Andrew Barroway Now Sole Owner Of Coyotes
According to Crag Morgan of Arizona Sports, Andrew Barroway completed his buyout and is now sole owner of the Arizona Coyotes franchise. Back in March, it was reported that Barroway had been given the opportunity to buy the shares of the minority owners, and had until June 6th to submit an offer. He did just that, and is now completely in control of the Coyotes organization.
Just this morning, John Shannon of Sportsnet reported on Twitter that the team was considering a partnership with the Phoenix Suns on a new arena deal, though Morgan’s report that “any talk of a partnership with the Suns is still considered premature” throws some cold water on that idea. Somehow, the team needs to find a new arena after their move to Glendale has been regarded as somewhat of a disaster. Earlier this year NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman wrote in a letter to Arizona legislators a clear message:
For the past 15 years, a succession of ownership groups and the League have tried everything imaginable to make the Glendale location financially sustainable. Our combined efforts have all yielded the same result—a consistent economic loss. The simple truth? The Arizona Coyotes must have a new arena location to succeed. The Coyotes cannot and will not remain in Glendale.
Barroway and whoever he installs as the new team President and CEO—Anthony LeBlanc will be finished at the end of the month along with the rest of the minority owners—will have a new arena at the top of their to-do list, with a return to downtown Phoenix the expected result.
Free Agent Focus: Arizona Coyotes
The free agent period is now less than one month away from opening up and there are several prominent players set to hit the open market while many teams have key restricted free agents to re-sign. Here is a breakdown of Arizona’s free agent situation.
Key Restricted Free Agents: F Anthony Duclair – 2016-17 was a tough season for the 21 year old. After putting up 20 goals and 44 points in 81 games in his first season in the desert, he had just five goals and 15 points in 58 NHL contests this season. He was also sent to the AHL where he managed just a single tally in 16 games. Given the success he had prior to this past season, he could still make a case that he’s worthy of a decent raise coming off his entry-level deal. His struggles have led to some speculation that he could be dealt during the offseason. If he’s not, a one year contract would be a likely outcome to see if he gets back to his sophomore season form before giving him a sizable pay jump.
F Alexander Burmistrov – The Russian center made a pretty good impression after being picked up off the waiver wire from Winnipeg, collecting 14 points in 26 games while seeing his ice time jump to over 15 minutes per game. However, he is due a qualifying offer of $1.6MM which may be a bit too high for Arizona’s liking considering how much he struggled with the Jets. GM John Chayka will have a decision to make as to whether he’s worth that qualifier or whether they’d be better suited to not tender him one and then try to negotiate a cheaper deal later on.
Other RFAs: F Grayson Downing, F Tyler Gaudet, F Peter Holland, F Josh Jooris, G Marek Langhamer, F Jordan Martinook, F Jeremy Morin, F Mitch Moroz, F Teemu Pulkkinen, F Branden Troock
Key Unrestricted Free Agents: F Shane Doan – While he’s coming off a down season, there’s no doubting that Doan remains the face of the franchise in Arizona. The 40 year old has suggested in the past that he wouldn’t likely go elsewhere in free agency (although he was reportedly open to moving as a rental player at the trade deadline if the perfect situation were to come up). If he were to sign on for another season, it would likely come at a rate below the $3.86MM base salary (before performance and signing bonus deferred payments) he earned this past season.
F Radim Vrbata – Vrbata is coming off a resurgent season after returning to the desert on a one year, incentive-laden contract last offseason. With 55 points, he’s the second highest point producer that’s slated to hit the open market; only Washington’s T.J. Oshie (56) had more. The soon-to-be 36 year old has had success in each of his three stints with the Coyotes but has been inconsistent when he’s with other organizations. Despite that, the weak free agent market should help him land a lot more than the $1MM in guaranteed money he settled for last summer.
Other UFAs: D Jamie McBain, D Zbynek Michalek, F Chris Mueller, F Garret Ross, D Jarred Tinordi, F Joe Whitney
Projected Cap Space: After finishing the season in LTIR with zero cap space having taken on several large contracts for players who weren’t playing for them, Arizona has just over $47MM committed to 17 players per CapFriendly, giving them plenty of room to work with under the cap. However, they’re a lower budget team so it’s not likely that they’ll be adding big ticket deals in free agency but it wouldn’t be surprising to see them try to take on a cumbersome deal for a player who’s out long-term in exchange for a younger asset, something Chayka has already done in his brief stint as GM.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Mike Smith Submits No-Trade List; Coyotes Listening To Potential Offers
Pierre LeBrun of TSN in both Insider Trading and on Twitter that the Arizona Coyotes are indeed listening to offers on goaltender Mike Smith, despite calling him their “rock” recently. LeBrun reports that at least three teams, including the Calgary Flames, have already made inquiries. Smith, who has a no-trade clause that allows him to block deals to eight teams has recently submitted his new list.
