‘Yotes Notes: Tobias Rieder’s agent wants trade; roster cuts announced

ArizonaSports.com reported last week what restricted free agent forward Tobias Rieder was looking for in contract negotiations with the Coyotes, and that he would not report to camp without a deal (standard ops for RFAs). With those negotiations still at an impasse, Rieder’s agent, Darren Ferris, said via email on Wednesday that it is time to consider other options.

“I think it would be best for both parties if they just traded him,” Ferris wrote. “He is really disappointed with them.”

Last week at media day, GM John Chayka said the Coyotes had originally been looking at longer-term deals for Rieder, but the two sides could find no common ground so they decided to discuss a bridge deal.

“When you get to that point, there’s not a whole lot of wiggle room or creativity involved in those discussions,” Chayka said. “You’re limited to what you have and the comparable sets to comparable sets.”

Ferris said that while his camp is now seeking a two-year deal at an average annual value of $2.5 million, the Coyotes are not budging on their offer.

“They offered $2.2 million,” said Ferris, adding that the Coyotes have also offered a lower, one-year qualifying offer. “They are not working toward any amicable deal at all. There really haven’t been any negotiations, per se. The team is unwilling it seems to negotiate. Tobi is the only one making any effort.

“It’s unfortunate that a good kid gets treated this way. He never balked at the defensive role they made him play, and they don’t seem to value the intangibles he brings to the team.”

Chayka reiterated a stance on Wednesday that the Coyotes have held since negotiations began. Rieder will not be traded.

It would be helpful to hear from Rieder, but he is not talking (players rarely offer much during negotiations) so we have to assume that Ferris is stating his wishes accurately. Rieder and coach Dave Tippett have a good relationship, but their time together at the World Cup of Hockey, which included a dinner in Montreal, did not produce a new deal.

Rieder is still playing in the World Cup finals for Team Europe against Team Canada. Europe lost Game 1 on Tuesday. Game 2 is Thursday and if necessary, a deciding Game 3 would be played Saturday.

If Rieder does not sign by Dec.1 he cannot play in the NHL this season. Ferris has said he is mulling a couple of KHL offers on which he will devote more attention after the World Cup has ended.

ROSTER CUTS

The Coyotes announced four cuts from their training camp roster on Wednesday. Defenseman Kyle Capobianco and Cam Dineen were sent back to their respective junior teams in the Ontario Hockey League: Capobianco to Sudbury, Dineen to North Bay.

The Coyotes also released forward Lane Pederson and defenseman Jalen Smereck from their amateur tryout agreements.

Capobianco was the first of the team’s four third-round picks in 2015 (63rd overall); Dineen was the team’s third-round pick (68th overall) this year.

Earlier in camp, the Coyotes released defenseman Olivier LeBlanc, forward MacKenzie Braid and goalie Austin Lotz. Coach Dave Tippett expects a much larger group of cuts this weekend. The camp roster stands at 52 players.

LOOSE PUCKS

— Coyotes 2012 first-round Henrik Samuelsson, whom we wrote about this week, has two goals in two preseason games.

— Back from playing for the Czech Republic at the World Cup of Hockey, Coyotes center Martin Hanzal and defenseman Zbybek Michalek will practice on Thursday. Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Sweden) will be back Friday.

— Bovada released its odds for each NHL team making the playoffs this season and the Coyotes finished dead last at 4 to 1.

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