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Sunday, June 24, 2001
Flyers secure deal with top Czech player
Associated Press
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SUNRISE, Fla. -- The Philadelphia Flyers acquired the rights to unsigned center Jiri Dopita from the Florida Panthers for a 2001 second-round pick on Saturday.
"He seemed to have an aversion to sun, beaches and sand, so we
moved him on," Panthers general manager Bill Torrey said.
Dopita, regarded as the best foward playing outside the NHL, was drafted by Boston in 1992 and the New York Islanders
in 1998 but couldn't reach financial terms. The Islanders traded
his rights to Florida last year for a fifth-round draft pick.
The Panthers also couldn't sign the 32-year old Czech Elite League star, who did reach a tentative agreement Saturday with the Flyers.
Dopita's agent, Petr Svoboda, said his client's close friendship
with Flyers goalie Roman Cechmanek, also a longtime Czech player,
played a part in the decision to join the Flyers.
"I've tried since 1992 -- two drafts, three trades -- but this
time he's coming," Svoboda said.
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