from Luke Fox of Sportsnet,

The Arizona Coyotes have committed $98.15 million in long-term deals to Clayton Keller, 21, and Nick Schmaltz, 23.

Those two forwards combined for a grand total of 21 goals in 2018-19.

This is how GMs can win (or lose) in the great RFA guessing game. Identify a star before he truly breaks out (see: Nathan MacKinnon, Mark Scheifele), take a big swing, then cross your fingers.

If it pans out, you could have one of the NHL’s best bargains — especially if labour peace, expansion, gambling revenue and a new U.S. broadcast deal jack up the cap ceiling.

If not, well, maybe you won’t have the job anyway by the time the player needs to be bought out.

It’ll be interesting to see if others follow John Chayka’s lead with this educated gamble.

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