On the Arizona Coyotes …
Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports: A couple weeks ago Tobias Rieder‘s agent, Darren Ferris, suggested that Rieder was considering KHL offers because contract talks were at an impasse. Ferris initially used Nazem Kadri‘s six-year contract with a $4.5 million cap hit as a comparable, and later suggesting Jamie McGinn‘s three-year, $10 million deal. The Coytoes are not commenting.
Vladislav Namestnikov‘s two-year, $3.875 million new deal could be a good comparable.
It’s hard to say where both sides are in their talks, but Rieder’s camp has come down off of their initial request. The Coyotes are believed to be offering more than what Namestnikov will get. It’s unlikely that they would go more than $2.2 or $2.3 million on a two-year deal, and not more than $2.5 million on a three-year deal.
Metallurg and Omsk of the KHL are believed to have made Rieder offers at more than what the Coyotes are offering.
The agent for defenseman Connor Murphy, Brian Bartlett, said that he expects a deal to be done by the end of the week. The Coyotes have three remaining RFAs.
GM John Chayka said they’ve been talking with Michael Stone about a contract recently, so they could reach a deal before their August 4th arbitration date.
On the Vancouver Canucks …
Jason Brough of Pro Hockey Talk: Canucks president of hockey operations, Trevor Linden, was on TSN 1040 yesterday. He didn’t name names (Evander Kane) as he’s not allowed too, but Linden wouldn’t say that a player who has had issues with the police wouldn’t be welcome with the Canucks.
“I think with any situation, they’re all unique to themselves,” Linden said, before warning against the temptation to jump to conclusions prior to knowing all the facts.
“Ultimately we’d prefer not to have that situation arise, certainly with our own players,” he added. “It’s a big world out there. Obviously, the challenges are significant for young guys who make a lot of money and get themselves into spots that they make mistakes.”
Jason Botchford of the Vancouver Province said on TSN 1040 that the Canucks are definitely looking at Kane.
“There’s no doubt about it, the Vancouver Canucks are going to be in on Evander Kane,” Botchford told TSN 1040 radio. “Ownership loves Kane. Jim Benning really likes Kane. Trevor? He’s maybe a little bit ambivalent, but he could be won over. They’re going to be in on Evander Kane.”
