On the Arizona Coyotes …
Craig Morgan: GM John Chayka hasn’t ruled out re-signing Martin Hanzal. Sources saying that there is a lot of interest in Hanzal.
Craig Morgan: Chayka said again that there hasn’t been any talks about Shane Doan waiving his no-movement clause. Don’t think it happens.
Sarah McLellan of Arizona Republic: Based off of comparables that Chayka did, Stone’s struggles this season lessened his trade value.
“It would have been nice if Mike had played better this year,” Chayka said. “I think it’s not easy to play on an expiring contract. He came back from a knee surgery and if his level of play had been up to his own expectation even, there would have been a chance to get a better return.”
On re-signing pending unrestricted free agents.
“At this point in the year to start re-signing UFAs with where we’re at doesn’t make a ton of sense unless they’re really a part of your long-term future,” Chayka said. “And then when we’ve got good young players that are kind of able to step up and fill those voids, then it doesn’t make as much sense. So again, he’s a pending UFA. He goes to market. You never know what happens. At the same time, Calgary’s a good situation for him.”
Craig Morgan of the Arizona Sports: After the trading defenseman Michael Stone yesterday to the Calgary Flames, GM John Chayka was asked if he was a bit surprised at how things turned out with Stone after he had successful season last year before knee injury.
“Last year, in February if you’d have said to me that with the Rangers pick we’d be able to turn it into Jakob Chychrun and he’d be ready to play, yeah I would have been surprised,” Chayka said. “I thought he’d be playing for the Sarnia Sting (OHL) this year. The fact that he’s up playing with us and playing quite well, that part is surprising to me.
“We were able to get Anthony DeAngelo for a second-round pick as well; a right shot defenseman so I think the landscape has just shifted since a year ago.”