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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."
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Fri., June 29
Jeremy Roenick knew the writing was on the wall in Phoenix before the season ended because the Coyotes' first contract offer was worth the same amount of money he was already making.
Now in Philadelphia, Roenick will combine with Keith Primeau to give the Flyers two great power centers. No one will be able to match their power down the middle. If the Flyers get into a tough series, Roenick and Primeau are about as good as it gets. They play big and can put up significant numbers.
Besides giving the Flyers another great center, the addition of Roenick relieves GM Bob Clarke of the obligation to get a center in return when they trade Eric Lindros. They can now deal Lindros to shore up their blue line.
The Flyers still have money and may not be finished in the free-agent market. The Flyers could go after Sean O'Donnell or Bob Boughner, giving them more grit and depth. But they won't be a solid contending team until they get help on the blue line.
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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."
Brian A. Shactman covers the NHL for ESPN.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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