- Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic: Coyotes Shane Doan is entering the final year of his contract, and how this season plays out will play a role in his playing future.
“I think I’m playing,” he said. “At the same time, I mean if I’m terrible, I don’t want to be a nuisance to anybody. But if I can show I can play, then I want to be playing.”
“I think this is going to be a big year to let me know more,” he said. “As your contract winds down and my career obviously at the same time, you’re getting older and you recognize I’ve got to do some things here if I want to keep playing. I want to prove as much to myself as anybody that I can keep playing.”
Coyotes GM Don Maloney doesn’t think it will be Doan’s final year in the NHL, and said that Doan will have a spot in the organization for as long as he wants one – either on or off the ice.
- Tim Campbell of the Winnipeg Free Press: Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff had nothing new to report on contract extensions for 2016 UFAs Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien.
“Dialogue is ongoing at different stages with different people,” Cheveldayoff told the Free Press today. “Again, there’s lots of moving parts that come into play. Some of it is things that are in your control. Some are things that are out of your control with respect to maybe other people in the marketplace or other contracts.
“We live in a cap world that is an interesting time right now when it comes to the future and what it holds in store for all those kind of things.
“So much of our world at this point in time is projection and speculation and when it comes to projection on the players or projection on the cap. All those things come into play when you’re dealing with the issues we’re dealing with right now.”
When asked if contract talks during the season could be a distraction, Cheveldayoff responded:
“It’s hard to say. Each and every contract takes on its own life. Each situation has its own life when it comes to those kind of things. I guess if you guys don’t ask, then it’s not a distraction.”
There have been no talks with free agents Jim Slater, Lee Stempniak and Jiri Tlusty. It’s unlikely that Grant Clitsome will be ready for the start of camp next week.