According to the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch, the Arizona Coyotes are preparing to "retool" in earnest, and that means something of a trade deadline sell-off:
Centre Antoine Vermette: A UFA on July 1, he likely won’t be re-signed which means he’ll be moved. Three teams looking to bulk up for a playoff run — Chicago, Montreal and Boston — would be interested in Vermette. He’ll cash in next summer with a contract of more than $6 million per season and could benefit from a long playoff run. The asking price will depend on how good a prospect the buyer is willing to give up.
Defenceman Keith Yandle: He has one year left before free agency, but he’ll be looking for a big raise from his $5.25-million cap hit. He has one year left at $5.75 million and plenty of teams are looking for help on the blueline. The Stars, Ducks, Wings and Canucks may have an interest in Yandle.
Expect UFA defenceman Zbynek Michalek and winger Martin Erat also to get moved before the deadline. There will be debate about captain Shane Doan, but he has one year left with a cap hit of $5.3 million and would have to approve any move. That doesn’t make sense, you have to keep some pieces in place and Doan is the face of the franchise.
Garrioch continues, and somehow, this doesn't surprise me:
The NHL approved those flashy jerseys Team (Nick) Foligno and Team (Jonathan) Toews will wear at next weekend’s all-star game in Columbus. The word is league officials have been surprised by what’s been a largely negative reaction to the look.
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