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Free Agent Focus: Arizona Coyotes

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The 2015-16 Arizona Coyotes were better than many expected them to be, finishing fourth in the Pacific Division. That said, they did have a losing record and feasted on lowly division rivals Edmonton and Calgary, going a combined 8-1-1 against the two Alberta teams. The team is built around superstar defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, with Max Domi, Anthony Duclair, Christian Dvorak, and Dylan Strome representing a deep prospect pool up front. Wily veteran and captain Shane Doan scored 28 goals at age 39. Ekman-Larsson lead the team with 21 goals and 55 points (7th among defensemen).

The Coyotes have already made a few waves this summer, hiring a 27-year old rookie GM John Chayka. Chayka has already made his first trade, acquiring the rights to pending UFA defenceman, Alex Goligoski. There have also been rumors that the Coyotes have made a big trade offer to the Maple Leafs so they can draft Scottsdale, AZ native Auston Matthews first overall.  Chayka has since denied the rumor, which had the Coyotes’ two first round picks (7th and 20th) going to Toronto with one of Domi or Dvorak for the first selection, calling it “ridiculous speculation”.

Cap space: $38.5MM, 13 players under contract.

Key RFAs: D Connor Murphy, W Tobias Rieder, D Michael Stone – Murphy and Stone have developed nicely into capable NHL defensemen, and will be qualified. Rieder scored 37 points in his sophomore season, and should be a solid middle-6 option up front for the Coyotes.

Other RFAs: D Jarred Tinordi, LW Sergei Plotnikov, D Klas Dahlbeck, D Kevin Connauton, and G Louis Domingue.

Key UFAs: Doan and Goligoski – the team’s captain and longest serving member (he was a member of the original Winnipeg Jets) is expected to re-sign with the team for one season at a time. ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun reported the recently acquired Goligoski and his wife are visiting Arizona this week to check out the city and meet with team officials.

Other UFAs: W Alex Tanguay, C Boyd Gordon, C Kyle Chipchura, F Viktor Tikhonov, D Nicklas Grossmann, and G Anders Lindback.

Outlook: The Coyotes have just $34.4MM committed to next year’s roster, which is $40MM less than the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins, have. According to Sportsnet’s Luke Fox, the Coyotes don’t plan on re-signing any pending UFAs other than Doan and Goligoski, so new GM Chayka will have plenty of money to spend rounding out their roster.

As well, big C Martin Hanzal is entering a contract year and will need to be extended or traded. Fox reported Chayka as being open to all options regarding the Czech centre.

Look for them to draft one of the high-end defence prospects at 7th overall, or attempt to move up and snag Scottsdale-native Matthew Tkachuk.

Coaching Notes: French, Skahan, Lamb

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Now that the NHL coaching carousel has ended, lower level leagues are filling their coaching vacancies. Here are the latest coaching developments:

  • The Calgary Hitmen have given head coach Mark French a multi-year extension after another successful season. French, the former Calder Cup winning coach of the AHL’s Hershey Bears, is considered an excellent bench boss that would have a few job offers if he decided to head back to the AHL at some point. Blueliner Jake Bean is set to become the latest Hitmen to go in the first round of the NHL draft.
  • After spending years with Anaheim and last season with Buffalo, long-time NHL strength and conditioning coach Sean Skahan will be brought on with the Minnesota Wild, Michael Russo reports. He’ll replace the outgoing Kirk Olson, who is yet to sign on with another team.
  • Mark Lamb is the new coach of the Tucson Roadrunners, Arizona Coyote’s AHL affiliate. Lamb was the GM and coach of the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos, and previously worked under Dave Tippet’s Dallas Stars as an assistant coach. The Roadrunners also hired Mark Hardy as an assistant coach. Hardy previously served as an assistant coach for both the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings.

