On Mike Babcock and the Detroit Red Wings …
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: While Mike Babcock was still coaching the Detroit Red Wings, during their exit interviews both Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk told management that they wouldn’t re-sign with the Red Wings while Babcock was still coaching the team.
On the Arizona Coyotes …
Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic: The Arizona Coyotes have added NHLers Alex Goligoski and Jamie McGinn this offseason. They’ve also used their salary cap space to acquire prospects and draft picks.
“John figured out we can use (cap space) as an asset, and we’ve used that as an asset,” said coach Dave Tippett, who doubles as executive vice president of hockey operations. “Just because you don’t spend the money doesn’t mean … you shouldn’t be able to use that. We’ve used that to our advantage a little bit, and we’ve been able to acquire some very good young prospects.”
The Coyotes took on Pavel Datsyuk’s $7.5 million cap hit to move up from No. 20 at the draft (along with the 53rd pick) to No. 16 and draft defenseman Jakob Chychrun. They also added forward prospect Lawson Crouse by taking on Dave Bolland’s contract – three years at $5.5 million – for a couple draft picks. Bolland will likely be placed on the LTIR.
“I can’t go out and try to spend money on an aging veteran that’s just kind of a stopgap, that has limited upside, that blocks one of our younger players from developing into what we think they can be,” Chayka explained. “That route makes no sense to me, so this is one where we can use cap space to get better-valued assets.”
The Coyotes sit about $2.3 million below the salary cap ceiling, and have less actual salary committed to their roster. They still have some flexibility in their budget to add something if the right opportunity presents its self.
