Mailbag: Coyotes' chances under Rick Tocchet, Sabres' offseason moves
NHL.com's Dan Rosen answers weekly questions
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If literally everything goes the Arizona Coyotes' way, are they a legit Stanley Cup contender or still rebuilding? -- @briantodd34
Still rebuilding.
I like the changes the Coyotes have made this offseason. I like Rick Tocchet as the new coach. I think he can raise the energy level and clearly he has proven an ability to work with players of all kinds considering the Pittsburgh Penguins players, especially the forwards, and especially right wing Phil Kessel, swear by him and how he worked with them as an assistant. He relates well to players. Tocchet deserves another chance. Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos can attest to how Tocchet helped make him develop from a young prospect to a star. Penguins forwards Conor Sheary, Bryan Rust and Jake Guentzel flourished under Tocchet.
That said, the Coyotes won't be a legit Stanley Cup contender this season. What they have to be is better than they were last season. They have to show progress, which is why they needed an infusion of experienced winners to help with the culture they're trying to build. They brought in some excellent leaders in defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson and center Derek Stepan. It shouldn't even be a question that defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson should be captain, taking over for Shane Doan, and Stepan and Hjalmarsson should be alternate captains. That's the Coyotes' new leadership core, along with defenseman Alex Goligoski and forward Brad Richardson. Falling in behind them are forwards Max Domi, Anthony Duclair, Christian Dvorak, Clayton Keller, Dylan Strome, Lawson Crouse and Brendan Perlini, and defenseman Jakob Chychrun. It'll be up to Ekman-Larsson, Stepan, Hjalmarsson, Goligoski and Richardson to guide the Coyotes' younger players and help teach them how to be winners in the NHL. And, yes, the Coyotes have a talented pool of young players, but they'd be skating blind without some help.
One thing I will note is I still have my reservations about Antti Raanta being a No. 1 goalie because he hasn't done it before. In addition, Raanta had a .914 save percentage when he made eight straight starts for the New York Rangers from March 9-25, a time when Henrik Lundqvist was out because of a lower-body injury. It's unfair to judge him on eight starts, but he still has to prove he can be a No. 1. He'll get that chance with the Coyotes, and that could be a good thing too.
Jarome Iginla, Jaromir Jagr, Shane Doan: Any news on any of them being signed and what do you think will happen? -- @HeyimbanuPeter
I think there is a place on an NHL roster for Iginla and Jagr. I'm not as sold on Doan. I haven't heard any news about any of the three of them being close to signing with a team. There are plenty of potentially attractive landing spots, most notably the Minnesota Wild, Calgary Flames, Penguins, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Lightning, Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers. All have the cap space and the need for another forward who can put the puck in the net. Iginla and Jagr still can do that. Doan still might be able to do it as well, but it was hard to tell last season with the Coyotes because they just weren't good enough and he didn't help the cause with his play.
I hate predictions, but it's the summer and why not have a little fun? Total guesses here, so don't hold my hand to the fire on them, but I'll say Iginla goes back to the Bruins, where he had success playing with David Krejci, Jagr signs with the Flames so he can say he played for a Canadian team and Doan announces his retirement before taking a year away from the game to contemplate what is next.
Are the New York Rangers in on Tyler Bozak? -- @SchapDiesel
It's certainly plausible to think they would be interested in Bozak if the Toronto Maple Leafs are dangling him out there for a potential trade. It's no secret that the Maple Leafs have depth up front and need some assistance on their back end. It's no secret that the Rangers need another center in their lineup to replace Stepan, who they traded to the Coyotes. I was told by a Rangers representative after the trade that they would find a replacement either through free agency or in a trade. It hasn't happened through free agency, so a trade is the most likely scenario now. And it's also no secret the Rangers have depth on defense, a position of strength after the signing of Kevin Shattenkirk, the acquisition of Tony DeAngelo and the signings of college free agent Neal Pionk and KHL free agent Alexei Bereglazov. It's fair to assume that if the Maple Leafs are interested in Rangers defenseman Nick Holden, the two sides might be able to work something out. I don't have that firm from anyone inside either organization, but the needs match up. But do the wants match up?
