On the Arizona Coyotes …
Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports: Morgan looks at 10 questions the Coyotes are facing the offseason.
Co-owner Anthony LeBlanc won’t name any names they are considering for their vacant GM position. Names that have been out there include Les Jackson, Norm Maciver and Sean Burke.
Source saying that a substantial concession stands between an arena deal with the Coyotes and Arizona State University.
Expectation is that Shane Doan will sign a new contract this offseason.
Greatest needs for the Coyotes this offseason is to improve their blueline. They don’t have any NHL ready prospects. They could use one, maybe two, top-four defenseman – a right-handed partner for Oliver Ekman-Larsson and a partner for Connor Murphy on the second pairing. Trade options could be Kevin Shattenkirk, Ryan Ellis, and Anton Stralman. Free agent options could be Kyle Quincey, Luke Schenn and Jason Demers.
The Coyotes should look to draft some defenseman this year. They don’t have any top-end defenseman. They should also look to add some depth in next.
The Coyotes have nine RFAs. Should re-sign Tobias Rieder, Connor Murphy, Michael Stone, Klas Dahlbeck, Kevin Connauton and Louis Domingue. Tougher decisions for Jarred Tinordi, Sergei Plotnikov and Jiri Sekac.
They could look to upgrade on UFAs Kyle Chipchura, Viktor Tikhonov, Eric Selleck, Nicklas Grossmann, Alex Grant and Anders Lindback. Odds are low that Alex Tanguay will be back.
On the Carolina Hurricanes …
Michael Smith of Hurricanes.NHL: Cam Ward on his uncertain future with the Hurricanes.
“I think eventually it will sink in, but I’m not ready to close that door. I’m remaining optimistic that hopefully something can happen. I’ve made it clear that this is where I’d like to be. I’m proud to have been a Hurricane and been here for as many years as I’ve been. Obviously the feeling needs to be mutual, and I’ll address it when it’s presented to me.”
Ward on only playing for one NHL team and what it might be like playing on another.
” …That’s something I’ve never experienced and you tend to wonder what it could be like, but I’m comfortable here and would rather be here. If I’m told it’s time to move on, then you be professional and move on.”