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But, he said in his pre-draft press conference Wednesday, if he saw both a defenseman and a forward available at pick No. 11 that were of equal talent, he knows which way the Flyers would likely go.

"Well, then we’d probably lean toward the defenseman," Holmgren said. "Just because of our needs."

So, which defensemen will be available with the 11th pick? It’s a tough call -- as Holmgren said, no matter how many mock drafts the Flyers put together, one team who selects before them on Sunday (the draft begins at 3 p.m.) will surely make a surprise pick that throws everything off track.

In CSNPhilly.com’s mock NHL draft, Russ Cohen predicted the Flyers would go after a towering defenseman with some familiar ties: Darnell Nurse, the nephew of former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb (see story).

By all accounts, Nurse is certainly a Flyers-type player. And, understandably, Holmgren likes what he’s seen from the 18-year-old Ontario native.

“I’ve seen Darnell play a few times,” Holmgren said. “He’s a hard-nosed kid. He’s like 6-4, I would venture to guess he weighs like 210 pounds (he’s listed as 6-5/192). He’s still, when you watch him play, a lot of elbows and knees, but he’s a rugged, hard-nosed player that can fight, pretty good with the puck, and he’ll continue to get better.

"But I have no idea if he’ll be there at our pick.”

Even if he isn’t, 2013’s draft class is a deep one -- especially on defense. Another good possibility to target at No. 11 is Finnish D-man Rasmus Ristolainen, a 6-foot-3, 207-pound 18-year-old who has been playing professional hockey in Finland since he was 16 years old.

“Physically, he looks like a man right now compared to some of the kids you see,” Holmgren said of Ristolainen. “He played in the men’s league in Finland. I would say of all the defensemen (with the exception of Seth Jones, the top defenseman in the draft), in my opinion, he’s probably the most ready to jump right in. Offensively, looks like a good prospect -- solid defensively with a big shot.”

Asked for an NHL comparison, Holmgren said Ristolainen reminded him of Adam Larsson, the defenseman selected by the New Jersey Devils fourth overall in 2011.

Ryan Pulock, the Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) defenseman from Manitoba was the final prospect Holmgren commented on Wednesday. At 6-foot-1 and 211 pounds, the 18-year-old is well known primarily for one feature of his game.

"He’s really got a bomb for a power play," Holmgren said. "He’s actually pretty physically developed, too. There’s a lot of good prospects [this year]."

Holmgren added Pulock is "not as physical as Nurse," but that he's still certainly "a good solid prospect."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.28.2013

682745 Phoenix Coyotes

Glendale releases draft contract for Phoenix Coyotes deal

By Paul Giblin The Republic | azcentral.com Thu Jun 27, 2013 7:18 PM

Glendale taxpayers, the prospective owners of the Phoenix Coyotes and hockey fans will share the financial burdens associated with keeping the team in Arizona, according to terms of a draft deal released by the city and team Thursday.

Coyotes: Timeline of team in Glendale >>

The prospective deal concerns the team’s use of Jobing.com Arena, a city-owned facility where the Coyotes have played since 2003.

Vice Mayor Yvonne Knaack and Councilmen Gary Sherwood and Sam Chavira called for a vote on the matter Tuesday.

The vote on Tuesday should seal the fate of the National Hockey League team for at least five years.

If the council approves the contract, the Coyotes will remain under the ownership of investors calling themselves IceArizona. This is the second name associated with the current prospective Coyotes ownership group. Originally, the group was called Renaissance Sports & Entertainment. The original four investors will remain as Renaissance and will serve as the managing partners of IceArizona, which will include a broader group of investors.

If the council rejects the contract, IceArizona executives are expected to back out of their tentative purchase agreement with the NHL, leaving the team ripe for relocation.

“Do we have the votes to pass it Tuesday? I don’t know. I hope we do, but I’m not sure,” Councilman Gary Sherwood told The Arizona Republic.

Sherwood said city officials have gotten the best offer IceArizona were going to produce, so the time for a vote is right.

