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Coyotes monthly mailbag: You asked, I tried to answer
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Coyotes monthly mailbag: You asked, I tried to answer

Craig Morgan
Sep 15, 2020
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Welcome to the AZ Coyotes Insider newsletter. My plan is to publish stories four to six times per week. By subscribing, you’ll be supporting independent, accountable journalism. Subscribe now so you won’t miss a story.

I’ll begin this mailbag with an odd plea. Can we put an end to the acronym GOAT that describes the greatest (player) of all time. The debates are silly and pointless. Besides, LeBron James can’t hold a candle to Michael Jordan. Anybody who thinks he can is probably too young to have witnessed what an assassin Jordan was on the court.

Jordan was 6-0 in the NBA Finals, and he probably would have been 8-0 if he had not retired for two years. LeBron is 3-6, even though he got to recruit all-star teams to South Beach and L.A.

Mic drop.

Anyway, I have a bad history with goats. My maternal grandmother raised me to be a Cubs fan so goats automatically carry a negative connotation. She told me about The Curse of the Billy Goat as a small child, but I didn’t believe that such a cute animal could harbor such evil. I learned the hard way on a kindergarten field trip to a petting zoo.

While most of the kids were chasing animals around the yard, I wandered into a barn to escape Chicago’s miserable summer swelter. I spotted a friendly looking goat in its stall and approached him to say hello. While holding a new ball of cotton candy in my left hand, I reached out to pet him on the nose with my right hand. He had other ideas.

First, he latched onto and ate the cardboard nameplate that hung around my neck with surprisingly strong yarn that kept me from pulling away. I watched in front-row horror as he devoured every last bite, figuring that I would become the entrée when he had eaten his appetizer. Instead, when he had finished his feast, he released me and sneezed a projectile of snot that landed squarely on my cotton candy. Then he looked at me with empty, uncaring eyes.

That’s it. That’s my story. That’s why I don’t eat cotton candy any more. That’s why I hate goats. That’s all I have to say about that.

Let’s get to your questions via Twitter and email.

Questions via Twitter

Twitter avatar for @paulrortegaPaul @paulrortega
@CraigSMorgan If/when dealing with off the record info how does it affect your writing? Doesn't it naturally alter your opinions & that in turn comes out in your writing? Are sources fine w/ that as long as they're not quoted?

September 15th 2020

Off the record information will certainly steer a writer away from certain angles if those angles contradict what the writer learns to be true, but let’s be clear: off the record information cannot be used for publication. As for how sources feel about the impact of their information, that can only be judged on an individual basis.

Twitter avatar for @mkinkorMichael Kinkor @mkinkor
@CraigSMorgan Reading some of the questions made me think of this one: Working with anonymous sources, what is the difference between something told to you in confidence, and something that can be put into an article? Is there a preface to the conversation, or just a trust and judgement call?

September 15th 2020

When necessary, there is a preface to interviews that establishes whether something is on the record, off the record or on background, which generally means it can be used but not attributed, although those terms can be fuzzy and generally need to be clarified (some sources also use “deep background,” which sounds more mysterious and carries its own set of necessary clarifications).

Twitter avatar for @adam17amoAdam Olshansky @adam17amo
@CraigSMorgan As an angry Yotes fan, I was pleased to see the team share my anger in the Chayka statement. How was that viewed around the league (media, other players, other execs/owners, the NHL)? Understandable, childish/immature or TBD? Reminded me of Dan Gilbert re:"self titled king"LeBron

September 15th 2020

The statement was met with surprise around the league. You typically don’t see such strongly worded press releases from professional teams. Statements and news releases are generally bland and short on insight or value of any kind behind the basic news. The fact that the Coyotes worded this statement so strongly was an indication of their anger level with Chayka.

