10 Coyotes questions as the NHL offseason approaches its crescendo

The NHL Draft is one week away. NHL free agency begins in a little more than two weeks. With defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson nearing a contract extension that should be in place by the draft, defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson agreeing to an eight-year extension that should be signed on July 1, and goalie Antti Raanta already having signed a three-year, $12.75 million extension, the Coyotes will have taken care of their most pressing needs ahead of those two major events.

Here are 10 questions worth pondering as the NHL offseason nears its crescendo.

1. Whom will the Coyotes draft?

Everyone has their opinion and just about every outlet is offering those mind-numbing mock drafts. Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and forward Andrei Svechnikov are the consensus top two picks, but forwards Filip Zadina, Brady Tkachuk and Oliver Wahlstrom are possibilities, as are center Jesperi Kotkaniemi, right-handed defensemen Adam Boqvist, Evan Bouchard, Noah Dobson and left-handed defenseman Quinn Hughes. Coyotes general manager John Chayka is going with the best-player-available mentality, but with a caveat.

Chayka weights the premium positions of center and defense more heavily because they touch the game in more ways than wings. All other things being equal, that would tip the scales, but if the scouting staff feels a wing can be an elite, impact player, they could still go in that direction.

2. Will the Coyotes make noise via trades for a second straight year?

Chayka hasn’t exactly hidden his desire to add to the NHL roster via trades. A top-six or top-nine center is at the top of that list. The Coyotes will meet to discuss their options early next week.

Buffalo Sabres center Ryan O’Reilly (24 goals, 61 points last season) is among the more intriguing centers who may be available.

O’Reilly, 27, fits in the age-range Chayka said the organization has identified as a gap that needed filling. O’Reilly has five years left on his contract at an average annual value of $7.5 million, but after next season, his actual salary drops from $8.5 million per year to $6 million over the final four years. For perspective, Derek Stepan ($6.5 million AAV) will make $6 million, $5 million and $5 million in the final three years of his contract with Arizona.

3. What are the greatest needs within the organization?

There aren’t many areas in the pipeline that the Coyotes can say are well-stocked, but the two areas that appear to be best situated (depending on development arcs) are goaltending (Adin Hill, Hunter Miska, Erik Kallgren, Merrick Madsen) and left defense, where Ekman-Larsson and Jakob Chychrun look like fixtures for a long time, Alex Goligoski is signed for three more seasons, and prospects P.O. Joseph, Trevor Murphy, Kyle Capobianco and Cam Dineen show promise.

Jason Demers is the only right-handed defenseman under contract at the NHL level, with Cameron Crotty, Filip Westerlund and Ilya Lyubushkin the top prospects. The Coyotes need more help there, they need high-end talent at the center position and they need scoring on the wings, with coach Rick Tocchet putting a premium on “sticky” players who can hang onto the puck in the corners and along the walls.

4. What do the Coyotes hope to add beyond a center?

Tocchet listed another top-five defenseman and a scoring wing as his next greatest needs. The Coyotes may have to settle for a No. 6 defenseman due to financial constraints. Both positions could come via trade or via free agency. They Coyotes may not land all three.

5. What will become of the Coyotes’ current unrestricted free agents?

Forwards Brad Richardson, Zac Rinaldo and defensemen Kevin Connauton and Luke Schenn will also test the market. Connauton’s 11 goals last season could price him out of his expected role with the Coyotes as a third-pair defenseman. The signing of center Marcus Kruger clouds Richardson’s future and Rinaldo’s fate would likely rest on what else the Coyotes do. Schenn is likely to sign with another team.

6. What will happen with restricted free agent Max Domi?

Rumors continue to swirl around the three-year pro, whom the Coyotes would likely tender a qualifying offer if he is still on the roster after the draft. Chayka will not trade Domi as an undervalued asset, but Domi is one of the few tradeable pieces (Brendan Perlini is another) that could help bring a significant piece in return, such as a center or a scoring wing.

If they aren’t blown away by an offer, the Coyotes could also hang onto Domi and see if, with a year under his belt year in Tocchet’s system, he could recapture the promise he showed his first two seasons. It’s important to remember that despite his scoring and turnover struggles, Domi had a career-high 36 assists last season and did a surprisingly good job on the defensive side of the puck when Tocchet asked him to play center.

7. What about the other NHL RFAs?

Center Laurent Dauphin adds helpful center depth at the NHL and AHL levels. Freddie Hamilton isn’t likely to return. The deadline for teams to tender qualifying offers to RFAs is June 25.

8. Will the Coyotes fill their vacant assistant general manager position?

The Coyotes announced on May 1 that they would not renew assistant GM Chris O’Hearn’s contract. O’Hearn was charged largely with managing the salary-cap and contracts. When asked if the franchise was looking for a replacement, Chayka said the team was still defining the exact profile of the position. That profile will have a big impact on whether they fill the vacancy, and with whom.

9. Is there any chance Dave Bolland will return for the final year of his contract?

Bolland’s agent, Anton Thun, said Friday that while Bolland (ankle, back) is feeling better, there is no expectation he’ll be physically able to play the final year of his contract ($5.5M cap hit) with the Coyotes. He’ll likely go on long-term injured reserve again once the season starts.

Bolland recently bought a home in London, Ontario so he can be closer to his daughter. It is likely that after this season, he will formally announce his retirement.

10. Will there be arena or ownership news soon?

There is nothing new to report on either front. The Coyotes continue to explore multiple arena options and Andrew Barroway continues to explore potential investors. There may not be any news on either front all summer (which is good for reporters’ vacations).

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