The Third Man In - An Independent Chicago Blackhawks Web Site

Bob Verdi of the Chicago Tribune wrote a nice article today about Jeremy Roenick and the latter's interest in returning to the organization, possibly in an ambassador role.

While not stated, today (August 16th) is actually the 13th anniversary of the trade which sent Roenick to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for Alexei Zhamnov and Craig Mills (who Blackhawks fans were sold a bad bill of goods containing promises Mills was a spitting image of Roenick on the ice). 

Also in that trade, the Hawks received the Coyotes 1997 1st round draft pick.  The team drafted a position of weakness, power forward, and a player, Ty Jones, who'd promptly be given Jeremy Roenick's former sweater number 27.  Jones, of course, never amounted to anything and was quickly out of hockey all together.

Upon arriving in Arizona, Roenick conceded his familiar number 27 to Coyotes/Winnipeg Jets mainstay defenseman Teppo Numminen and switched the the number he'd keep until eventually finishing his career in San Jose, where he dawned the number twenty-seven for the final two seasons of his 20-year NHL career.

Why all this talk of sweater numbers?  In Verdi's piece today in the Tribune, Roenick is once again campaigning for the Blackhawks to retire his number 27.

-- He played in over 1,000 NHL games, scored 342 NHL goals, was a member (he was on the roster) of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers, Sidney Crosby's first head coach, a former Blackhawks 1st round draft pick, Chicagoan and current Blackhawks, VERSUS and NHL television color analyst Eddie Olczyk is celebrating birthday number 43 today.  (I believe I'm required to mention all those whenever speaking of Mr. Ed)

-- James Black turned 40 yesterday.... Neil Wilkinson turned 42 Saturday.... Ivan Boldirev turned the big 60 as well yesterday....

-- Blackhawks signed un-restricted free agent Darren Pang to a contract on August 15, 1984.

And those following the Theo Fleury comeback trail would be interested to know it was seven years ago yesterday that Blackhawks' general manager Mike Smith signed Fleury to a two-year deal worth $8.5 million as part of the team's effort to replace the departed Tony Amonte's scoring.  Amonte was allowed to test free agency and signed with the Phoenix Coyotes two months earlier.

Of course Fleury's run with the Hawks was marred by incidents.  He reported his own substance abuse aftercare violation just two days prior to the start of the 2002-03 season and was suspended for 25 games.  Then in January Fleury and several Blackhawks were out at a gentleman's club in Columbus, Ohio when Fleury allegedly became drunk and unruly and eventually got into a fight with two of the club's bouncers.  Somehow Fleury escaped suspension and another aftercare violation stemming from the incident.  Fleury's Chicago career consisted of 54 games, 12 goals and 33 points.  Fleury was suspended indefinitely by the league five days after the end of the 2002-03 regular season and has been absent from the NHL ever since.

Winning the battle with the bottle Fleury aims for NHL comeback  Donna Spencer, Canadian Press

NHL.com  At 41, Fleury hopes for NHL comeback

There's still a Flame in Fleury  George Johnson, National Post

Tough road, Fleury to jump through plenty of hoops first  Eric Francis, Edmonton Sun

Darryl Sutter, Flames GM, says 'good-luck' but it won't be in Calgary

More here from the Calgary Herald and AP.  And here from Vicki Hall (with current Fleury on-ice photo).

Impossible dream?  Steve MacFarlane, Edmonton Sun

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