On the Arizona Coyotes …
Darren Dreger: Sounding like Rick Tocchet could be the next head coach of the Coyotes.
Frank Seravalli: Keep hearing Ralph Krueger’s name being attached to the Coyotes.
Craig Morgan: The Coyotes will only say that nothing has been finalized with regards to Dreger’s and Seravalli’s tweets.
Craig Morgan: (yesterday) The Coyotes plan on finishing up their coaching interviews this week and they could have an announcement next week.
Craig Morgan: RFA Anthony Duclair‘s agent Kent Hughes said that he hasn’t spoken with Coyotes GM John Chayka recently but expects to get a deal done in the near future.
Craig Morgan: There is nothing imminent with regards to Shane Doan making a decision on if he’ll play somewhere next season or retire.
On the Edmonton Oilers …
Jason Gregor: Comparables for Leon Draisaitl will be Mark Schiefele, Johnny Gaudreau and Vladimir Tarasenko.
Jim Matheson: The Oilers could use Evgeny Kuznetsov‘s $7.8 million cap hit as their ceiling. Kuznetsov is the No. 2 center in Washington. Though he is on his third contract and is 25 years old – Draisaitl is 21 years old.
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Darren Dreger was on TSN 1260 and was asked if Evgeny Kuznetsov’s eight-year, $7.8 million salary cap hit is a comparable for Leon Draisaitl’s next deal.
“I mean, 7.8 for Leon Draisaitl – for me, anything beneath 9 is going to be an excellent signing, and that’s going to be a victory from Edmonton’s perspective. Chiarelli may not agree with that. I’m not sure of what he’s thinking. In fairness to their process, they have done a tremendous job of managing the information and not allowing it out.”
There may be some talk from Draisaitl’s side that they may want the media to think he could exceed $10 million.
“So Leon Draisaitl’s camp is going to continue to push hard. Again, anything less than 9, for me, would be a bit of a surprise.”