The agent for free agent Tony Amonte told The New York Times on Saturday that the Rangers and Islanders are the frontrunners to sign the talented right winger.

	Amonte

"There's a pretty good chance it could be either one of those teams," Amonte's agent, Mike Gillis, told The Times, referring to the Islanders and Rangers.

The report, citing several unnamed NHL sources, said both teams would have to make room for Amonte's salary.

The Maple Leafs reportedly broke off negotiations with Amonte earlier this week. Gillis denied a published report Sunday in which Blackhawks general manager Mike Smith said the agent turned down an offer of two years and $12.8 million by Chicago last November.

The Massachusetts-born Amonte, 31, who has scored at least 27 goals for seven straight seasons, was a Ranger from 1991-94. The Rangers traded him in '94 to Chicago, where he has played since. His preference, apparently, is to play in the Northeast.

The Times, citing two unnamed league officials, said the Rangers are entertaining offers for 30-year-old center Petr Nedved in an effort to make room for Amonte and free some money from a payroll that should easily exceed $70 million.

Calgary and Phoenix are believed to be interested in Nedved. The Rangers have interest in three young Calgary defensemen -- Derek Morris, Denis Gauthier and Toni Lydman -- as well as in Phoenix right wing Shane Doan.

The Flames and the Coyotes would probably ask the Rangers to pick up some of Nedved's salary.

Another league official told The Times the Islanders would have to trade one of their top defensemen -- Roman Hamrlik, Kenny Jonsson or Adrian Aucoin -- to afford Amonte, if Amonte agrees to a deal that would pay him closer to $5 million a season.