Mayor Jerry Weiers said he was disappointed Tuesday’s vote will cut short the time available to analyze the deal.

Weiers called for a public workshop 1:30 p.m. Friday at City Hall so council members and the public can be briefed on the final draft concurrently.

“The very reason I’m calling this meeting is I want the public to see what’s going on,” he said.

According to the deal points released by city officials, Glendale would pay IceArizona $15 million a year to manage the arena, while IceArizona would reimburse the city $6.72 million through fees charged to ticket-buyers and related sources.

The reimbursements would be in addition to the city’s collection of sales taxes for admission, concessions and other business for hockey games at the arena. IceArizona executives estimate that at nearly $637,000, using what they term an “excessively conservative estimate.”

The draft agreement calls for the Coyotes to remain as the anchor tenant at the $220 million arena for 15 years, but the proposed team owners could leave if their cumulative losses reach $50 million or for any reason after five years.

Glendale noted the deal would not allow the city a similar out clause.

The city’s statement also noted the compressed time that hockey executives allowed for negotiations.

“The most recent contract proposal was received from the Renaissance group for review by the city of Glendale at approximately 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26. The Renaissance group expects the Glendale City Council to vote on the agreement on Tuesday, July 2,” the statement said.

The city noted the agreement remains a draft that is under negotiation. The council is expected to meet in a closed-door session to review the deal points again Friday.

According to the city, Renaissance foresees the following yearly revenue for the city:

Rent — $500,000.

Hockey ticket surcharge — $1.5 million.

Non-hockey ticket surcharge — $1.7 million.

Parking revenue —$2.2 million.

Arena naming rights — $670,000.

Naming rights for new stage within the arena — $150,000.

The reimbursements are intended to close the gap between the $6.5 million the city has budgeted for arena management and maintenance, and the $15 million the ownership group has requested to be paid to operate the arena.

If the combined reimbursements fall short of $8.5 million, the city would collect $1.2 million, derived from a secondary ticket surcharge for events at the arena. If the reimbursements cover the gap, the team would retain the revenue from the secondary ticket surcharge.

The guaranteed revenue from the city is intended to provide assurances to the team owners’ lenders, who are providing a sizable chuck of IceArizona’s $170 million purchase price for the team.

In addition, the city would receive limited rent-free use of arena for city sponsored events and community events, according to the draft document.

IceArizona attorney Nick Wood concurred with Sherwood that the prospective team owners have made their final offer and that it was time for the council to vote.

“We hope that they approve it this week and it certainly is the best deal they’ve ever seen or negotiated and certainly is the best for the city of Glendale and particularly the taxpayers of Glendale,” Wood said.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman met Thursday with team owners at a Board of Governors meeting in New York.

The commissioner, who in recent weeks made it clear the team’s ownership issue had to be settled or the league would explore relocation or other options, was brief but clear, according to a transcript from the NHL.

He said he hoped the council would approve the deal Tuesday. But if not?

“I don't want to be more specific than I'm going to be, but if the council doesn't approve it so that this transaction can close, I don't think the Coyotes will be playing there anymore,” Bettman said.

Bettman said a Plan B isn’t ironed out, but there are many options. “I find it difficult to conceive of why, if the council turns this down, we would want to keep the team in Glendale any longer.”

Arizona Republic LOADED: 06.28.2013

682746 Phoenix Coyotes

Keeping tabs on Coyotes prospects

Staff Writer

The Coyotes will bring their contingent of prospects into the Valley July 8-12 for their annual development camp at the Ice Den in Scottsdale.

Among those expected to attend are former first-round picks forward Henrik Samuelsson (2012), defenseman Connor Murphy (2011), defenseman Brandon Gormley (2010), and goalie Mark Visentin (2010). Other attendees include forwards Tobias Rieder, Lucas Lessio, Jordan Martinook, Brendan Shinnimin and Phil Lane, defenseman James Melindy, and goaltender Mike Lee.

prospects

An unfortunate byproduct of the NHL lockout was these players didn’t get an opportunity to attend main training camp in the fall. Not only is that a chance to get more face time with the coaching staff, but the players can see how they stack up fitness-wise to the NHLers.