Twitter avatar for @adam17amoAdam Olshansky @adam17amo
@CraigSMorgan Do you know the origin of how hockey players come up with nicknames? Like why is it always LastName + syllable (Taylor "Hallsy" Hall, Shane "Doaner" Doan, Sean "Burkey and next Coyotes GM" Burke, etc)

September 15th 2020

I have opined before on the lack of creativity with hockey nicknames, at which point Jason Demers informed me that there is a deeper level of nicknames that players do not share with the public or with media. It sounded all deep state to me but it’s probably worth an investigation. Unlike QAnon or flat-earth theory, there appear to be legs to this conspiracy.

Twitter avatar for @BVWyatt🐝🗽 BeaWyatt 🗽🐝 @BVWyatt
@CraigSMorgan With the Yotes elimination so close to the traditional start of a new season, are the boys on the ice skating and getting ready for a next season? Is there a next season ...if so when? Any insight?

September 15th 2020

Right now, most players are enjoying a little down time before they ramp up their training. Although they had four months off during the pandemic-induced pause, most players continued to train because they assumed they would be coming back at some point so this was their first real chance to relax.

As for the 2020-2021 season, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly has hinted at further delays beyond the planned Dec.1 start date. Several league sources have told me they would be surprised if the season started before Jan. 1, but if we’re experiencing another wave of COVID-19, who knows?

Twitter avatar for @henrye25Ethan @henrye25
@CraigSMorgan Do you feel we’re likely to see Sullivan make any trades or transactions prior to a final GM decision/announcement? I feel like he’s been kicking a lot of tires on players and trades to not have already made a move.

September 15th 2020

I guess that would depend on how long this GM search drags on. I have heard from some sources that he has license to make trades, but I find it hard to believe that ownership would allow such a thing unless they plan to name Sullivan the GM. It makes little sense to allow someone other than your GM to shape the future of the roster.

Twitter avatar for @CochiseJackCochiseJack @CochiseJack
@CraigSMorgan If you were the owner, who'd be your choice for GM?

September 15th 2020

Sorry, man, I am not qualified to hire a GM. I’ll leave that up to the team, but at some point, I do think the Coyotes have to get Shane Doan back in this organization in a hockey operations role.

Twitter avatar for @mkinkorMichael Kinkor @mkinkor
@CraigSMorgan To quote the Cranberries "Its the same old theme since..." give me a reason to hope? So much negative....need some hope. "Rebellions are built on hope"

September 15th 2020

The hope would have to come in the form of the young players. Did you read Corey Pronman’s U22 rankings? The Coyotes were 11th. That sounds like hope.

Twitter avatar for @tyork0909Todd York @tyork0909
@CraigSMorgan How much cap space and actual salary savings would the Coyotes gain by buying Phil Kessel out? Any chance of that actually happening and do you think they should do it?

September 15th 2020

Under the current CBA, buyouts are calculated by taking two-thirds of the remaining salary owed, excluding signing bonuses, and spreading it out over twice the remaining contract length. Kessel has $12 million in remaining salary over the next two seasons, but $10 million of that comes in the form of signing bonuses so there is little to be gained from buying him out. If the Coyotes were to buy out Kessel now, they would save just $666,667.

Twitter avatar for @CrimsonSkie13Rae @CrimsonSkie13
@CraigSMorgan I get that Kuemper has more trade value right now then either Raanta or Hill but in your opinion are they seriously considering trading away the best player on the team? If they do find a deal they like, how does that affect the rest of the to do list for the team?

September 15th 2020

I do think they are considering trading Kuemper. I get the sense that the Coyotes are looking three years down the road when they can retool their roster and the young core of players has come of age. Will Kuemper be an elite goaltender at that point? If you look at the plan through that lens, there is some logic to trading Kuemper, but only if you get requisite value.

As I noted the other day, a mid- to late-first-round pick or a couple of mid-level projects make no sense for a guy who could win the Vezina Trophy and maybe the Hart Trophy in the right situation. Kuemper is one of the five best goalies in the league. You don’t devalue your greatest trade asset; an asset on a very friendly two-year contract.

