Still far apart monetarily, Blackhawks general manager Mike Smith and Tony Amonte’s agent, Mike Gillis, have agreed to halt contract negotiations until after the season.
In theory, this will eliminate a distraction for Amonte for the remainder of the season.
In practice, this will ensure that there will be a steady stream of potentially distracting Amonte rumors from now until the March 19 trading deadline.
The Hawks captain’s contract, which pays him $3.4 million per season, will expire July 1, and he will become an unrestricted free agent.
Thus, if the issue isn’t resolved by then, the Hawks will run the risk of losing their most productive player of the past six seasons without getting anything in return.
New Jersey general manager Lou Lamoriello and Dallas general manager Bob Gainey reportedly are interested in making a deal.
“Nothing has changed,” Smith insisted Monday. “There have been no conversations with other teams concerning Tony.”
Regarding the contract discussions, Smith confirmed that following a meeting with Gillis early this month, “it became apparent that there was no use in trying to continue to negotiate. Both parties agreed we’re going to stop talking about it. We both officially took our offers off the table.
“I don’t think you ever shut the door on anything. But, as it stands, we’re not going to call them and give them another offer, and I don’t think they’ll call us and say they’d like us to make another offer.
“There’s no lingering animosity. It’s no big deal. I’ve talked to Tony, and we’re in agreement. This kind of eliminates the distraction for Tony and the team.”
Amonte and Gillis reportedly rejected a $15.8 million three-year extension and still want a five-year extension worth in the neighborhood of $40 million.
Amonte, who has averaged 37 goals and 71 points over the last six seasons, has played in 352 straight games for the Hawks, the longest consecutive games streak for an active NHL player. In January, he is expected to represent the Hawks in the All-Star Game for the sixth year in a row and, in February, he is expected to be a member of the U.S. Olympic team, as he was in 1998.
Last season, when he became the Hawks’ captain, Amonte’s production dipped to 35 goals and 29 assists. The 64 points were his fewest since 1995-96 when he had 63.
This season, by his high standards, he is off to another slow start–eight goals and 12 assists in 25 games compared with 12 goals and nine assists a year ago.
“I think Tony has done OK,” Smith said. “Our team is having a pretty good year, and it’s not being done by one or two players. It’s a group effort, and Tony has made contributions.”
Spacek sidelined: Defenseman Jaroslav Spacek broke his right index finger during Sunday’s 4-4 tie in Detroit. He has been put on injured reserve for one week after which his condition will be re-evaluated.
Smith and coach Brian Sutter are hoping that defenseman Alexander Karpovtsev will be able to return to the lineup in Wednesday’s home game with Vancouver. Karpovtsev has missed the last three games with a groin injury. If he is unable to play, a replacement will be recalled from the Norfolk farm team in the American Hockey League.
STATS & STUFF
HOME COOKIN’
9
After six winless outings on the road, the Blackhawks are returning to the United Center, where their record is a NHL-best 9-0-2.
WINNING RECIPE
40-21
In outscoring their opponents 40-21 in the 11 home games, the Hawks have outshot them eight times, outhit them nine times and had the upper hand in faceoffs seven times.
The numbers don’t lie
GAME SCORE SHOTS HITS FO%
Pho. 3-0 17-33 22-12 51
Colu. 2-2 30-23 34-29 47
Colo. 4-2 23-16 29-21 48
Calg. 6-3 29-28 25-23 50
SJ 4-2 31-24 24-23 42
Bos. 3-3 36-25 22-21 59
LA 5-1 25-26 31-25 39
Det 5-4 29-18 28-15 50
Phil. 2-1 27-28 23-24 56
Van. 3-1 32-23 30-17 56
SJ 3-2 29-28 24-27 51
(Hawks’ totals listed first)
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EX-HAWK WATCH
You’d have a very productive line if you reunited three players let go by the Hawks during the past 20 months–Atlanta center Pascal Rheaume, lost on waivers last month; Calgary left wing Dean McAmmond, traded to Philadelphia last March; and right wing J.P. Dumont, traded to Buffalo in March, 2000.
Missed production
PLAYER G A PTS
Rheaume 4 4 8
McAmmond 6 15 21
Dumont 9 9 18
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UP NEXT FOR HAWKS
Vs. Vancouver
7:30 p.m. Wednesday
RADIO: WSCR-AM 670.
QUICK LOOK: The Hawks have won two of their three previous meetings with Vancouver, one of the most vulnerable teams in their quest to reach the playoffs. Like the Hawks, the Canucks have been scoring a lot of goals and giving up a lot.
Maple Leafs
Vs. Toronto
7:30 p.m. Friday
RADIO: WSCR-AM 670.
At Toronto
6 p.m. Saturday
TV/RADIO: Fox Sports Net, WSCR-AM 670.
QUICK LOOK: Hawks meet Northeast Division leaders in back-to-back games. Center Mats Sundin is Toronto’s top offensive performer, while goalie Curtis Joseph is the cornerstone of the defense.
At Montreal
6:30 p.m. Monday
TV/RADIO: Fox Sports Net, WSCR-AM 670.
QUICK LOOK: The Canadiens are having a much better season than last year when they were devastated by injuries and finished at the bottom of the Northeast Division. It’s a homecoming of sorts for goalie Jocelyn Thibault, who spent three seasons with Montreal before being acquired by the Hawks in mid-November, 1998.
–Neil Milbert.
