Like one of his numerous and memorable breakaway scoring jaunts, the Jeremy Roenick sweepstakes came to a swift end Friday morning.
Befitting Roenick’s physical nature and passionate ice demeanor, that end was filled with accusations–however veiled–and acrimony.
Regardless of blame, this much is certain: The Blackhawks traded the rights to Roenick, a restricted free agent and the only player in team history to reach the 100-point mark in three consecutive seasons, to Phoenix.
In exchange, the Hawks acquired the rights to 25-year-old center Alexei Zhamnov–also a restricted free agent–right winger Craig Mills and a first-round pick in the 1997 NHL draft.
The deal not only brings a close to Roenick’s eight-year association with the Hawks, it also ends a lengthy bickering contest between Hawks management and Roenick’s agent, Neil Abbott.
Abbott and Roenick, 26, rejected a five-year, $17.5 million deal offered in April 1995, and negotiations have been anything but pleasant since. Roenick, a four-time All-Star, earned $1.4 million last season in the final year of a five-year contract and reportedly seeks upward of $4.5 million per year in a new deal.
“The situation with Neil Abbott and the Blackhawks got to a situation where we basically had no choice,” said Hawks General Manager Bob Pulford. “I didn’t feel we were going to be able to make a deal, and I don’t know if they even wanted to make a deal.”
With Roenick’s being a restricted free agent, the Hawks retained the right to match any offer sheet tendered to him. Publicly, Pulford and assistant GM Bob Murray adamantly stated they would do just that.
“But I talked to Jeremy once in the last week, and it was questionable whether he wanted to continue (playing in Chicago),” Pulford said. “I don’t feel this was a money situation. For whatever reason, (Neil and Jeremy) decided they didn’t want to play in Chicago again.
“This has a lot to do with his agent. This goes back to almost two years ago when we made them an outstanding offer and got turned down. Things never got back on track.”
Said Abbott: “I’ll accept the slings and arrows thrown my way without responding.”
The Hawks began listening to offers. The Islanders appeared most interested, but Pulford and Murray soured on their package of players. The New York Times reported the Islanders then shied away from an offer sheet because five first-round choices–compensation if the Hawks refused to match–proved too much.
Phoenix entered the talks a month ago. By the way, Phoenix is scheduled to play the Hawks in the United Center Jan. 2.
“Both teams had players in a stalemate situation with too much water under the bridge to mend fences,” said Phoenix General Manager John Paddock. “We’re excited. We didn’t trade for Jeremy to lose him, and we didn’t trade for him to trade him. Jeremy is going to play in Phoenix.”
The deal seems to indicate a change in style for the Hawks–from its traditional physical, forechecking play to one of finesse. Zhamnov perhaps best exemplifies this style.
A brilliant stick-handler, the 6-foot-1-inch, 195-pound Russian finished third in the league in scoring with 65 points in the strike-shortened, 48-game season of 1994-95. He scored 22 goals and had 59 points in 58 games last season, missing 24 games with back problems.
“Zhamnov doesn’t have the physical aspect of some of the other centers, like Roenick, but he has every bit as much talent,” said Pulford. “If we get a good player (with the draft pick), this is a good deal for the Blackhawks for a long time.”
Like Roenick, Zhamnov is a restricted free agent and made $970,000 last season. Zhamnov’s agent, Ron Salcer, reportedly was asking for $2.5 million per season, but he’ll have substantially more leverage now that the Hawks have traded their most popular player for his client.
“In this time in the NHL, you have problems signing anybody,” said Pulford. “But I think we will get him signed.”
Mills, who has played the last three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, is classified by Murray as “a grinding prospect.” Hawks coach Craig Hartsburg indicated the team may not be done making deals.
“Obviously, Zhamnov is not going to fit the bill as a checking center,” Hartsburg said.
The Hawks also on Friday signed 35-year-old center Denis Savard to a one-year contract, terms of which were not disclosed. The Hawks were rumored to be leaning toward not re-signing Savard, but depth–especially with the losses of Joe Murphy and Bernie Nicholls to free agency–is now a concern.
“We feel we got fair value for Jeremy,” Pulford said. “Zhamnov is a top center in the NHL, and so is Roenick.”
While Pulford would not divulge the specifics of his talk with Roenick, he did hint that the acrimonious nature of negotiations will never overshadow Roenick’s impact in Chicago.
“JR was a great player for the Hawks, and we can’t forget that,” Pulford said. “We thank him very much for his years with us. We’re not knocking Jeremy, and anybody who would is wrong.”