What else they do would depend on a number of factors including what they get in return for Kuemper and how willing teams are to make deals for other players. I do think they’d like to shed a few salaries of veterans going into the final year of their contracts.

Twitter avatar for @Jbr827Walking Overdose In A Great Coat @Jbr827
@CraigSMorgan Would you do a “who says no” article. Where us idiot fans send you our fake Coyotes trades and you ask your league sources to evaluate them?

September 14th 2020

I have been thinking about this story idea. It has been added to my list.

Twitter avatar for @Desertdog46484Alex Albrecht @Desertdog46484
@CraigSMorgan Overall opinion on capobianco I think he could be a good bottom pair defenseman on the coyotes. Just curious to see how you see him?

September 14th 2020

1 Like

Kyle Capobianco appeared to regress a bit last season. The staff thought he looked more tentative and that may have been tied to his ACL surgery. While there are no black and white rules, I have heard medical professionals say it takes a full year to come back from such a surgery. Capobianco reached the one-year point in February so barring any setbacks, he should be fine whenever training camp rolls around.

I do think he can help them in a bottom pair role for now, and perhaps work his way into a second pair role down the line. He is a fluid skater and puck mover. I know Steve Sullivan likes his game.

Twitter avatar for @csepessyCeleste Sepessy @csepessy
@CraigSMorgan What three things should we most look forward to next season?

September 14th 2020

A vaccine. Maybe fans returning to games. And perhaps the debut of some young players.

Twitter avatar for @FlywalkerDukeDukeFlywalker #HowlYeah @FlywalkerDuke
@CraigSMorgan What really was the deal with the missed per diem and bonus payments? Just turnover in the organization or actual money issues?

September 14th 2020

That question has not been answered yet. It could just be a matter of manpower, although it should be noted that Tyler Steenbergen’s signing bonus was late in July so you would think they would have learned from that mistake and not repeated it in September. That raises the question of whether there are greater financial issues.

Twitter avatar for @deserthockybrksMike Hansen @deserthockybrks
@CraigSMorgan If we're not going to keep Hall because money, cap, or he doesn't want to stay , tell me we are trying to trade his rights for a late round pick or are you telling me there's a chance he can still be here

September 15th 2020

It’s a fair point. I do not think Taylor Hall will be returning. I do not know if they are trying to trade his rights for a late pick.

Twitter avatar for @samgreen985Sam @samgreen985
@CraigSMorgan If you could add any player from the league to the coyotes roster, who would you pick and why?

September 14th 2020

This was easy. Nathan MacKinnon. I am of the growing belief that he is the best player in the game. I’d settle for Connor McDavid, though. The Coyotes need a franchise center. Same story for the past two decades.

Twitter avatar for @azsportsfienMac @azsportsfien
@CraigSMorgan Sorry if I missed it on one of your most recent articles, but even though the Coyotes have kept a tight lip on GM candidates, who do you believe is the lead candidate and who do you believe is the best fit?

September 14th 2020

I just wrote about what I know right here.

Twitter avatar for @samgreen985Sam @samgreen985
@CraigSMorgan Who would you add to a “dream team” made up of current NHL players?

September 14th 2020

I would construct a team with longevity in mind. I’m not sure of your parameters, but for a starting lineup I’d take Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews up front (Leon Draisaitl would work, too). I don’t care if they’re all centers. We’d sort it out. On the back end, I’d take Seth Jones and Miro Heiskanen. In goal, I’d take Connor Hellebuyck.

Twitter avatar for @probably_mutedJoe 🌵☀️ @probably_muted
@CraigSMorgan Was Chayka pressured to make the Kessel and Hall acquisitions by the new owner? I generally liked the moves he made outside of those two. I worry about having an over-involved owner as a long suffering Suns fan. Apologies if this has already been asked

September 14th 2020

I don’t think he was pressured to make either move. Coach Rick Tocchet obviously had some sway over the Kessel decision, given their prior relationship, but the Hall move was made while the Coyotes were in first place. Chayka felt at the time that the team had earned the right to add a key piece.