All season, GM John Chayka has spoken about how he isn’t keen on trading Smith as he considers solid goaltending to be part of the development process. That said, he’s willing to admit that if someone offers them something substantial for the goaltender he’d have to listen. The Coyotes, who will likely want to stop rebuilding and contend for the playoffs in the very near future, have to decide whether Smith can be effective when they’re ready to do just that. Already 35-years old, Smith is coming off an All-Star season and has two years remaining on his contract. He may still have some substantial value, especially to teams like Calgary who think they can contend for the Stanley Cup with some improvement in net.
Smith has been in Arizona for six seasons, putting up a solid .916 over that time and even garnering Vezina votes in 2012. If he were moved, the goaltending torch could be passed to Louis Domingue, though it’s not clear he has the ability to be an above average starter in the league. The Coyotes also have Adin Hill on the way, but it will still be several years until he’s ready for an impact role with the team.
On Calgary in particular, LeBrun mentions that he thinks their first choice would be Marc-Andre Fleury. There have been many reports that Fleury is already ticketed for Vegas, but perhaps the Flames could come in and offer even more for him at the last minute. When Ben Bishop and Scott Darling were traded for and signed by Dallas and Carolina respectively, it removed two other options from the Flames’ board, leaving players like Smith as a sort of back-up plan should they be unable to land anyone else.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson Not Available In Trade
Though many fans and media members alike have wondered if the Arizona Coyotes, after another disappointing season where they won just 30 games, would trade their best player and supremely talented defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, one insider has been told no chance. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet has inquired on whether or not Ekman-Larsson would be available this summer, and was told “no.” As we’ve seen before this doesn’t completely close the door—just ask P.K. Subban—but it does indicate that the Coyotes are looking to compete sooner rather than later. 
Ekman-Larsson has just two seasons left on his current deal before potentially hitting the open market as a 27-year old in 2019. Currently earning just $5.5MM per season, he would certainly command a much bigger salary and likely be one of the top names on the open market (depending on what happens with Erik Karlsson and others). If the Coyotes don’t believe they can re-sign him long-term, moving him isn’t out of the question over the next few seasons. If the young group that GM John Chayka and his front office have built can mesh quickly, they could show that the future is bright with Ekman-Larsson manning the blue line for years to come. If Shane Doan does retire, the Swedish defender would likely be up for the captain’s “C” as well.
The Coyotes, likely in an attempt to sway Ekman-Larsson’s decision, recently signed his brother Kevin Ekman-Larsson out of the Swedish Allsvenskan. The younger brother is smaller and less talented than his NHL sibling, and thus has signed just an AHL contract to play with the Tucson Roadrunners next year. Trading OEL just months later seems entirely out of the question.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Evening Notes: Chayka, Boogaard, Oilers
Coyotes GM John Chayka spoke with Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports and provided decent insight into the team’s strategy headed into the summer. Chayka is the youngest general manager in the league and has become infamous for his cap management strategies. Chayka seems highly interested in acquiring a player from a team worried about losing an asset for nothing. Although many other GMs will be seeking to accomplish similar deals, Chayka looks to be relatively aggressive on this front. He tempered Mike Smith trade speculation, saying “there’s a value to our team that Mike has, being an All-Star and our rock; his value is extremely high but if someone wants to pay an even higher value for him, that’s the industry.” There is also no news as to Shane Doan‘s retirement decision. Chayka emphasized the increasing urgency among all GMs as the expansion draft seems to have every organization slightly on edge.
- The case for wrongful death filed against the NHL on behalf of the late Derek Boogaard has been tossed out, according to the Star-Tribune. Boogaard died at the age of 28, after a long enforcer career with the Minnesota Wild and New York Rangers. He received multiple brain injuries and relied on opioid pain killers as treatment, which led to an addiction that eventually resulted in his demise. Fighting has declined substantially over recent years in the NHL, as both the NHL and NHLPA are looking to reduce incidents of traumatic brain injury. The debate over the role of violence in the sport remains a hot-button issue, but players still generally vote in favor of fisticuffs when surveyed. That the Boogaard case has been dismissed on technicalities is a setback for safety advocates, as there is a looming lawsuit in U.S. courts which seeks to prove that the league has been reckless in its regard for player safety in relation to concussions. Whether these off-ice lawsuits will impact the next Collective Bargaining Agreement, or the way penalties are called, remains to be seen.