“A lot of those first-year guys come in and see that, and it’s great for them to go to camp and learn and the rest of it,” Assistant General Manager Brad Treliving said. “They get an eye-opener. There’s a reason why the NHLers play in the NHL, and a lot of it is their conditioning level.”

When the season adjourns, the Coyotes are given an off-season regime for improvement and the same workout plan is handed off to the prospects in the system. At the development camp, management checks in to see how these players are progressing.

“We basically give them a program. (Strength and conditioning coordinator Tommy Powers) sort of builds something specific in terms of their needs,” Treliving said. “We’ve got guys then now that we suggest train with Tommy. Basically, we’ve got him so he’s got a handful of guys that are training with him this summer and then you sort of lay out what the expectations are.

“Then for a lot of those guys we’ll see them at the development camp. You have a couple free agents that you’re evaluating, and you have the guys that you just drafted a week ago and then we bring our prospects that were in junior or Portland that you have a background on. A lot of it for them, for the guys that we’ve already had in the system, prospects camp a lot of it for them is basically see where they’re at physically.

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“For a lot of cases, the guys in Portland will have been done now for a number of weeks. We laid out plans and let’s see where you’re at. Let’s monitor where you’re at. Let’s change what needs to be changed. Let’s give you a congratulations if you’re looking good or a kick in rear end if you’re not, and that’s sort of what we’ll do in a couple weeks when they get in here.”

The Heat Index listed five prospects to watch, and most of those will be at the development camp.

Here are a few others to keep and eye on:

-Samuelsson: Will return to Edmonton in the Western Hockey League after a strong season in which he scored 33 goals and 80 points in 69 regular season games. He added 11 goals and 19 points in 22 playoff games.

“He had a sensational year,” Treliving said. “I’ve had long talks with him. He’s still a young kid yet, but it’s interesting to see him because he’s a big, strong kid. The conditioning factor and just where he is (to) see where he gets to this summer will be interesting.”

-Right winger Jordan Szwarz: Had 11 goals and 33 points this season with Portland in the American Hockey League. Was kept out of the playoffs with a shoulder injury. A 2009 fourth-round pick, he’s maturing on schedule.

“I just think this guy is going to find a way to play,” Treliving said. “He’s a smart player. There’s not a lot of flash and dash to him, but he does a lot of good things. He’s full of character. I just think this guy, at some point, it may not be right away, but I just think he’s going to will his way into the league somehow.”

Treliving believes Swarz, Gormley and forward Chris Brown are the closest to making the jump up to the NHL.

-Goalies Visentin (Portland), Lee and Louis Domingue: Visentin went 15-12-1 with a 2.98 goals-against average and .903 save percentage. He earned Player of the Week honors after allowing only two goals while facing 89 shots in two games.

“The good thing is all three played and played well,” Treliving said. “Mark Visentin is a talent. Unfortunately, he got banged up a couple times last season, but I thought he had a really good rookie season. I thought he had a really good mentor there in Chad Johnson that down there. There was a couple times Mark really grabbed the ball.”

Lee went 9-6 with an impressive .915 save percentage when called up to Portland from Gwinnett of the East Coast Hockey League. There he split duties with Domingue, who went 23-9-1 and carried a .926 save percentage in 10 playoff games.

“They all got 40-some-odd games,” Treliving said. “It worked out well that everybody got to play a lot, and so we like where we are in terms of the depth with the position with young players.”

Arizona Republic LOADED: 06.28.2013

682747 Phoenix Coyotes

Coyotes about to confront key free-agent decisions

CRAIG MORGAN

Glendale unveils details of arena lease proposal

After delay, Glendale posts details of arena proposal; Bettman says July 2 deadline looms.

Tippett's importance to Coyotes can't be overstated

Tippett's coaching skills, style have worked wonders for Coyotes.