Twitter avatar for @HR1616HLR @HR1616
@CraigSMorgan Still wondering if there has been any developments in the league’s review of the Chayka contract/ resignation, and whether the Coyotes may be due anything in return for the potential tampering (presumably by NJ, contrary to the scope of Muerillo’s consent).

September 14th 2020

Still too early to say. The legal process can take time.

Twitter avatar for @TimmyHowlTimmyHowl (He/Him) @TimmyHowl
@CraigSMorgan What do I keep supporting this team? Late payments to players, no draft picks, and the butt of league jokes?

September 14th 2020

I think this is a question for your therapist.

Twitter avatar for @AZHustler86Booper @AZHustler86
@CraigSMorgan If you were the new GM whats the best path for the Coyotes. Complete sell off/rebuild, retool, or add pieces and hope the "core" catches fire. Do keep whats left of the coaching staff or start fresh?

September 14th 2020

If ownership’s plan really is a three-year plan, I’d look at acquiring what I can for the veterans in the final years of their contracts, and maybe selling off a couple of key pieces such as Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Darcy Kuemper, who may not be in their primes once the team is ready to make another playoff push. The Coyotes have holes to fill. They have one draft pick in the first three rounds over the next two seasons so trading these players might be a way of stockpiling picks and prospects.

Twitter avatar for @phxroadrunnerGuy Finney @phxroadrunner
@CraigSMorgan With all the changes taking place (front office, players, maybe coaches), will we be getting more Mrs. Rita takes on What It All Means?

September 14th 2020

2 Likes

Maybe, but I have to tell you: Mrs. Rita’s isn’t cheap.

Twitter avatar for @Serenade_azSheryl @Serenade_az
@CraigSMorgan When someone mentions player from the late 90s/early 2000s, if I look them up, it seems like about 80% of the time they spent at least a little time with the Coyotes. At that time, was this just a soft landing for players nearing the end or a place to dump players nobody wanted?

September 14th 2020

1 Like

Former GM Mike Barnett acquired a lot of past-their-prime stars in his time, but the Coyotes were also active in the trade and free agency markets back then.

Twitter avatar for @Serenade_azSheryl @Serenade_az
@CraigSMorgan I've been wanting to ask this for a while, btw. I just never remembered when you did a mailbag. Jan Hrdina was the most recent example. I looked him up so I could write my masterpiece, "Don't Cry for Me, Jan Hrdina," and discovered he spent a little time with the Yotes.

September 14th 2020

1 Like

I’m here for this. I’m assuming you will include the music? Not the Madonna or Patti Lupone versions. The best version. And don’t mistake this for me liking musicals. I just like music and I can appreciate Andrew Lloyd Webber’s genius.

Twitter avatar for @Smitty1915Matt Smith @Smitty1915
@CraigSMorgan What are five reasons to remain a Coyotes fan?

September 14th 2020

1 Like

Live NHL games. Conor Garland. The futures of Barrett Hayton, Jan Jenik, Victor Söderström. The community and talking to me.

Twitter avatar for @AZHockeyNutAZHockeyNut @AZHockeyNut
@CraigSMorgan what will be the go to excuse for not answering a question once a GM is in place and you can no longer use that one?

September 14th 2020

A swollen tongue.

Twitter avatar for @Zach_ElgZach @Zach_Elg
@CraigSMorgan Why does the Coyotes ownership group want to trade oel? Is it literally only because of his contract?

September 14th 2020

His contract and his production level. They do not believe the two are in sync. They want to rebuild/retool and they need to shed salary. He would probably fetch a good return.

Twitter avatar for @kaldareedDangle, Snipe, Belly @kaldareed
@CraigSMorgan Can we buy @gregdunaway a new keyboard that doesn't have a caps lock button, or is it more of a feature than a bug? Also, have there been deep cuts to any other hockey ops related areas?