Snapshots: Schedule, Shattenkirk, Salary Cap, Coyotes, Red Wings, Malkin, Dallas Defense

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The NHL released their 2016-17 schedule on Tuesday.  Here are some of the important dates:

Wednesday, October 12: Regular season begins
January 27-30: All-Star Break
Tuesday, February 28: Trade deadline
Sunday, April 9 Final day of the regular season

Elsewhere around the league:

Sharks Acquire Letunov From Coyotes

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1:35pm: General Fanager gives us this great little tidbit about the trade: Arizona can now fulfill a condition of the previous Sam Gagner–Nicklas Grossmann deal from 2015. Since they’ve acquired a 2016 fourth round pick, they can now choose to send Philadelphia that one instead of the original 2017 third rounder that was originally included.

1:25pm: Craig Morgan of AZ Sports gives us a quote from 27-year old Arizona GM John Chayka: “Signing an NCAA player with lots of development still left is always a concern. That becomes compounded when you have depth at center like we do with our prospects. It’s a good fit for San Jose.”

1:06pm: According to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, the San Jose Sharks have acquired Maxim Letunov from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a 2016 fourth round pick (120th overall), and 2017 third rounder.  San Jose will also be sending back a sixth round pick in 2017.

Letunov, 20, was a former second-round pick of the St. Louis Blues back in 2014 and was dealt to the Coyotes in the Zbynek Michalek deal last year’s deadline.  He put up a huge season in 2015-16 for the University of Connecticut with 40 points in 36 games as a freshman. The 6’2″ winger possesses an outstanding shot can score from anywhere in the offensive zone.

With the deal, Arizona will replace the fourth round selection that they dealt with Keith Yandle to the New York Rangers this past season. They’ll now have eight selections this weekend.

For the Sharks, they’ve added another young forward prospect and dealt away draft currency. The team will now have only five selections at this weekend’s draft, including only one in the first three rounds (60th overall).

Mirtle’s Latest: Chayka, Demers, Yandle

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The busiest time of the year is starting over the next few weeks, with the Entry Draft and July 1st free agency. Rumors are swirling already about almost every player in the league and James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail mentions that the salary cap isn’t going to rise much more than $1.5MM even if the NHLPA exercises their 5% bump.  That’ll give a lot of teams pause about locking in long-term to free agents, while their own cap situation isn’t settled. Here’s more from Mirtle:

  • Youngest GM in NHL history John Chayka (only 27-years old) has already begun to make an impact on the Arizona Coyotes, moving to acquire the rights to Alex Goligoski last week, and Mirtle believes he’s aiming at a return to the playoffs as soon as next season.  Martin Hanzal, his biggest trade chip has been dangled recently and doesn’t look like a long-term option in the desert.
  • Jason Demers, one of three exceptional Dallas blueliners that are reaching free agency this summer has apparently priced himself out of the Stars’ market, asking for an annual value close to $5.5MM. Demers, along with Goligoski and Kris Russell are three of the top five defense options this offseason.
  • Number 1 on that list, Keith Yandle is believed to be seeking a seven-year deal on the open market, Mirtle suggests. The Avalanche are an option for the Rangers’ blueliner, as they look to add to their team coming off a disappointing 39-39-4 season.
  • Mirtle mentions that despite the Jets best efforts to re-sign restricted free agent Jacob Trouba, teams around the league still believe he is available for the right price.  The former 9th overall pick has been a steady presence on the Jets back-end and is only 22.

Saturday Snapshots: Arizona’s New AHL Squad, Boedker And Nielsen Staying Put?

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  • Arthur Staple of Newsday reports pending UFA C Frans Nielsen and the Islanders have discussed a long-term deal “in recent days”. Nielsen scored 20 goals and 52 points in 81 games last season, the second highest totals of his career. Nielsen’s last contract was a 4-year pact worth $2.75MM per season.
  • Former Coyote Mikkel Boedker says he hasn’t decided against re-signing with Colorado. Boedker put up 12 points in 18 games after being acquired at the trade deadline by the Avalanche, who did not make the playoffs. His agent told ESPN that Boedker “liked everyone from the coaches and the players to the fans in Colorado. It’s definitely a place that’s up there on his list”. This comes just days after Avalanche GM Joe Sakic told media that Boedker would be allowed to test the open market.
  • After the success of the AHL’s new Pacific Division last season, the Arizona Coyotes are also moving their farm team closer to home. The Coyotes unveiled the team’s name and logo Saturday: the Tucson Roadrunners.

