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What's next for LeClair? Flyers prepared for winger to go his own way
VOORHEES, N.J. (AP) -- Philadelphia Flyers left wing John LeClair spoke about his contract status for the first time since last September on Tuesday, and indicated he wasn't much closer to making a decision. LeClair, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, said he hasn't ruled out signing with the Flyers. However, there's a good chance he will wait and test the open market before making a final choice.' The Flyers face the possibility that LeClair has played his last game for them. "I haven't approached it with that mindframe," LeClair said, "like this could be the last time or anything like that." General manager Bob Clarke is hopeful the Flyers can get something worked out with LeClair's agent, Lewis Gross, before the July 1 deadline. There are several question marks. LeClair admitted he isn't sure where he fits into the team's future plans (Simon Gagne is now considered the team's No. 1 left wing). And he doesn't know what the Flyers' chances are of winning a Stanley Cup. "A big factor is how I think and how I feel are my chances of winning," LeClair said. "Philadelphia is always a team that has a chance of winning. Obviously, they would be high on the list." LeClair said a deal could have been worked out last summer. But when he didn't get what he felt was a satisfactory offer, he went to arbitration and received a one-year, $7 million contract. "Both sides were close enough that a deal could have been done," LeClair said. "Now I don't know what's going to happen. Last year, free agency was nine months away. Now it's six weeks or whatever ... it's a lot closer. It seems a lot more realistic." He has mixed feelings about playing in another city. "Sometimes, you think all good things have to end sooner or later," he said. "You also can feel there's some unfinished business. I've been here seven years, put a lot of time and effort into this organization and we still haven't won a Stanley Cup. You feel you haven't accomplished what you set out to do." Clarke insists the Flyers want to get LeClair signed. "We've tried before and we're going to keep trying," Clarke said. "He's important to us." According to Clarke, the Flyers' original offer to LeClair was for more than $9 million per year. The original counterproposal by LeClair and Gross was believed to be more than $10 million. Both sides say talks are continuing.
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