Inside the NHL

Quick Fix  

A trade to Philly gave Tony Amonte and the Flyers' offense a needed lift

By Stephen Cannella

In mid-February, Coyotes general manager Mike Barnett asked wing Tony Amonte point-blank, "Do you want out of Phoenix?" A 30-goal scorer eight times in 12 seasons through 2001-02, Amonte signed a four-year, $24 million free-agent contract last July, but his first season as a Coyote was a bust. He was on pace to score fewer than 20 goals. Still, he told Barnett he was determined to make things work in Phoenix.

In six games with his new club, Amonte (left) scored four goals and energized the power play.  Miles Kennedy/AP Photo

But on March 10 Barnett, who was eager to shed salary because his team had fallen out of the playoff picture, told the 32-year-old Amonte that the Coyotes wanted to send him to the postseason-bound Flyers for two draft picks and a minor league forward. Because he had a no-trade clause in his contract, Amonte could nix the deal. "When I heard it was Philly," says Amonte, "I knew I had to go."

Lost in the desert a month ago, Amonte has regained his scorer's touch. Playing on a line centered by his high school buddy and former Blackhawks teammate, Jeremy Roenick, Amonte had four goals and four assists in his first six games with Philadelphia. "I feel refreshed," he says.

So do the Flyers, who sputtered on offense much of the season. With the addition of Amonte, one of the league's speediest skaters, Philadelphia can roll out three top-notch lines. Since Amonte's arrival the Flyers have averaged 3.3 goals per game, compared with 2.3 before the deal. "We've been able to create more opportunities off the rush," says coach Ken Hitchcock.

Most important for the Flyers' Cup chances -- at week's end they were 39-20-11-4, four points behind the Devils for first place in the Atlantic Division -- Amonte has breathed life into a dismal power play. Before the trade Philadelphia was 27th in the league in man-advantage efficiency (13.3%); with Amonte the club converted six of 24 power plays. Amonte scored one of those goals and assisted on three others.

Issue date: March 31, 2003

For more Inside the NHL see this week's issue of Sports Illustrated, on newsstands Wednesday, March 26. Click here to subscribe to SI.

 

Related information

Stories

Inside College Football: Stepping Up Inside Motor Sports: Hard-driving Inside the NBA: Joe's Boys March 31, 2003 Issue of Sports Illustrated The Magazine: Current Issue and Archives

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video