The Washington Capitals were angered Friday when six-time all-star center Jeremy Roenick announced a contract agreement with the Philadelphia Flyers, the Washington Post reported. Unrestricted free agents such as Roenick were not officially eligible to negotiate with any NHL team until Sunday.
"We're indignant," Capitals general manager George McPhee told the newspaper. "We play by the rules; always have, always will. No one is supposed to be able to do a deal until Sunday. This transaction is inconsistent with the terms of the CBA [collective bargaining agreement]. It reeks of impropriety."
McPhee said the Capitals were prepared to top the offer the Flyers gave Roenick, who played youth hockey briefly in this area. Roenick has agreed to a reported five-year deal worth $37.5 million but cannot officially sign the contract until Sunday.
"This was probably done two weeks ago when the player spent a week in Philadelphia," McPhee said. "A lot of teams could not even get to the starting line in this deal, and we would have been a bidder. Ted would have beat that deal. This shouldn't be allowed to stand."
The Capitals have made acquiring a top center their main priority this offseason; owner Ted Leonsis has been adamant about his desire to add more skill to the club after successive first-round playoff defeats. The Capitals, who made a bid to acquire Roenick in 1996, have never landed a top free agent in the 27-year history of the franchise but appear to have a desire to change that this summer.
Roenick, who has 947 points in 908 career games, technically is under contract to the Coyotes until Sunday, but the 31-year-old made it clear he would not re-sign with that club and was able to circumvent the July 1 date when Phoenix management initially gave him permission to begin negotiating with three teams -- Dallas, Detroit and Philadelphia -- all of whom called to ask permission. Many teams were not aware such early calls were being made, and Red Wings Senior Vice President Jimmy Devellano said his team made offers only after hearing a rumor Dallas was already negotiating with Roenick.
Coyotes General Manager "Cliff Fletcher was a gentleman," Devellano said. "He knew he could not re-sign the player, and he gave permission to every team that asked."
The Capitals received a call from Roenick's agent, Neil Abbott, on Wednesday letting them know every team now had permission to speak with the player. Sources said Washington expressed interest at that time but, in the spirit of the CBA, was set to make its offer on July 1 and not before.
Nothing precludes another team from making an offer until his new contract is signed and filed with the league, which cannot take place until Sunday. Sources said the Capitals called Abbott twice after yesterday's news conference to extend an offer and did not receive a return call. No tampering took place because the Flyers had permission from Phoenix to speak with the player, according to the league.
"A press conference does not represent a valid, bonding, registered contract," Frank Borwn, an NHL spokesman, said in response to yesterday's events in Philadelphia.
McPhee said he plans to be active in discussions with other free agents next week and also has held trade talks in pursuit of more offensive talent. The Capitals discussed getting Alexei Yashin from Ottawa and Michael Peca from Buffalo, but both went to the Islanders.
Roenick topped the Capitals' free agent wish list, NHL sources said, and they were prepared to offer him $7.5-$8 million a season Sunday. Now, St. Louis free agent center Pierre Turgeon heads their list. Turgeon likely will command a salary similar to Roenick's, with several teams in the hunt for him.
The Capitals have talked to Boston about re-acquiring center Jason Allison, but for now the Bruins are asking for three to four players in return, sources said. Edmonton is exploring trading star center Doug Weight, who is eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer, and Pittsburgh could part with restricted free agent forward Alexei Kovalev and/or Robert Lang. All of those options will be pursued if Washington fails to sign a free agent.
Washington's current top center, Adam Oates, would prefer to play elsewhere next season, sources said, but the club will exercise a $3 million option on the disgruntled team captain today. Should Washington be unable to land a top center, the likelihood of Oates returning will increase. There also is a deep crop of available quality wingers, including Keith Tkachuk, Luc Robitaille, Alexander Mogilny and Brett Hull; all would add a scoring touch to the club.
"Our objective is to do whatever we can to improve our hockey club," McPhee said. "We're involved in everything."
The Capitals are continuing talks with winger Ulf Dahlen, their lone player eligible for unrestricted free agency, but the chances of getting a deal done before July 1 are bleak. The sides are about $500,000 apart. Dahlen, 34, who scored 15 goals as part of a top checking line, earned $1 million last season but is seeking about $2 million a season, league sources said.
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