Contract talks for Coyotes' Boedker ongoing

Aside from prepping for the NHL draft, gauging the trade market and sizing up the free-agent pool, Coyotes General Manager Don Maloneyis also focused on re-signing winger Mikkel Boedker.

"Hopefully we'll get that done in relatively short order because he's important to us," Maloney said. "He's a key guy for us."

Talks on a new contract between Maloney and Boedker's camp are ongoing. The 25-year-old is a restricted free agent so as long as the Coyotes tender a qualifying offer by the end of the month, they'll retain his rights. Maloney categorized negotiations as "moving forward," a sentiment shared by Boedker's agent Jarrett Bousquet.

"It's just a matter of whether we do something long, long-term or long-term or short-term," Maloney said.

Boedker is only one season shy of potentially reaching unrestricted free agency and previously expressed excitement over the possibility of a long-term deal. A contract of that length certainly would make sense for the Coyotes in light of Boedker's rising production and value as a top-six forward. But with a handful of young players expected to join the Coyotes in the coming years, Maloney is keeping a watchful eye on his books.

"We have to be careful," he said. "We just don't want to be caught in a position where we're overcommitting."

Boedker is coming off a two-year, $5.1 million contract that wasn't signed until a few days before training camp in 2013. Last season, he tallied 14 goals and 28 points through 45 games before a hit in a game Jan.18 against the Jets damaged his spleen, requiring season-ending surgery to remove it.

"He's doing great," Maloney said. "He reports in weekly. He's training, and hopefully that's behind him."

Catching up with the captain

Maloney and coach Dave Tippett have kept in touch with Shane Doansince the conclusion of an extremely frustrating season for the captain, and Maloney portrayed Doan as being motivated to help the Coyotes bounce back next season.

"He's back. He's refreshed. He knows what we need to do," Maloney said. "We're going to need leadership and good leadership, and he's been dragging this franchise along for five years. Maybe his role gets reduced somewhat. It's up to Tip and his staff, but he certainly is important to who we are, how we want to play, the image we want to show to the world. So I'm happy to say he's refreshed and excited to go to training camp."

Tikhonov update

Maloney continues to have talks with Viktor Tikhonov'sagent, but it's still unclear if the Coyotes and their 28th overall pick from 2008 can agree to a deal.

Tikhonov has spent the past four seasons playing in the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia but is interested in a possible return to the NHL. The Coyotes will hold Tikhonov's NHL rights until July 1 when he's eligible to become an unrestricted free agent.

"We would like to bring him back if the price is right," Maloney said. "I don't know whether that's going to happen."

Goalie coach needed

Only one team has formally requested permission from the Coyotes to talk to goaltending coach Sean Burke, who wants to pursue a managerial role elsewhere in the league.

"I think it's fairly clear Sean's going to be moving on," Maloney said.

In the meantime, the Coyotes are still sifting through possible replacements for Burke.

"We've got a number of things we're looking at right now," Maloney said. "It's just a matter of who fits best with us."

​​​Smith revita​liz​ed

​Tippett has had regular communication with goalie Mike Smithsince Smith's gold-medal performance with Canada at the World Championship last month, and it's been easy for Tippett to detect Smith's enthusiasm for getting back on the ice with the Coyotes.

​"Smitty, health-wise, is great," Tippett said. "(His) mental state of how he finished the year is great. We just need him to come in and play that way at the start of the year, and I have every belief that he'll do that. He's as good as I've heard him in a long time."

​Spring into action​​

​Maloney said the organization is close to finding a head coach for its American Hockey League affiliate, which will be managed by Assistant General Manager Darcy Regier.

​​The Coyotes' agreed to a three-year deal with the Falcons in Springfield, Mass., after their agreement with Portland expired. The team tried to see if an AHL franchise was available for purchase at a reasonable price, which would have enabled the Coyotes to move their affiliate west to join a newly-created Pacific Division, but there wasn't a deal to be had, Maloney said.

​Speed vs. strength

Judging by the recent Stanley Cup champions – and the two teams still vying for this year's trophy – no clear-cut recipe for success exists.

​The Kings used a bruising, heavy style to grind out two Cup victories in three seasons, while the Blackhawks are contending for their third championship in six seasons thanks to their speed and skill. Designing a team that can keep up with all approaches seems to be the key.

"You have to have an organization with flexibility," Tippett said. "But we feel like with our assets, all our young assets –(Brendan) Perlini, (Max) Domiand (Anthony) Duclair– speed is going to be a big part of our movement going forward.

​"We expect to build that way but that being said, you don't want to get into a situation where you're going to play against a team that your speed is countered by their heaviness."

​Rule changes

​The league's competition committee, which includes Maloney as a representative on behalf of the NHL, met last week to discuss recommendations that include a coach's challenge and a change to the overtime format.

​​With the coach's challenge, expanded video review would be used for goals that may have resulted from goaltender interference of offside plays. The committee also suggested the player from the defensive team put his stick down first for a faceoff in the defensive zone. As for overtime, while there was talk for a change (either a 4-on-4 model that shifts to 3-on-3 or five minutes completely of 3-on-3), nothing was finalized.

​"I thought the players were very receptive, creative and concerned about where scoring is and how to open up the game," Maloney said.

​​​Ice chips

​-The Coyotes are currently working on assembling their bid to host the 2018 World Junior Championship, which is due to USA Hockey by the end of the month.

​"I'm very impressed with what the team has been able to put together, and I think the fact that this is a location that has hosted some pretty high-end events as recently as this year with the Super Bowl, next year with the college (football) championship, the year after that with the Final Four, we feel very excited about that," President, CEO and co-owner Anthony LeBlancsaid.

​LeBlanc also mentioned the Coyotes continue to work with Arizona State, whose hockey team is moving to Division I next season. ASU would be responsible for leading the bid to host a future NCAA Frozen Four, an event that intrigues the Coyotes.

​-The plan for new uniforms, which will be unveiled at the team's draft party June 26 at Gila River Arena, originated not long after IceArizona purchased the Coyotes in August 2013.

​"We felt like it was the right thing to do," LeBlanc said. "We think it's a great, great uniform, great logo. We just wanted to make some tweaks."