The Coyotes have had initial discussions with restricted free agent Anthony Duclair on a new contract with talks expected to continue and, although the two sides have yet to reach a resolution, the team knows how long a commitment it wants.

“It’s going to be a one- or two-year deal,” General Manager John Chayka said. “That’s where we’re at. We’ve talked. We understand where each other’s at.”

Acquired as the centerpiece of the Keith Yandle trade with the Rangers in 2015, Duclair has had an up-and-down performance with the Coyotes. He was dynamic as a rookie, scoring 20 goals in 2015-16.

But the 21-year-old winger stumbled last season, getting healthy scratched and ultimately demoted to the minors to try to rediscover his offensive touch. He finished with just five goals.

“That’s just the reality of the situation,” Chayka said. “I like 'Duke' as a player a lot, as a person a lot, but he had a rough year. I think it’s more just about getting him back on the horse, getting him going. For both the team and the player, short-term is the best.”

Winger Jordan Martinook also remains unsigned. The restricted free-agent winger filed for salary arbitration, with a hearing scheduled for July 26 in Toronto.

Talks on a new deal have been going well, Martinook's agent Jeff Helperl wrote in an email, but Helperl wasn't sure if the two sides would be able to reach a resolution before their hearing.

Martinook, 24, set career highs in goals (11) and points (25) last season as he roved all over the lineup. He's coming off a two-year, $1.225 million contract.

“It’s a pretty tight, comparable group,” Chayka said. “You have a good sense of where it’s going to end up. Whether they agree with that sense or not, then that’s where things get to the arbitrator, I guess. But we’re pretty firm on what we believe is the range. We’re in that range, so now it’s up to them if they want to make a deal or if they want to arbitrate. We’re comfortable.”

Center Tyler Gaudet and goalie Marek Langhamer are the team’s other two unsigned RFAs, but talks are ongoing. The qualifying offers that the Coyotes extended to all four expire Saturday, but even if players don’t accept them by the deadline, negotiations can continue. Arizona is just no longer required to stick to that offer, which could then decrease.

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Search continues

Coach Rick Tocchet is leading the search to fill out his staff with assistants, a process that will include Chayka.

There’s no deadline to make hires, and Tocchet wants to mimic the setup he had in Pittsburgh as an assistant under Mike Sullivan, in which each coach had autonomy. He doesn’t want “yes men” and is seeking assistants to challenge him.

“I want guys that can think outside the box, constantly thinking about the game, the way it’s growing," Tocchet said. "They have to be able to deal with the younger mind. They have to be a good communicator. We do a lot of stuff on the ice, a lot of skills stuff. So I want a guy he has that skill-set in him. He has somewhat of a presence."

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Busy summer

Tocchet wants to get acclimated at Gila River Arena and familiarize himself with those he’ll be working with at the building. He’ll start reaching out to players and plans to host a coaching symposium once his staff is settled.

He also has to move to the Valley, which he enjoyed during his previous stints as a player and assistant.

“It’s definitely my top three or four moments going to Phoenix at the time," Tocchet said. "The Coyotes, we had a close team. The fans were great. I mean, we packed them in down at America West (Arena). We were very close to getting to the next level, very, very close. I have fond memories as a player. It's a great lifestyle."

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Reach the reporter at sarah.mclellan@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8276. Follow her at twitter.com/azc_mclellan.