September 14th 2020

2 Likes

If by bug you mean disease, then I think that’s the appropriate description.

The video scouts were all let go as well as video coach Steve Peters and assistant coach John MacLean (all contracts had expired and were not renewed). Two members of the training staff, Curt Truhe and Tommy Powers are also gone.

Twitter avatar for @TudecTodd Cassel @Tudec
@CraigSMorgan What is your favorite question to get: arena news, mock drafts or proposed trades?

September 14th 2020

2 Likes

D. None of the above.

Twitter avatar for @BarriosBurnerFrancisco Barrios Burner @BarriosBurner
@CraigSMorgan Would you trade Keumper to get a #1 pick etc back at this point?

September 14th 2020

Again, it depends on ownership’s plan. If it is a three-year plan, I would certainly look at that option, but the return would have to be be commensurate with the player and his value.

Twitter avatar for @JPearlAZJosh Pearlman @JPearlAZ
@CraigSMorgan With all of the reports of the Coyotes being in a financial crunch, is there any reason to believe that arena news is going to be coming by the end of the year? Or was that Meruelo being super super optimistic?

September 14th 2020

I have a hard time believing that we are going to get any sort of arena announcement by the end of the year. Not in this climate. Not with the financial issues this franchise is having.

Twitter avatar for @Brandon__SparksBrandon Sparks @Brandon__Sparks
@CraigSMorgan When the Coyotes hire a new GM, how much will they weigh the current players' perspectives (if at all) when making decisions on the coaching staff? Is that the norm, or do they often seek outside perspectives?

September 14th 2020

Sometimes, an organization will seek the council of one or two trusted veterans, but generally that is not something over which the players have much influence.

Twitter avatar for @Smitty1915Matt Smith @Smitty1915
@CraigSMorgan Can you provide us with a complete list of things more painful than being a Coyotes fan?

September 14th 2020

3 Likes

I cannot. That list is too long. I mean, where do I start? Getting eaten by a shark would be near the top of my list. Or getting eaten by anything, for that matter.

Twitter avatar for @JamieLOlsonJamie Olson @JamieLOlson
@CraigSMorgan How does the franchise thrive? In a normal year they lose millions annually so if they dump salary (OEL & Keumper) how will they ever get ahead? They need to be a playoff contender each year to get playoff gate money but also to keep fans engaged and to increase their fan base.

September 14th 2020

It is a vicious circle, and it has been that way for a long time. COVID has created a unique and unprecedented set of circumstances, however. By the way, we don’t even know for certain if fans will be in the stands next season so will there be gate money?

Twitter avatar for @HowlingSince96Dylan Bacon @HowlingSince96
@CraigSMorgan With your news on OEL and Kuemper being actively shopped it looks like the team is targeting a rebuild immediately. But without having a first and one of our 2nd/3rd next year there doesn't seem to be much point to bottoming out. What's the balance?

September 14th 2020

The idea with bottoming out would be to acquire assets for the pieces you trade that could help in the future, including draft picks.

Twitter avatar for @aperkins9248Alison 🐺🏒 @aperkins9248
@CraigSMorgan Knowing what we know now about Hall and our current cap situation if you were to go back pre Taylor Hall trade do you think they should have still traded for him?

September 14th 2020

1 Like

In hindsight, of course not. It felt rushed at the time. It absolutely looks rushed now. This was not a team that was ready to contend for anything more than a playoff spot. They paid a steep price for Hall.

Twitter avatar for @WeightedDreidelBen @WeightedDreidel
@CraigSMorgan Our beer league team has a game this Sunday, will you come watch us and do a post-game analysis?

September 14th 2020

1 Like

Will there be free beer?

Twitter avatar for @gregdunawayGreg @gregdunaway
@CraigSMorgan ARE WE GOOD OR BAD NOW?

September 14th 2020

Is this an existential question?

Twitter avatar for @o_poundO’Dawgs Pound @o_pound
@CraigSMorgan Is Muerelo already having buyers remorse?

