On the hot seat …
Kevin Allen of USA Today: A coach hasn’t been fired this season yet. Here are six coaches who could be on the hot seat: Alain Vigneault (Rangers), Jeff Blashill (Red Wings), Todd McLellan (Oilers), Joel Quenneville (Blackhawks), Barry Trotz (Capitals) and Bill Peters (Hurricanes).
On the Arizona Coyotes …
Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports: Agent Kevin Epp has three key Coyotes players – Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Antti Raanta.
Raanta is a pending UFA. Ekman-Larsson and Hjalmarsson are free agents after next season and can sign an extension after July 1st.
Despite some trade interest in Raanta at the deadline, the Coyotes didn’t trade him and hope to extend him. Both sides want to get a deal done.
“He wanted to make sure that Antti wanted to stay a part of the Coyotes and do what they’re doing and build with them,” Epp said. “I said ‘yeah, nothing has changed from our end.’ He wanted to make sure we were on the same page. He didn’t want to try and keep a guy and then he signs somewhere else.”
Raanta comparables could be Jacob Markstrom (three years, $3.67 million per), Scott Darling (four years, $4.15 million per), Cam Talbot (three years, $4.167 million per), Jake Allen (four years, $4.35 million per) and Frederik Andersen (five years, $5 million).
Both Epp and GM John Chayka won’t comment on specifics, but there is an interest from both sides about an extension. Hjalmarsson also drew some interest at the trade deadline.
“In order for us to move them, it had to exceed the value that they were going to provide for our young players and what we’ve got going on here,” Chayka said.
Ekman-Larsson continues to say how likes being in Arizona. If a he gets a long-term offer that is fair, he could be with the organization for awhile. If they can’t get an extension in place by the draft, the Coyotes could consider trading rather than losing for nothing after next season. Chayka does not want to see that happen.