On the Vegas Golden Knights …
Bob McKenzie: Gerard Gallant and Jack Capuano appear to be the leading candidates from the Golden Knights head coaching job.
On the St. Louis Blues …
Chris Nichols: Darren Dreger on pending free agent defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk: “I can tell you the asking price for Shattenkirk, even as a rental, is incredibly high. It’s a prospect and a first.” … “And that may have to also include a third piece” to land Shattenkirk depending on quality of prospect/pick.
On the Arizona Coyotes …
Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports: Coyotes GM John Chayka is waiting for the trade deadline to arrive and more salary space to come off some players.
“The real key in this whole thing is teams that are looking for rental players are looking to minimize cap impact,” the Coyotes GM said Tuesday. “Some of these guys make $15,000 to $20,000 a day so the closer you get to the deadline the less the cap impact.”
As reported previously, there haven’t been any substantive contract talks with pending free agents Martin Hanzal and Michael Stone since the offseason. They are both likely to be traded.
A mid-round pick for winger Radim Vrbata likely won’t be enough for the Coyotes, will take more than that for them to move him.
There has been “no discussion whatsoever” about Shane Doan and his no-movement clause.
Chayka has noted that center, right wing and a young goalie as areas he’d like to address.
Anthony Duclair on the trade rumors and his struggles this season.
“I already talked to John and Tip (coach Dave Tippett) about it and I made it very clear I want to stay in Arizona and be a Coyote,” Duclair said. “It’s just me being in a bad slump, having one bad year, but they are not giving up on me and I appreciate that.”