Tuesday, August 6, 2002
Updated: August 7, 10:15 AM ET
Blackhawks, Fleury agree to keep in touch
ESPN.com news services
Unrestricted free agent Theo Fleury left Chicago on Tuesday without a contract offer from the Chicago Blackhawks, according to a report in Wednesday's Chicago Sun-Times.
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On Tuesday, newspapers in both Chicago and Denver reported that Fleury was close to signing a contract with the Blackhawks.
"Theo was in town and I talked with him,'' Blackhawks general manager Mike Smith told the Sun-Times. "You never know about the money, but I talked to Don Baizley [Fleury's agent] before our meeting and I told him I would get in touch with him a day or two after Theo left Chicago.''
On Tuesday, Baizley told the Denver Post "we have no comment on Theoren's situation,'' but denied a deal was imminent.
Fleury spent the past three seasons with the New York Rangers, but was shipped to the San Jose Sharks for a draft choice in the offseason. Fleury could not come to terms on a deal with the Sharks and became an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Fleury has been saddled by personal problems the past few years, including a stay at a drug rehabilitation center in California that wiped out the final third of his 2000-01 season with the Rangers. He was involved in some bizarre incidents last season, including an altercation with the Sharks' mascot during a game in San Jose. Fleury scored 24 goals and had 39 assists for the Rangers last season.
The Blackhawks are in need of a goal scorer after the departure of veteran captain Tony Amonte, who signed with the Phoenix Coyotes in July.