September 14th 2020

You have to wonder, given all that has taken place in his first 13 months of ownership.

Twitter avatar for @CoyotesAvs12I love Conor Garland @CoyotesAvs12
@CraigSMorgan When will we finally get a one on one interview with Alex Meruelo? #Yotes fans sure would love to hear from him.

September 15th 2020

1 Like

I don’t know. I’ll keep asking. I agree it would help to hear his thoughts, especially in a market like this one, and in times such as these.

Twitter avatar for @Stevyn39Los Coyotes Steve @Stevyn39
@CraigSMorgan When can we get expect the “I Sure As Shit Want to Cut Costs” t-shirts? Should be a big seller.

September 15th 2020

I don’t see that happening. Maybe you could start your own business.

Questions via email

From James Trotter: How many vets will get dealt to gain picks or cap relief?

Answer: I can’t give you a number. It would be pure speculation, but I did examine it right here:

From Christine McMurdy: I realize the stadium/arena issue may be lower on the priority list due to $$$ but I keep thinking that renovating the former Madhouse on McDowell at the AZ State Fairgrounds is a win-win for the valley. Not to mention the existing footprint could be a savings. Any idea if that has been kicked around? Thanks!

Answer: It was kicked around in the past but that arena is too old and too small. It would have to be torn down. I have not heard that site mentioned in recent talks.

From Mike Collins: Can you toss in a few extra tidbits about the Tucson Roadrunners/AHL occasionally, like maybe an interview with president Bob Hoffman, coach Jay Varady, or get Steve Sullivan's view on the Tucson situation?

Answer: Sure thing. At the appropriate time.

From Stevyn Arnt: Are the Coyotes in a stage of just trying to survive financially? And how disappointed should fans be prepared to be with the returns on OEL or Kuemper if we move forward with the rumored deals?

Answer: It sure feels like they are in survival mode with all of the furloughs, cuts, missed payments and talk of payroll slashing. I can’t speculate on returns because I don’t know what they will be, but a flooded market is cause for some concern. A lot of teams are looking to unload players.

From Scott Schnee: A lot has been said about this team being at the cusp of being a playoff contender. Perhaps, but I don’t see the pieces in place or in the AHL to be a serious Cup contender. Isn’t it time for a true rebuild? Revenue and fan interest will be down next year due to the virus so why not blow the team up and start fresh?

Answer: There is plenty of logic in this approach. I wonder myself if the current group can achieve anything more than it has. This team still needs key pieces. Maybe a rebuild is in order.

From Harold S. Warner III: My question is, first, is this the right system for this team and does Tocchet have the ability to pivot, or is he my way or the highway? The second is, after all this time, if the players are still “learning” the system there seems to be something not working. Which brings us to the final question: In your opinion, is Tocchet the coach for this team, or do they need to start fresh, and this includes the coaching crew?

Answer: I do think Rick Tocchet wants to play a certain way, but the staff has made numerous adjustments to account for their personnel, including offensive play through the neutral zone.

I don’t think the players who have been in this system are still learning it. I think they just get away from it at times during games. That said, I don’t know of many systems that can achieve sustained success without strong offensive play through the middle of the ice. The Coyotes have lacked that element at the center position for most of the past 20 years. It colors everything you see on the ice.

I don’t know how to judge Tocchet and his staff because I think they have been coaching shorthanded for his three seasons here.

From John Steiner: In your opinion, and retrospect, why did the NHL come down so hard on the Coyotes when none of the responsible people were still with the franchise? This likely cost the Coyotes a ton of money in the form of seat sales, merchandise sales and sponsorship money in addition to the draft picks.

Answer: I think the league was under tremendous pressure from the rest of the league to set an example and tell all teams that you can’t do what the Coyotes did. Did the punishment fit the crime? Based on what Elliotte Friedman reported, it may have, but it surprised Alex Meruelo and it has absolutely set this franchise back. I don’t know that the NHL had any choice, but with a franchise struggling to survive, the league didn’t do it any favors.

