Inside the NHL: Coyotes weather the storm, Nazem Kadri banks on himself and top trade deadline buyers

LAS VEGAS The Arizona Coyotes have survived a bankruptcy, a court challenge for relocation and multiple changes in ownership.

As they now navigate an eviction that could force them to spend multiple seasons playing out of a 5,000-seat arena, there’s no reason to believe the NHL’s commitment to keeping a franchise in the desert has wavered.

Gary Bettman made that abundantly clear during his media availability at all-star weekend, essentially laying out the only terms that would see the Coyotes ponder a move. The franchise’s long-term survival in the Phoenix area is tied to an ambitious arena and entertainment district proposal in Tempe, and as long as that remains in the works the NHL commissioner is comfortable with short-term stopgaps.

“It’s not going to be two weeks, but it’s not going to be two years,” Bettman said. “If there’s no prospect of a new building, then we’re going to have to focus with ownership on what makes sense. But as long as there is a realistic possibility in the nearer term of a new arena in the right place, we think that there’s a tremendous opportunity for that vibrant market.”

Phoenix is the fifth-largest city in the United States. It produced one of the NHL’s most electric players in Auston Matthews, who was compelled to become the first member of his family to pick up a hockey stick after attending a Coyotes game when he was young. There are now multiple NHL-calibre prospects following in his footsteps.

As much as anxious hockey fans in Quebec or Houston might quibble with the NHL’s loyalty to Arizona, there is plenty of logic behind it.

The most pressing issue for the Coyotes is finding somewhere to play next season, because their lease with the city of Glendale at Gila River Arena is expiring. They’ve negotiated a deal that would see them pay $19.7 million (U.S.) to build NHL-calibre dressing room and workout facilities adjacent to the new arena at Arizona State University.

That three-year deal, which includes the opportunity to extend beyond 2025 on a year-by-year basis, must be approved by the university’s board of regents. It’s due to be discussed when they meet Thursday and Friday.

The Coyotes’ ability to generate revenue will be significantly impacted by playing out of such a small venue, although Bettman said the league had modelling which suggested they could make more than they have been at the sparsely attended Gila River Arena. The organization is hoping that an intimate venue might become a draw in itself, especially since it’s located a few miles from where its new arena could be built.

If anything, Bettman sounded more of an alarm about the state of the league’s Canadian teams, because of the hit they’re taking by being forced to play games with reduced crowds due to pandemic health restrictions.

The most adversely affected by those is the Ottawa Senators, who have 11 home games scheduled at Canadian Tire Centre with capacity limited to 500 fans. They were one of the teams that considered moving games to the U.S.

Remember that the Senators have twice refinanced debt over the last decade, most recently completing a $125-million financing in June 2018. They’ve since seen revenue drastically reduced during a pandemic that’s run almost two years.

Asked if he had concerns about the Senators, Bettman answered the question in broader terms.

“All of the clubs that can’t have full capacity are losing lots of money,” he said. “I don’t have concerns about a club going out of business. You know, it’s not unlike what we’ve been through the last couple of years. Completing the ’19-20 season and then doing the ’20-21 season — it cost a lot of money, OK? On average we lost $50 million a club, maybe. Some more, some less.

“Adding this for some clubs on top of it isn’t great.”

When Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly recently met with government officials from Quebec, they told them there were no franchises available for relocation. That doesn’t appear to have changed, even with some of the lingering uncertainty.

You wouldn’t expect Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo to spend money on the ASU arena upgrades if he had thoughts of moving the team elsewhere. And he’s still got top NHL officials in his corner.

“I mean, hockey has done very well at all levels in Arizona, particularly since the Coyotes were there,” said Bettman. “Just ask Auston Matthews.”

Kadri’s contract

Nazem Kadri has never lacked for belief.

While some might view his lightning-bolt season as a shock or surprise, Kadri always felt this was possible. He was a big scorer in junior and put up consecutive 32-goal seasons for the Maple Leafs, so why couldn’t there be more?