- The NHL released the results of a fan vote for the greatest team of all time in honor of the 100 year anniversary – with the 1984-85 Edmonton Oilers taking top honors. The 1991-92 Pittsburgh Penguins came in at number two, followed by the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens.
Mike Smith Potentially Available
Arizona goaltender Mike Smith could well be available, after he was heavily shielded from discussions at the trade deadline. According to Nick Kypreos, Arizona is circling back to the discussions after re-evaluating their team. Management believes Smith is in “win-now” mode, and with the team opting to go with a total youth movement, getting assets for Smith could be quite enticing. If the team were to unload Smith for prospects or picks, it would make the Coyotes’ ability to compete far less likely next season. The team is in a particularly difficult position because of their unique ownership struggles over the years. Fans always want to see a competitive squad on the ice, and with the possible retirement of Shane Doan looming, trading their next most recognizable player would be a tough sell.
Smith has a career save percentage of .916, with a solid two seasons behind him. These past two years were a welcome improvement over his terrible 2014-15 outing, in which he led the league in losses and goals against. No season has been as spectacular as his first in the desert, 2011-12, when he even entered the Vezina conversation with a .930 save percentage and 38 wins before leading the team to the Western Conference Finals. Smith has been known for his ultra-competitive attitude and incredible athleticism, but been criticized for his inconsistency. Arizona coach Dave Tippett has often come to his defense, even in the lean years, giving him the spotlight and credit on numerous occasions.
The market for Smith could be quite limited, and as mentioned previously, he is probably worth more to the franchise in fan engagement alone than the assets he might return. The only two teams who still absolutely need a #1 goaltender are the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets, with the possibility that Philadelphia could have interest. The last time Philadelphia opted to go with a Tippett-led goaltender, Ilya Bryzgalov, the transition was the opposite of smooth. Winnipeg is renowned for its reluctance to engage in trades, as GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has often balked at transactions and taken a conservative approach to team-building. Calgary is indeed desperate for a veteran tender, and the fit there would likely be the most conceivable, if difficult due to intra-divisional competition. If Calgary were willing to move a substantial piece to land Smith, however, it stands to question whether they are truly on the cusp of contending. The market simply isn’t there for Mike Smith at the moment, though during a new season, injuries and poor performances always leave teams scrambling for help in the crease.
Shane Doan Era Nearing Conclusion
Although it’s certainly not the biggest issue Arizona management will face this off-season, it could well be the end of an era for the team. Shane Doan has captained the franchise for the last 14 years, but has seen the team reach the franchise reach the conference finals only once. Doan is the rare example of a player who is far more than the sum of his point totals and stat-lines. He’s never broken 80 points, and only hit 30 goals once, but has been a consistent presence – potting a very respectable 972 career points in 1540 career games. This last season, he saw a momentous drop in production, from 28 goals and 47 points in 2015-16 to 6 goals and 27 points this past year. His best years are most certainly behind him, with his impact on the ice being negligible. Yet, his leadership ability on a young Coyotes squad could be near impossible to replace.
At 40 years old, Doan is the last surviving original Winnipeg Jet. He was an unlikely candidate to outlast his teammates that season. Although he was the youngest player on the team, he was outperformed by fellow rookie Deron Quint and finished a measley 17th in team scoring. He had a strong playoff and found himself shuttled to the deserts of Arizona, where he eventually became captain in 2003-04. The Coyotes have missed the playoffs 11 times under his leadership. And yet with all the difficulties Phoenix/Arizona faced, Doan was the constant face of re-assurance for a worried fanbased, and a consistent performer on an inconsistent squad. His play always remained the same, whether the team was at the bubble of making the playoffs, or 30 points out. His tenacity has been revered around the league, and his on-the-edge play even resulted in a few league suspensions when he crossed the line.
Doan has been pivotal to a team that yet again deeply entrenched in the re-building phase. At 40 years old, it seems unlikely that Doan will return for another season. The Coyotes will be expected by most around the league to finish short of the 8th spot yet again. But the younger players on the team, such as Anthony Duclair, Lawson Crouse, Max Domi, Dylan Strome, Clayton Keller, and Jakob Chychrun, would suffer greatly in their development from his absence. In an off-season where the team is quite likely to also lose 35 year-old Radim Vrbata, there will be a serious vacuum of veteran voices in the Arizona locker room.
