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Roenick waffles on retirement
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It\'s unclear whether the Phoenix Coyotes\' Jeremy Roenick will play next season.
The Associated Press
Apparently, Jeremy Roenick hasn’t made up his mind about retirement just yet. Despite sending a text message to the Philadelphia Inquirer earlier this month that read, “I’m retiring; is that still news?”, Roenick’s agent on Monday issued a statement to The Hockey News contradicting that report.
“Jeremy is considering all of his options, including retirement, (but) has made no final decision,” Neil Abbott said. “A formal announcement will be made in the next few weeks as to Jeremy’s plans.”
Abbott added Roenick, 37, would not be responding to any interview requests “due to the recent untimely death of his father-in-law,” Richard R. Vazza Sr.
Vazza, 66, was found dead on a yacht Tuesday in Falmouth Harbor, Mass. State police told the Cape Cod Times their investigation revealed the Boston-based real estate developer died of natural causes.
The statement also said Roenick was “appreciative for the many hundreds of positive messages he has received from fans and friends” since July 4, when it was first reported he was retiring.
Messages left for Abbott were not returned.
Roenick, who spent six of his 18 seasons in the NHL with the Coyotes, is an unrestricted free agent and five goals shy of 500 for his career.
JONES SIGNS
Defenseman Matt Jones has agreed to a one-year contract worth $522,500.
The 23-year-old split time with Phoenix and San Antonio of the American Hockey League last season. In 44 games with the Coyotes, the stay-at-home defenseman had one goal and six points and was a minus-13.
That leaves defenseman Keith Ballard and forward Joel Perrault as the club’s only unsigned restricted free agents. One-year qualifying offers were extended to each player last month, but those expired Sunday.
The Coyotes and Ballard’s agent, Ben Hankinson, are working on hammering out a long-term deal.
CORRECTION
A story in Saturday’s Tribune should have said that forward Bill Thomas’ salary for next season is worth $803,000.
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