From Max Bowman: What do you believe is a reasonable return for OEL & Kuemper respectively? What do you think they will actually fetch if they are traded?

Answer: I outlined all of that right here. I can’t speculate on what they will get in return. That’s pure guesswork.

From Jim Mitchell: When the Coyotes were eliminated by Colorado in the first round, who from the coaching staff and management conducted the end of year player interviews? With Chayka gone, did Sullivan lead the review? Any notes for player development during the offseason that team asked the players to work on?

Answer: The GM is always involved in those discussions, but as for notes on development, that list is far too long to detail in a mailbag. Every player got his own set of goals that included items such as skating, skill development, conditioning and optimal playing weight.

From Jim Mitchell: Now that the dust has settled on the season and postseason, and the emotions of playoffs give way to reality, how would you grade out the individual player's season performance for 2019-2020? Growth, performance (under/met/exceeded expectations), development, etc?

Answer: I don’t do grades, but I do have a roster evaluations coming once the dust settles on this GM search.

From Jim Mitchell: With the salary cap for the 2020-2021 season likely to remain flat, if not decrease, do you see any of the UFA's like Taylor Hall taking a one- or two-year deal with any team, including the Coyotes? Regarding Taylor Hall, do you anticipate he will be able to secure a long term (5+ years) in the $8-10 million per season range in free agency during this off season?

Answer: I think all of those contract possibilities exist for Hall. He wants a longer-term deal, but the market may not bear that possibility. I don’t think he will re-sign with the Coyotes. We’ll find out in a month.

From Jim Mitchell: Based on your recent column, if OEL were to be moved, who do you expect would be named captain, also who would wear the As next season?

Answer: It would depend on who is left and who is acquired.

From Matt Blakley: This may be difficult to ascertain with the GM situation still in flux, but is there a gauge on how hockey ops is viewing the timetable on Soderstrom right now? With ownership seemingly eager to move OEL, is Soderstorm being viewed as NHL ready this upcoming season or are they willing to let him develop more if needed?

Answer: They don’t know yet. He will have to prove in training camp that he deserves an NHL spot. I think there is plenty of value in allowing him to develop in the AHL away from the NHL pressure while he learns the North American game and its smaller ice surface.

From Stephen Fisher: With the team cutting and slashing staff to save money, talk of dumping player contracts and now seeming like we are looking for a GM on the cheap (oh and throw in that the team was late in bonus payments), have we run into ANOTHER owner that either doesn’t have or is unwilling to spend any money on this team? It is horrible financial optics for this team right now!

Answer: All fair questions with the global pandemic serving as backdrop. Alex Meruelo’s businesses and net worth have taken a beating, but you can bet that the recent moves get noticed across the league, at every level.

From Matt Coutts: Which 1-3 skills drove Meruelo's original interest in (John) Chayka and which candidate exemplifies those skills?

Answer: I have been told that Chayka has a way of speaking in owners’ terms, whether that is financially or analytically. I don’t know most of the GM candidates personally or professionally, so I cannot say which one best mimics those qualities.

From Brandon Buchholt: Am I wrong to be intrigued by Bill Armstrong even a little bit? The scouting and drafting background is an obvious plus, but it seems to me that the best route to go for the Coyotes is a retool of the center position in the shape of what St Louis was able to accomplish with their acquisitions of Brayden Schenn and Ryan O’Reilly. Given the lack of draft capital, do you think a retool is the best course of action than a full tear down and do you think this makes someone like Bill Armstrong a more intriguing candidate?

Answer: You talk to a lot of people when reporting on a GM search. Armstrong is largely respected around the league and his track record with the Blues is impressive, as I noted in yesterday’s story. Whichever GM is hired has to take a long hard look at this roster. It needs work and trading off some veterans might help acquire draft capital, but you have to temper your view with what you think your top prospects can bring in the next few seasons.