With the Coyotes' ownership saga stealing all the headlines, GM Don Maloney, assistant GM Brad Treliving and coach Dave Tippett slipped quietly out of the state this week to attend Sunday’s NHL Draft.

We’ll have more on that event on Friday, but Maloney and Treliving both addressed the Coyotes’ free-agent situation before they left. Here’s a quick update on the team’s key unrestricted and restricted free agents.

UFAs

“We have a better idea where he stands and vice versa,” Maloney said. “We’re still kind of working through some things to see if there’s a gap that can be bridged or if there’s a point of no return.

“The good news, if there was any good news from the lockout, is that with free agency starting July 5, we’ve got a little extra time.”

Earlier this offseason, Smith was believed to be seeking a long-term deal with an annual payment well above $6 million. It’s unclear if that has changed or if he would accept a lower price to remain in Phoenix, where he's had his greatest and only sustained NHL success.

Smith posted a 2.58 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage while earning $2 million last season.

Forward Boyd Gordon: The Coyotes have had informal talks with Gordon, and Treliving met with him briefly up in Vancouver, but substantive talks have not yet begun. As Treliving noted, Smith is the team's No. 1 priority right now.

Gordon made $1.35 million last season and is considered a perfect fit in Tippett’s system. He wins lots of face-offs, he blocks shots, he has a strong defensive game and he makes good decisions with the puck. Gordon had four goals and 14 points in 48 games last season.

Forward Kyle Chipchura: Treliving talked to Chipchura’s agent this week and will also meet with him in New Jersey this weekend to get a sense of his contract needs. Chipchura made $675,000 last season. He adds grit, a physical game and sound defensive play. He had five goals and 14 points in 46 games last season.

KEY RFAs

Forward Mikkel Boedker: The Coyotes expect to extend a qualifying offer to the speedy and emerging Boedker by early next week. Since he made more than $1 million this past season, the qualifying offer would be for the same salary: $1.2M.

Boedker is arbitration eligible, and if he elects to go that route, a hearing would be held some time between mid-July and early August, assuming he and the Coyotes don’t come to an agreement before then. If he does elect arbitration, the Coyotes would have the right to choose either a one-year or a two-year award under CBA rules.

He had seven goals and 26 points in 48 games last season. The Coyotes are hoping for much more offense from him next season.

Forward Lauri Korpikoski: The Coyotes expect to extend a qualifying offer to Korpikoski by early next week. Since he made more than $1 million this season, the qualifying offer would be for the same amount he made this season: $1.85 million.

Korpikoski is also arbitration eligible, and if he elects to go that route, a hearing would be held some time between mid-July and early August, assuming he and the Coyotes don’t come to an agreement before then. And again, f he does elect arbitration, the Coyotes would have the right to choose either a one-year or a two-year award under collective bargaining agreement rules.

Korpikoski had six goals and 11 points in 36 games last season.

Defenseman Michael Stone: Treliving has spoken with Stone’s agent and categorized those conversations as positive. “I don’t foresee any problems,” he said.

Stone’s two-way game made enormous progress as last season progressed. His base salary was $575,000, with playing bonuses of $212,500. He had five goals and nine points in 40 games last season.

Defenseman David Rundblad: There were reports earlier this offseason that Rundblad, who is still being developed in the minor leagues, might play in the KHL this season. Here’s what Treliving had to say.

"He is a European (Swedish) guy, and they have options. We like David a lot and think there’s a real good upside to him still developing. I know David wants to play in the NHL at the end of the day. Is there opportunity for European players elsewhere? Sure. But I don’t view that as leverage. If someone is willing to pay them X over there, God bless them. We’ve got a salary structure to work with.”

Arizona Republic LOADED: 06.28.2013

682748 Pittsburgh Penguins

Kunitz trades free agency for security

By Rob Rossi

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Chris Kunitz believes he just agreed to his last NHL contract ­— a three-year deal that will keep him with the Penguins through the 2016-17 season.

