| | SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Phoenix Coyotes traded veteran right wing Rick Tocchet to the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday for right wing Mikael Renberg.
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| Tocchet |
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| Renberg |
Tocchet, 35, was originally drafted by the Flyers in 1983, playing seven seasons before being traded to Pittsburgh in 1992.
"It's a win-win situation for everybody," Tocchet said as he cleaned out his locker at the Coyotes' practice rink. "I get to finish my career in a city where I had a lot of success and a lot of fun. It's a world-class organization."
Signed by Phoenix as a free agent in July 1997 after stops in Los Angeles, Boston and Washington, Tocchet had 64 goals, 66 assists and 371 penalty minutes in 213 games.
"He's got grit and he's nasty in front of the other team's net," Flyers general manager Bob Clarke said. "He has always been a good team player, the team has always comes first. He'll help us. He's won a Stanley Cup."
Clarke wasted little time in making a deal after losing the bidding for Ray Bourque to the Colorado Avalanche on Monday.
Tocchet, who is not expected to play Thursday night against Washington, was scheduled to become a free agent after this season and had long been rumored to be on Phoenix's trading block before next week's trade deadline.
"I'm ecstatic," Tocchet said. "The Flyers' organization is world-class. You're talking about world-class players. You go down the list of players -- (Eric) Lindros, (John) LeClair, (Mark) Recchi. I can't say enough. It's definitely a team that has to be favored to win the Stanley Cup."
Renberg, 27, was drafted by Philadelphia in 1990 and led NHL rookies with 38 goals in the 1993-94 season. He was traded to Tampa Bay in August 1997 and reacquired by the Flyers in December 1998 in a three-player deal.
"Mikael has to score to be effective," Clarke said. "I don't know. His work ethic was good and he seemed to get chances. Maybe the Western style is more open and will help him."
Renberg is expected to join the Coyotes on Thursday and might play that night at home against the New York Islanders. | |
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