From Millie Bessey: What's your opinion of the possible Kuemper trade? I know about rebuilding and all but it seems like if that were the case, they are trading away the franchise. I mean, he kept them in the hunt for a legit playoff spot before the injury. Would it really make more sense to keep Raanta who will no doubt be on the IRL for most of the season or move forward with Kuemper while Hill gets his NHL sea legs? I don't believe Hill is ready for real duty.

Answer: As I noted elsewhere in the mailbag, trading Kuemper makes sense if you are looking three or more years down the road and don’t believe you will be a contender before then. The trick is in the return. You have to get requisite value or else the trade makes little sense. I think the Coyotes have looked at this roster and have come to the conclusion that it isn’t going to achieve much more than it did this season. So how do you get to the next level without acquiring more talent; talent that they cannot acquire through the draft the next two seasons?

From Dustin Rayhorn: With Coyotes loss of GM, salary cap flatlined and a large salary burden in place, massive organizational layoffs, and no clear path to attendance based revenue generation, what does Coyotes future really look like?

Answer: Right now, not so good. If they can weather their financial losses, they may be able to chart a course for a better future three or four seasons down the road.

From Jeff Inwood: I like the sound of Bill Armstrong as our new GM because he has a track record of drafting well and building a team. What are the chances of us securing his services and what do hockey GMs get paid these days?  

I addressed Armstrong above. NHL GMs can make anywhere from $1 million (sometimes even a bit less) to $5-6 million per year, depending on the market and their experience. The Coyotes generally come in on the low end of that scale.

From Matt Cepkauskas: My questions are these. I have been really disturbed by all the Chayka saga. The league drops a devastating hammer on the team with the loss of draft picks. The Coyotes already traded two picks to NJ. What advantage was gained that warranted such a harsh punishment? Will the Coyotes even have an opportunity to draft any players they illegally tested?

Answer: It’s fair to ask if the Coyotes really gained much of an advantage. If any, it was minor. The punishment came more from a position of them breaking the rules. The league wanted and needed to make a statement. The Coyotes do not have a pick in the first three rounds, but if they did acquire one, I assume they would be free to pick whomever they wanted.

From Matt Cepkauskas: How does Chayka just walk with no punishment?

Answer: That is not a fait accompli. We’ll see how his contract dispute with the Coyotes plays out, and we’ll see whether he is allowed to work in the league in the near future.

From Matt Cepkauskas: Will the Coyotes pursue any damages from NJ for tampering with Chayka? What NJ did was completely unethical and I am guessing will have no consequences. The illegal testing was wrong and may provide a slight advantage in drafting but how this tampering with Chayka unfolded was devastating to the entire organization.

Answer: We don’t have enough information to render that judgment just yet.

Follow Craig Morgan on Twitter: @CraigSMorgan

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Sheryl
Sep 15, 2020Liked by Craig Morgan

Sheryl1 min

"Don't Cry for Me, Jan Hrdina" was inspired by someone on Pens Twitter's handle. It is not my best effort in my new dream of becoming the Weird Al of sports parody songs (in my early 20s, I dreamed of writing The Great American Novel. In my late 40s, I write proposals at work and bits of parody sports songs when the mood strikes in my spare time).

.

.

.

Don't cry for me, Jan Hrdina.

The truth is you were a Penguin

And a Coyote

And then a Devil

Then a Blue Jacket

At the pro level.

.

.

.

A much better effort was my ode to Christian Fischer, set to "Sister Christian."

.

.

.

Christian Fischer plays ice hockey

He's a forward for the Coyotes

Right wing, they say.

He’s on the ice

for a four-on-four

You know the Yotes

Really want him to score tonight

Or fight.

.

.

.

He's motoring

Toward the other net

Did he get a shot off yet?

It'll be a tip I'll bet.

I need to get out more. Or at all.

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George Fallar
Sep 15, 2020Liked by Craig Morgan

I would also settle for Connor McDavid.

Also, this "three year plan" talk is really getting my goat.

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