| | Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA -- John LeClair, the Philadelphia forward who
won the largest arbitration award in NHL history, met with team
officials Wednesday to discuss a long-term deal.
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| LeClair |
"I think the meeting was amicable but unproductive," Flyers
general manager Bob Clarke said after the two-hour meeting.
LeClair got a one-year deal for $7 million because of the
arbitrator's decision in August; he was seeking $9 million and the
team had offered $4.6 million. The one-year contract allows the
former 50-goal scorer to become an unrestricted free agent July 1.
"It's always been our hope to try and get John signed to a
long-term deal," Clarke said. He said he planned to speak to
LeClair's agent, Lewis S. Gross, by phone on Friday. LeClair has
set a deadline of Sept. 10 for working out a trade; that is also
the first day of the Flyers' on-ice training camp.
Clarke said he is not sure what the team will do if it cannot
work out a deal with LeClair.
"We don't have any planned course of action; trading John is
one of the options," Clarke said. "In the meantime, we're just
going to get prepared for the season and John will be part of the
Flyers."
Gross did not immediately return a phone message left after
business hours Wednesday.
LeClair had 40 goals and 37 assists in 82 games last season.
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