Last month, Conor Garland’s agent indicated there had been no progress in contract discussions between the Coyotes and the pending restricted free agent. It appears nothing has changed on that front as David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period relays (Twitter link) that there still have been no contract talks between the two sides and that Arizona appears to be trying to move him. The 25-year-old is coming off a career year that saw him collect 12 goals and 27 assists in 49 games but is arbitration-eligible for the first time. On the surface, it would appear as if the Coyotes are concerned about what contract he could be awarded in a hearing which makes him a name to watch for heading into Saturday’s transactions freeze.
Elsewhere in the Central Division:
- The Blackhawks have given the agent for forward Maxim Shalunov permission to speak to other NHL teams about finding a trade for his rights, reports Scott Powers of The Athletic (subscription link). Whether or not the 28-year-old will come back to North America (he played in the minors in 2013-14) has seemingly been an annual tradition for the last several years but with Chicago’s forward depth, there really isn’t a spot for him even if they wanted to sign him. Shalunov had 18 goals and 17 assists in 52 games with CSKA Moscow in the KHL this season and could be an intriguing acquisition for someone; Powers suggests that the asking price from Chicago wouldn’t be too high in order to give him a chance to try the NHL if they don’t have a spot for him.
- One player whose stock may have been boosted by the playoffs is Stars blueliner Jamie Oleksiak. Between that and recent contracts handed out to similar players, Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas Morning News posits that the 28-year-old pending unrestricted free agent should be able to land a contract of $3.5MM or more on the open market. That may be more than Dallas can afford knowing that Miro Heiskanen is up for a big-ticket contract in his first trip through restricted free agency this summer. Oleksiak told DeFranks that things have been quiet so in terms of discussions on a new deal.
Arizona..the dumpster fire of the NHL..can’t even get Garland resigned. Literally their best player (and that really ain’t saying much) and they can’t sign him.
Nah atleast theyve made some playoff appearances. I still think the dumpster fire award goes to Buffalo
Ahh good point I forget how inept Buffalo has been as an organization. I won’t lie if the Oilers hadn’t of gotten McDavid we’d be sharing that dumpster with them.
Oilers still had Drai. Probably in better spot, but still meh. Not that they are much better at this time.
The team that had its own players caught on camera in an Uber trashing talking it, as well as had its owner trash talk fans during their only recent playoff run, has entered the conversation.
And it’s weird. Sure, they’ve got a lot of roster spots to fill, but they also have plenty of cap space. Yeah, Garland’s due to pocket $6 million or thereabouts, but they can AFFORD that. It’s not as if they were going to give contracts more than a million or two to anyone else other than Goligoski or Hill, and Goligoski at least won’t be worth more than a two year deal. And they’ve got $30 million to play with, even without moving OEL. Why stiff Garland?
NBA trang, ya, they have about 30M in space available. But they also only have about 10 NHL guys signed. Meaning they need to sign about 17 guys just to field a NHL caliber team and at least 13 to ice a team. So roughly 2.3M per player needed. Sure some will be cheap 3rd or 4th line guys scraping the bottom of the barrel, but you can’t do that throughout your lineup and expect to be competitive. And you can’t expect fans to come if you aren’t icing a somewhat competitive team.
For every guy they sign to a 3M contract means they have to sign another at near league minimum. Successful teams can’t manage to do that for long. And the ‘Yotes don’t have much in the pipes or many picks. They’re in a bit of a pickle.
Arizona has 14 guys signed to NHL contracts, actually. Sign five more guys to a million or less (which is about what they’d want to do), and that leaves $25 mm among FOUR more NHL contracts. Which means that they can not only give Garland the money, but give three other guys that much money too. Which they really do need to get guys of that caliber if, after all, they plan on being competitive.
And if they don’t want to give young, consistent players the going rate, well. Then they’re not going to be successful.
And really, they just threw the towel in on the season: trading for LADD’s contract, for pity’s sake. I can just see Garland’s agent with his hands on his hips right now, sneering, “Really??”
Everyone wants to play IN Arizona, but not FOR Arizona. If the management can ever find the medium, they’ll be the best team ever. Unfortunately they keep hiring inept management too.
Sabres need to be all over Garland and KEEP EICHEL. Move Reinhart to Vancouver for their 9th and a prospect. I’m not a fan of “Meatballs” but maybe it’ll work as the Sabres are young. Now if only they can solve the goalie situation!