Doan would probably see a pay cut from his last paycheck of $3.87 MM per year if he wanted to spend another year in the desert. If he does not don the maroon again, the captaincy and his position as a physical winger will need to be replaced. There are other veteran forwards available for the taking, such as Patrick Eaves and Thomas Vanek, but both players will likely be looking for longer-term deals. Regardless of whether Doan returns or not, his mark on the Coyote franchise will not soon be forgotten, and his influence on the organizational mindset will be felt for years.
Arizona’s Rieder Has Ankle Surgery
According to NBC Sports, Arizona Coyotes forward Tobias Rieder has undergone successful surgery on his ankle which will leave him sidelined likely until September. He is hopeful to recover in time for training camp, although with longer recoveries there are never total guarantees. Rieder took a modest step back in overall play this past season, even if his production did see a slight hop to 18 goals and 34 points. Mainly his defensive play took a hit along with the rest of the team, as Mike Smith was the only thing keeping the team in contention most nights.
The 24 year-old is hoping to be a key piece of the Arizona franchise going forward, and still has untapped potential. Only a third rounder in 2011, he has proven to be a dynamic force when his team has actually found offensive zone pressure. His third full season will start on a rocky note, as he will be rehabbing all summer. Rieder was playing for the German national team in the IIHF World Championships when he suffered the injury, and the Coyotes cannot be pleased with this outcome. Experience on the international stage is always useful, and Rieder was playing inspired hockey – unfortunately the injury risk was realized in his case.
Rieder is a borderline top six player who could easily solidify himself next season. He undeniably has the requisite talent and the Coyotes are strapped for offensive flair. But at 5’11” he has struggled with success in high traffic areas. He will need to add a bit of strength to his game and continue to develop his two-way game. One of Rieder’s major selling points as a prospect was his ability to also defend. But this past season saw that ability slip to a degree, with a Corsi For % of only 45.5%, admittedly against tougher competition. If he could turn into a 25 goal – 25 assist player with a balanced 200-foot game in this final deal of his contract, Arizona would be delighted to lock him up long term.
Craig Cunningham Hired As Pro Scout
The St. Louis Blues have hired Darryl Sydor as their new assistant coach, re-joining Mike Yeo on his new club. Sydor worked with Yeo in Minnesota before taking a position with the Blues’ AHL affiliate this season. The former NHL defenseman and two-time Stanley Cup Champion played 1291 games in his career, scoring 507 points.
Yeo took over the head coaching job in St. Louis when Ken Hitchcock was fired mid-season, and turned the team around from their early season struggles. He’ll now go into next season with Sydor beside him on the bench, presumably in charge of the defenders that are now led by captain Alex Pietrangelo and up-and-coming Colton Parayko.
- Pierre LeBrun of TSN gave a list of names that he believes the Buffalo Sabres are looking at in regards to their head coaching position, and many of them had already been publicly linked. One name that had been overlooked was Clark Donatelli, which Paul Hamilton of WGR 550 added in a follow-up tweet. Donatelli was the replacement for Mike Sullivan in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton when he was promoted to the NHL in 2015-16, hired of course by new Sabres’ GM Jason Botterill when he was in charge of the baby-Penguins. Donatelli led the WBS Penguins to a 51-20-5 record this season, good for first overall in the AHL. While he has no NHL experience so far, he has been groomed all the way from the ECHL by Botterill, and perhaps is ready for the next step.
- In some uplifting news, Craig Cunningham has been given a pro scout position with the Arizona Coyotes. The well-liked former captain of the Tucson Roadrunners collapsed on the ice in November and ended up losing part of his leg because of medical complications. He’ll never play professional hockey again, but will now be part of an NHL front office for at least the next two seasons. Just 26-years old, Cunningham has a long career ahead of him should he decide to remain in hockey and Arizona is the perfect place to get started; they’ve never been shy about giving responsibility to young men—just ask GM John Chayka.
Poll: Which Team Will Be Next To Make Stanley Cup Debut?
With a 6-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final last night, the Nashville Predators punched their ticket to the franchise’s first ever Stanley Cup appearance. In fact, Nashville had never even advanced beyond the conference semifinals until this heroic run and now stand just four wins away from hosting the greatest trophy in sports.
