Takin' a T/O With BT: Peter Zezel and the NHL Veteran's Ultimate Fight

When it comes to playoffs, free agents, and potential draft choices, we're all bound to get a little excited and overlook some of the more important things.

While Chicago Blackhawk and Carolina Hurricane fans are entertaining the thought of monumental comebacks and carrying that momentum to a cup championship, and Detroit Red Wing and Pittsburgh Penguin fans are keeping their fingers crossed for a rematch of last year's Cup final, other people's prayers and other people's hopes lie elsewhere.

While the number of Canadians wishing for a seventh team multiplies with every tiny tidbit that crosses the airwaves and the number of "John Tavares could be a Toronto Maple Leaf" articles escalates, other people have had to face a tough reality.

A man a generation of fans have rallied behind and adopted as one of their own has been forced to deal with a harrowing illness. One that's hit him hard for a second time this decade.

Peter Zezel, a man beloved by Leafs fans, is battling for his life.

Zezel spent four years of his career with the Leafs in the early-90's, from the 1990/91 season to the 1993/94 season. During those years he joined names like Gilmour and Clark in the ranks of the most memorable Leafs.

People loved the chippy little faceoff man, and Zezel went from scorer to two-way forward in his time with the Leafs, after the implementation of Pat Burns as Head Coach.

Despite the shortened Toronto career, Toronto never forgot.

If you asked many people today, they'd remember Zezel and his role with those early-90's teams as much as they do for his frequent Off The Record (A Canadian sports-talk show on TSN hosted by Michael Landsberg) appearances, as well as his Peter Zezel Hockey and Sports Camps.

Today however, Hemolytic Anemia—the abnormal breakdown of red blood cells—has gotten the best of Zezel.

The 44-year-old Zezel was supposed scheduled for surgery last week, but his complications worsened, and Zezel is now at his lowest point in the battle with the disease since 2001.

He's suffered from the disease for 10 years at this point.

Zezel is (or was when referring to his playing days) a combination of a good hockey player and a great human being.

Never one to take a day in the NHL for granted, Zezel adored the multi-cultural nature of Toronto and everyone who came out for a Leaf game.

There's no doubt in my mind that, from watching the way he handles himself on OTR and in other situations, that he's developed into an excellent teacher as well.

Simply put: Peter Zezel was a first love for many Leafs fans, and a favorite in a handful of other NHL cities (or maybe a first love as well...who knows).

But while your team battles it out for a chance to hoist the cup, or tries to scrape its way up the draft board, keep Peter Zezel in your hearts and prayers.

Here's to you, Zez. Get well soon.

Bryan Thiel is a Senior Writer and an NHL Community Leader for Bleacher Report. If you want to get in contact with Bryan you can email him at [e-mail], or go to his profile. You can also check out his previous work in his archives.

Bryan Thiel also writes for HockeyBarn.com—Where Hockey hits the net!