Coyotes Acquire Alex Goligoski’s Negotiating Rights From Stars

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3:32 PM: The Coyotes have made the acquisition official.  The Stars receive Arizona’s 5th round pick in next week’s draft (128th overall) in return.

TSN’s Bob McKenzie notes that there is no deal currently in place between Goligoski and the Coyotes.  Pierre LeBrun of TSN/ESPN adds that the Stars did try to get a deal done with Goligoski but couldn’t agree to terms so the team decided to get something for his rights rather than lose him for nothing in a couple of weeks.

3:15 PM: According to ESPN’s Craig Custance, the Arizona Coyotes are on the verge of acquiring the negotiating rights to pending unrestricted free agent blueliner Alex Goligoski from the Dallas Stars.

Goligoski suited up in all 82 regular season for the Stars in 2015-16, picking up 5 goals and 32 assists while logging just shy of 24 minutes per game in ice time.  He also posted a +21 rating, good for a tie for 7th amongst all NHL defenders.  He also played in 13 postseason contests, collecting 4 goals and 3 assists while averaging 23:12 per game.

By acquiring his rights, Arizona will have exclusive negotiating rights to talk to the 30 year old Goligoski until the UFA interview period opens up on June 25th.  The Stars still have a pair of pending UFA defensemen to deal with in Jason Demers and Kris Russell.

Friedman’s Latest: Hartnell, Eriksson, Barrie

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Although the Montreal Canadiens failed to move up in the lottery last month, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that they may try to make a deal to improve on their ninth overall pick.  After picking late in the first round the last three seasons, Montreal will try to replicate the success they’ve had with their last couple of top-10 picks.  In 2012 they selected Alex Galchenyuk third overall, and nailed Carey Price at number five way back in 2005. If Montreal wants to get back to the playoffs and have any chance at contention, they’ll have to improve through the draft.  Here’s more from Friedman’s latest 30 thoughts:

  • The Columbus Blue Jackets interviewed quite a few players ahead of selecting third overall in the upcoming draft. With rumors swirling that they are already getting offers for the pick, perhaps they’re just covering their bases before one of these deals blows them away.
  • Still with Columbus, Friedman hears that there are trade rumblings around Scott Hartnell and that he is willing to waive his no-movement clause for several teams. Hartnell has three seasons at $4.75MM left on his deal, but put up another 20-goal season in 2015-16 and is a near-lock for 40 points at least for the immediate future.
  • On Loui Eriksson, Friedman says that Boston will take one final run at re-signing the winger before he becomes a free agent on July 1st.  If he makes it that far, expect a long list of suitors for the 30-year old after putting up an excellent 63 point campaign. He’s coming off a contract that earned him $4.25MM a season, and will look to improve on that number.
  • It seems certain that Avalanche defenceman Tyson Barrie will be on the move this summer, but perhaps not until Colorado secures some help on the back-end.  Their top target is Winnipeg Jets’ Jacob Trouba, who has played well since being drafted in 2012 and would take a fairly large ransom to pry away from GM Kevin Cheveldayoff.
  • After acquiring Marc Savard’s cap hit on Friday, the New Jersey Devils are no longer a landing spot for the Pavel Datsyuk dilemma should he decide to go back to Russia.  According to Friedman this leaves only Carolina and Arizona as potential takers for the $7.5MM cap-hit he’ll incur since he signed his deal after he turned 35.
  • Since Florida now has some room following the jettison of Savard’s hit, they’ve turned their attention to extending Vincent Trocheck. The 22-year old is a restricted free agent this summer, and is coming off an impressive 53 point season.  With extensions for Aaron Ekblad and Reilly Smith due next year, Florida will have to keep Trocheck’s hit as low as possible if they’re to fit in all their young talent.
  • Arizona is reluctantly looking at options with C Martin Hanzal as he nears free agency.  While the Coyotes would like to re-sign him before he hits the market next summer, they are considering moving him and have asked for his list of teams he would accept a trade to.

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