Tony Amonte
1174gp - 516 goals - 484 assists - 900 points
Best Season: 1999-00, 43 goals, 41 assists, 84 points
Amonte began his career with the New York Rangers in 1991, and was projected to team up with fellow Rangers prospect, Doug Weight, to be key Rangers for years to come. Although neither player was around for the 1994 Stanley Cup, Amonte played a key role, having been traded at the trade deadline to the Chicago Black Hawks for Stephane Matteau and Brian Noonan. Amonte had his best years in Chicago, topping 40 goals three times and also finishing in the top 3 in goals in back-to-back seasons in 1999 and 2000.
Amonte left the Black Hawks as a free agent, signing with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2002, a contract that would pay him $5.8 million a season. Amonte struggled with the Coyotes and was shipped to the Philadelphia Flyers in a trade deadline deal. Amonte started strong with the Flyers, earning 15 points in 13 games before the play-offs, but was no longer an elite scorer.
After the lock-out of 2004, a salary cap was introduced. The Flyers were over the cap and bought out the remaining year on Amonte's contract. Amonte signed a two year contract with the Calgary Flames and would progressively set career lows in goals and points in his two seasons with the Flames. He would retire in 2007.
Amonte scored his biggest goal, not in the NHL, but in the World Cup of hockey in 1996. In the final game in a best of three games, Team USA was down to Team Canada late in the third period. A tip by Brett Hull tied the game with 3:18 left. Amonte, along with Bryan Smolinksi and John LeClair had a dominating shift that ended with Amonte shoveling the puck past Curtis Joseph into the back of the net with 2:35 left. Team USA would complete the upset by adding two more goals, to win 5-2.
Tony - part of the RAM line with Roenick and Joe Murphy.
ReplyDeleteI have a sheet for Roenick but never thought about Joe Murphy. I remember him best as part of the Kid Line in Edmonton during the 1990s playoffs.
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