the Blackhawks on December 22 , 2006 , Peca collided with Chicago defenceman Jim Vandermeer in the Toronto zone with 5 : 17 left in the first period . Vandermeer was assessed a minor penalty and a game misconduct for the hit . Peca sustained a fractured tibia at the base of his right knee and suffered significant ligament damage . He missed the remainder of the 2006 – 07 season . On August 21 , 2007 , Peca signed a one - year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets . On October 11 , 2008 , Peca received an indefinite suspension ( later reduced to a five game suspension ) after grabbing referee Greg Kimmerly ' s arm in Columbus ' first game of the 2008 season . On January 19 , 2010 , Peca announced his retirement from professional hockey through NHLPA . Contract dispute . For the 2000 – 01 season , Peca and the Buffalo Sabres could not agree on a contract . Peca went without a contract the entire season . Peca was later traded to the New York Islanders for Tim Connolly and Taylor Pyatt , where he led the Islanders to their first playoff berth in seven years . Despite the apparent bad blood , in the summer of 2007 , then unrestricted free agent ( UFA ) Peca told the " Buffalo News " that he ' d be willing to come back to the Sabres . However , the Sabres ' front office did not sign him despite the loss of veteran co - captain centers Daniel Brière and Chris Drury .