On the Nashville Predators …
Adam Vingan of The Tennessean: (mailbag) Looking at the Predators center situation. The Predators have three pending free agent centers in Mike Fisher, Vernon Fiddler and Mike Ribeiro. Ribeiro asked for a trade but the Predators couldn’t move him.
Ryan Johansen is a pending RFA and will be looking for a raise from his $6 million salary.
The Predators have to decide whether to protect Calle Jarnkrok for the expansion draft.
They’ll likely re-sign Fisher after the expansion draft.
The Preds could look for a center via a trade this offseason.
On the Arizona Coyotes …
Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic: The Coyotes will have one of the top picks in the draft this year. They could use a top-line center, but they won’t find a generational talent in draft.
The Coyotes have two first round picks, and they could consider moving one.
“There might be an option to use that second pick to trade it for an outright player, a more mature center in terms of teams that are up against the salary cap or a situation like that,” Button said.
Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene will be available in the offseason. One pro scout brought up Ryan Nugent-Hopkins as possibly being available.
On the free agent market, former Coyote Martin Hanzal is probably the top center that will be available.
“I just don’t see there being more out there past him,” the scout said. “There’s certainly nobody that’s going to change the dynamics of your team out there.”
Joe Thornton will likely re-sign with the San Jose Sharks, same with Mike Fisher in Nashville.
Other pending free agent centers include Brian Boyle, Nick Bonino, Sam Gagner, Daniel Winnik and David Desharnais.
The Coyotes have some high end prospects but none are ready to be a No. 1 center yet. Dave Tippett sees Clayton Keller as a winger despite being drafted a center.
