Tobias Rieder, Coyotes reach 2-year deal
Oct 3, 2016, 8:35 PM | Updated: Oct 4, 2016, 11:29 am
Arizona Coyotes' Tobias Rieder (8), of Germany, gets tripped up by Anaheim Ducks' Sami Vatanen (45), of Finland, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 3, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Restricted free-agent left wing Tobias Rieder and the Coyotes have agreed on a two-year, $4.45 million deal that will carry an average annual value of $2.225 million, his agent, Darren Ferris, confirmed to Arizona Sports on Monday evening.
The Coyotes confirmed the deal in a press release Tuesday morning.
Rieder will receive $2 million in the first year and $2.45 million the next.
“Tobi is a reliable, two-way forward who competes extremely hard,” GM John Chayka said in the release. “He had a great World Cup and we are excited to have him back.”
Rieder just concluded the World Cup of Hockey on Thursday, where he had one assist in eight games playing for Team Europe, which advanced to the final before falling to Canada in two games. Ferris said he has been training in Toronto with skills coach Jari Byrski, who also works with Steven Stamkos, Sam Bennett and Jason Spezza. He could join the team in the next few days but the two sides are still working through those details. The Coyotes played Monday in Vancouver and will play Wednesday in Calgary.
As of last week, Ferris said he was seeking a two-year deal worth an AAV of $2.5 million, down from the previous asking price of $2.7 million per year. Last week, Ferris said he thought it would be best if the two sides agreed to a trade, but Coyotes general manager John Chayka insisted Rieder would not be traded.
Rieder had 14 goals, 23 assists, 37 points and 17:18 of average ice time last season — all career highs for the second-year player. He had 13 goals and 21 points in his first NHL season when he was the surprise of training camp.
Because Rieder is coming off an entry-level deal (three years, $2.775 million), he was not eligible for salary arbitration so his only options beyond signing were to hold out or take one of the offers Ferris said were on the table from KHL clubs (believed to be in Metallurg & Omsk).
The Coyotes held firm on the belief that the current value was what Rieder was worth based on comparables. If Rieder had not signed by Dec. 1, he would have been ineligible to play in the NHL this season.
The Coyotes now have a logjam at left wing, with Max Domi, Jamie McGinn, Jordan Martinook and Rieder all locked in to roster spots, and prospect Lawson Crouse battling for the job.
Per generalfanager.com, the Coyotes have less than $1 million in cap space available, but some of that is dependent on the final roster, which isn’t due until Oct. 11 at 2 p.m., Arizona time.
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