A Stanley Cup berth has certainly been a long time coming for the NHL’s 27th franchise whose inaugural season took place in 1998. GM David Poile, who has been the man in charge through it all, did not qualify for the postseason for the team’s first five seasons of existence, but since 2003 the Predators have only missed the playoffs three times. With other 1990’s expansion or relocation teams having made the Final before, like the San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators, and Florida Panthers, and even more having won a Stanley Cup, including the Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, and Carolina Hurricanes, many would expect that the Predators may be the last team to accomplish the feat. However, there are four teams who have yet to make it to Stanley Cup Final, the Expansion Class of 2000 – the Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets, the current Winnipeg Jets, and the original Winnipeg Jets, now the Arizona Coyotes. Which of these teams will be the next to realize their dreams of playing in June?
The Minnesota Wild certainly seemed to be heading in that direction for much of this season as they had their way with the Western Conference. Although in a tough Central Division with the Cup-bound Predators, Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, and Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota is armed with a depth and talent at every position and showed (in the regular season) that they can fight through a tough schedule. The team was able to turn goaltender Devan Dubnyk into a star, has one of the strongest defensive cores in the NHL, and has a combination up front of strong veterans like Mikko Koivu, Zach Parise, and Eric Staal and exciting young players like Mikael Granlund, Jason Zucker and Charlie Coyle. However, everything fell apart when it mattered most, as the Wild were easily bounced in the first round by the Blues. Can the Wild bounce back and, with the aid of top prospects such as Joel Eriksson Ek and Luke Kunin, make a Stanley Cup appearance in the next few years?
The Columbus Blue Jackets will be racing them for that honor. Almost mirror images of each other in 2016-17, the Blue Jackets also surprised many by dominating the Eastern Conference early in the year. At the time, the New Year’s Eve match-up between Columbus and Minnesota, both on historic winning streaks, was even touted as the game of the year. The Blue Jackets too have a stellar goalie in Sergei Bobrovsky and deep group of talented defenseman, like young game-changers Zach Werenski and Seth Jones. However, where Columbus may edge out Minnesota is in their youth up front. Although similarly successful, the Jackets were able to reach 108 points to the Wild’s 106 with a much younger forward corps. The likes of Brandon Saad, Alexander Wennberg, Boone Jenner, and Josh Anderson, plus incoming talent like Pierre-Luc Dubois and Oliver Bjorkstrand could keep Columbus in the running for a Cup longer than the Wild.
Speaking of youth, the Arizona Coyotes seem to be building something special in the desert. Question marks abound throughout the roster, such as starting goalie and a long-term partner for Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and many don’t expect the Coyotes to be contenders for several more years. However, after the rapid ascent of the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs this season, fueled largely by under-21 talent, Arizona may be relevant sooner rather than later. Their best players are also their top prospects – Max Domi, Christian Dvorak, Brendan Perlini, Jakob Chychrun – and that’s just the beginning, as even better young talent is on its way in Clayton Keller and Dylan Strome, not to mention whoever they select with the 7th and 23rd overall picks this year. It seems inevitable that the Coyotes will be good down the road, and, regardless of whether it’s in Arizona or not, have a strong chance to host a Stanley Cup final. However, will that day come before the likes of Minnesota or Columbus can take advantage of their current success?
Finally, there’s the Winnipeg Jets. They weren’t a playoff team this year like Columbus or Minnesota and they aren’t armed with years worth of high draft picks like Arizona either. Yet, the Jets may actually be the dark horse to reach the Stanley Cup first. Winnipeg finished ninth in the Western Conference in 2016-17, tenth in 2015-16, and eighth in 2014-15, consistently hanging around as a fringe team, not truly competing for a title. That seems like it is about to change. The Jets have one of the more dangerous forward groups in the NHL with Mark Scheifele, Patrik Laine, Nikolaj Ehlers, and captain Blake Wheeler leading the charge. They also have talented defenseman in Dustin Byfuglien, Tyler Myers, and Jacob Trouba. The Jets are a deeper team than many know and this season did not have a single player over the age of 32. Next year, they’ll add ace forwards Kyle Connor and Jack Roslovic to the mix, and possibly goaltender Eric Comrie as well, all part of what The Hockey News called the top prospect system in the NHL. Given the wealth of talent on this team already, it seems strange they haven’t performed better. Throw some dynamic young players in and use some of the team’s ample cap space, and the Winnipeg Jets could be a breakout team in 2017-18.
What do you think?