With Charlie McAvoy pushing for a spot on the roster, what will the Boston Bruins' defense look like opening night? Will they acquire a left-handed defenseman? -- @PeteLittlefield
I think the fact that Bruins general manager Don Sweeney has not been active in free agency or the trade market suggests he wants to give some of the prospects an opportunity. Matt Grzelcyk, Robbie O'Gara and Jakub Zboril are left-handed shooting defensemen. Coach Bruce Cassidy told the Bruins website that he thinks Zboril, a first-round pick (No. 13) in 2015, seems more mature, talkative and engaging. He said Zboril is a player to keep an eye on, especially with the Bruins' need for a left-shot defenseman. Grzelcyk and O'Gara played for Providence of the American Hockey League last season. Perhaps one or both is ready for a full-time NHL spot.
The point is, I don't think Sweeney is going to be actively pursuing a left-shot defenseman because he already may have one ready to make an impact this season, just like Brandon Carlo did on the right side last season.
And I don't think there is a question that McAvoy, barring injury or just terrible play in training camp, will be on the opening night roster. Our Ben Zweiman did the
Bruins roster reset
and had McAvoy on the top pair with Zdeno Chara. He had Torey Krug and Carlo as the second pair and Kevan Miller and Adam McQuaid as the third pair. However, it's realistic to think Grzelcyk, O'Gara and Zboril will push Miller and McQuaid.
What will prove to be the most impactful offseason move for the Buffalo Sabres, excluding the coach and GM searches? -- @Andyrewu94
For now I'll say bringing back goaltender Chad Johnson, who is a 1B option behind Robin Lehner, who is a restricted free agent. Johnson gives the Sabres better goaltending depth. They need that to even have a chance at pushing for a playoff spot. But I wonder if new general manager Jason Botterill's most impactful offseason move hasn't been made yet. He has $14.9 million of space under the salary cap, according to CapFriendly.com, with some of that expected to go to Lehner and defenseman Nathan Beaulieu, who each filed for salary arbitration. But the Sabres have an obvious need to get better at left wing, so even outside of Lehner and Beaulieu, I don't think the book is closed on the Sabres' offseason yet. He also has a contract extension to work out with center Jack Eichel.
Winnipeg Jets' best options for a rental to get to the Western Conference Second Round? -- @propertyjen
This is putting the cart before the horse. The Jets have to get to the Western Conference First Round before they can even contemplate life in the second round. They have been to the Stanley Cup Playoffs once in six seasons (2015) since they relocated to Winnipeg from Atlanta. They didn't win a game. Prior to the move, the Atlanta Thrashers went to the playoffs one time in 11 seasons (2007). They did not win a game. This franchise is 0-8 in the postseason, so before we start talking about the second round, they need to make the playoffs, and then win a game (or four) in the first round.
As for rental options, that's a consideration general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff will make in the winter if the Jets are in playoff contention. They have approximately $9.9 million in salary cap space, according to CapFriendly.com, with 23 players signed, not including restricted free agents goalie Connor Hellebuyck and forward Andrew Copp. They are young and they have a lot of talent, but it hasn't translated yet. In the past two seasons they are 28th in goals-against per game (2.99) and in penalty kill (77.9 percent), and 27th in power play (16.5 percent). In addition, they have the fifth-most penalty minutes (1,755). That's how you get to 75-74-15. They need to improve their defense, goaltending, special teams and discipline to get to the point where Cheveldayoff can go hunting for a rental player so they can make the playoffs. They need to make the playoffs to get to the second round.
Battle of the Conors MCs -- Conor McGregor is going to boxing and might do OK. What other sport do you think Connor McDavid would excel in? -- @AndrewKanagin
Full disclosure: I have never asked McDavid what other sports he used to excel in or still does excel in, but in doing some research, I found that our own Pat Pickens wrote about how McDavid beat Canadian professional tennis player Denis Shapovalov in a ping pong match. I'm not kidding.
Here is the story from July 24
. If McDavid can excel at ping pong, or table tennis, than my guess is he has to be pretty good on the tennis court as well. With his quick feet, terrific hand-eye coordination, cat-like reflexes and long strides, my assumption is that McDavid is pretty good on the court. And, of course, now I have to ask him about it the next time I get a chance.