Negotiations began late last week before Kunitz and his family left for their offseason home in Chicago and ended Thursday with the deal that will provide a slight raise to $3.85 million annually. His conversation with the Tribune-Review:

On forsaking free agency next summer:

I did it backwards. The only time was coming out of college. The appeal is having long term on your contract. I would assume it's my last contract. There's not too many long-term deals out there for guys my age now, about to turn 34. That's what you have to look at, make sure it benefits your family every single way.

On being the chosen winger for captain Sidney Crosby:

It's an honor to have guys talk about you like that. (Crosby and center Evgeni Malkin) expect certain things to be done on the ice. With me, it just fits easy with them.

On Crosby's reaction:

He said ‘congrats.' He wondered if we'd be moving into his neighborhood (Sewickley).

On his favorite part about Pittsburgh:

“The people. You can't go wrong with our fans. They're courteous and polite, respectful of you and your family. People are critical at times, but they enjoy the game and treat us like we're something special. I realize we're just athletes, that it's entertainment. But it's nice to be in the grocery store and have people come up and say, ‘Have a great game.' ”

On long-term personal goals:

“There's always the longevity stuff. To get that 1,000-game mark — for me, coming out of college late, is something that might be a real stretch still, but it would be really nice to have. To set career records every year would be fun, too.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 06.28.2013

682749 Pittsburgh Penguins

Letang rejects Penguins’ big offer; Kunitz signs 3-year extension

By Rob Rossi

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Defenseman Kris Letang has rejected one of the largest contract offers in the Penguins history.

Letang declined an eight-year contract that would have paid him around $54 million (total) late Thursday, sources told the Tribune-Review.

However, his agent, Kent Hughes, stressed Letang remains only interested in playing for the Penguins.

“We have exchanged offers,” Kent said in a text message. “But (we) have yet to reach an agreement.

“We have not quit.”

The Penguins are willing go as high as $7 million annually — with some wiggle room — to keep Letang, the sources said. Letang is looking for $7.5 million annually, sources said.

Penguins general manager Ray Shero has repeatedly said his wish is to continue building around a core of centers Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Letang.

Malkin signed an eight-year contract worth $76 million earlier this month.

Shero did not get his deal with Letang on Thursday, but he made other moves in a busy offseason that has already seen him re-sign Malkin and extend the contracts of Dan Bylsma and the coaching staff.

• Left winger Chris Kunitz agreed to a three-year contract.

• Representatives for impending free agents Pascal Dupuis and Matt Cooke continued to negotiate terms on potential new deals.

• Forward Craig Adams, also soon to be a free agent, had yet to hear from the Penguins.

• Finally, the future for defenseman Brooks Orpik became a little clearer.

Shero said talks are ongoing with Letang.

Latest on Letang

Free agency begins July 5, and the Penguins do not want to arrive at that date without resolution on Letang's future, the sources said.

Letang, set to enter the final year of his current contract, can negotiate an extension under terms of the NHL's new labor contract.

If he accepted the Penguins offer, Letang would rank no worse than sixth among current defensemen with about a $6.75 million salary-cap hit. The offer to Letang could be considered the third most lucrative to retain a player in Shero's seven-year tenure.

Shero has said since January that signing Letang to a long-term contract is a top priority.

However, Letang's situation may be playing out similarly to the one faced by center Jordan Staal last summer.

Then, the Penguins presented an offer with little wiggle room — 10 years at around $57 million – and after Staal rejected it, Shero traded him to Carolina for a package that included eighth overall pick (defenseman Derrick Pouliot) at the NHL Entry Draft, center Brandon Sutter and defensive prospect Brian Dumoulin.

Staal, though, never countered the Penguins' offer last summer.

The Penguins do not pick until the third round of the draft, in Newark, N.J., on Sunday.

The Penguins would want at least one NHL player under contract for several seasons, a top prospect and a first-round pick in exchange for Letang, the sources said.

If a trade was necessary, the Penguins would prefer to move Letang to the Western Conference, and they are intrigued by prospects with Anaheim and Vancouver, the sources said.

Kunitz kept

Kunitz agreed to a three-year contract that would keep him with the Penguins through the 2016-17 season.