Associated
Press
June 20, 2001
ESPN.COM
ROENICK LEAVES PHOENIX FOR PHILLY
By Brian A.
Shactman
The Philadelphia Flyers ruined the
calm before the July 1 free-agent storm by agreeing in principle to a
five-year contract worth $37.5 million with center Jeremy Roenick.
"It's a very good fit,"
said Roenick's agent, Neil Abbott. "It's important for Jeremy to
feel a part of something. He wants to win, and he's made no secret of
that. It's an excellent place to be in that regard."
According to the Flyers, Roenick, who will still become an unrestricted
free agent on Sunday, will officially sign on Monday when the contract
will be sent to the NHL for approval. The contract includes a no-trade
clause for the first three years, but there are no bonus clauses beyond
team-wide bonuses. The Coyotes will be awarded a compensatory draft pick
by the league.
The contract is a healthy raise
for Roenick, who earned $5 million last season. The first year of the
deal is worth $8.5 million, and each subsequent year is $500,000 less
with the Flyers paying Roenick $6.5 million in the last season.
When asked about the decreasing
salary increments -- the opposite of most contracts -- Abbott had no
comment.
Despite the scope of the contract,
Abbott added that the decision to sign with Philadelphia was not solely
a financial decision.
"This whole process was not
economical," he said. "Jeremy is happy with what happened, but
it was hockey driven and where he wants to be.
"At this stage in his career,
he wants to compete (for the Cup) and do well."
On Thursday, Phoenix general
manager Cliff Fletcher gave three teams -- Philadelphia, Dallas and
Detroit -- permission to speak with the center. It didn't take long for
the Flyers to finalize the deal with Abbott and Roenick, who was
traveling on Friday to attend his brother's wedding this weekend in
Erie, Pa.
"It was a long night,"
Abbott said.
According to Abbott, those three
teams weren't the only major teams involved. Boston had also been given
permission to negotiate with Roenick.
"Boston was very much a
player, and no one saw them on the list," Abbott said. "That's
a fact."
Roenick, a fleet-footed but tough
center with 408 career goals, might center a line that includes John
LeClair, another talented veteran with a lucrative five-year,
$45-million deal from the Flyers.
"We wish him nothing but the
best of luck in the future with the Philadelphia Flyers," said
Wayne Gretzky, co-owner of the Coyotes.
"This is a move we expected.
We made a decision as an organization to move in a different direction.
As evident by the roster moves we've made over the last few weeks, we
are re-tooling our team in an effort to get younger and add depth to our
roster."
Last season, Roenick scored 30
goals and led the Coyotes with 76 points in 80 games.
The acquisition of Roenick further
distances the Flyers from the Eric Lindros era. If the Flyers can
finalize their agreement with Czech star Jiri Dopita, whose rights they
acquired from Florida at last weekend's NHL draft, Philly will boast
three world-class centers with Keith Primeau being the other.
"We think the strength of our
organization down the middle now is as good as any in the league,"
Flyers general manager Bob Clarke said. "Without strength in the
middle, it's difficult to win in this league."