He comes out of the all-star break in the thick of the NHL’s scoring race and intends to take that belief to the bank. Kadri is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer after completing a value contract signed with the Leafs that paid him $4.5 million on average for six years.

Needless to say, he’s in line for a raise and arguably a significant one.

“I’ve worked hard for this, man. I’ve waited a long time,” Kadri said in Las Vegas during all-star weekend. “I think I’ve earned it.”

Placing a value on Kadri will be difficult.

He’s 31 and in his 12th NHL season. And he’s currently one point shy of his career-best 61 points after just 41 games.

The biggest change from previous seasons is an assist rate that has gone through the roof, which can probably be explained in part by all of the talent he shares the ice with in Colorado. But Kadri is also playing more minutes and generating more shots than at any prior point in his career, and he’s scored 19 goals on a not-unreasonable 13.5 per cent shooting percentage.

It appears to be more than just good luck.

“I mean, I’m obviously getting some great bounces, but I’m trying to earn those as well,” said Kadri. “The power play’s been clicking. I’m playing with great players that make it easy for me and bring the best out of me, because they’re so good. I feel like I’ve got to step my game up and be good, too.”

As much as Kadri prides himself on staying in the moment, he’s also looking ahead to the summer. He recently changed agents from Brian MacDonald to Darren Ferris, and Ferris is known for taking negotiations to the wall.

He counts Mitch Marner and Taylor Hall among his clients and will be taking the best season of Kadri’s career to market in July.

“I just felt like it was time,” Kadri said of the switch. “Throughout my career I feel like I’ve given myself an opportunity to explore. I’ve had the same agent for a long, long time now and I just wanted to see what else was out there for me.

“That’s all.”

#AskCJ

Over/under 2.5 #Canucks roster players traded by deadline?

@5Canuckss

With a Jim Rutherford-run team, you always take the over. The new regime wants to start reshaping the roster, and the first place they’ll start is shipping players out to trim cap space.

While FLA chills for the next 10 days, the Leafs play 4 of their games in hand. Can the Leafs finish first in the Atlantic Division?

@Wardo44

They can finish first, yes, but I don’t think it’s likely they will. The Panthers are the real deal and Tampa isn’t going anywhere, either. Plus the more compressed schedule is a challenge to navigate.

Do you think the Leafs organization plans to bring training camp back to Newfoundland? If so, “CJ Show Live” from downtown St. John’s?

@dylanmurphy329

Dylan, let’s manifest this into reality. It makes a ton of sense with the organization’s ECHL affiliate based in your fine city, and the Leafs’ experience during the 2020 training camp was fantastic. If the team returns, the “CJ Show” will be there, too!

Favourite Olympic sport to watch? Hockey excluded.

@bbailer

For Winter Games, I enjoy the chaos of short-track speedskating. During the Summer Games, I’m a big fan of the track events and marathon.

On a scale from 1 to Pete DeBoer, how hard did you get after it this weekend?

@CakesNick

I definitely didn’t go full DeBoer. I had more work to do than Pete!

Tidbits

Two teams were mentioned most often in an anecdotal poll of all-stars about who should be considered the Stanley Cup favourite: Florida and Vegas … Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour described the Panthers as a “juggernaut” … The player Matthews was most excited to meet in Vegas? Evgeny Kuznetsov … Honest response from Steven Stamkos on why he hopes the Tampa Bay Lightning are once again buyers at the trade deadline: “It’s easy for us to dismiss draft picks because we’re probably not going to be around when they come through. We want to win right now.” … Funny response from seven-time all-star Claude Giroux, who listed the hardest shot and fastest skater as his favourite skills competition events: “I’ll never be a part of it, because I don’t shoot hard and I don’t skate fast.” … The Pittsburgh Penguins are expected to be Boston’s opponent in the 2023 Winter Classic at Fenway Park … Jack Eichel is close to getting medical clearance to play. The Golden Knights need to clear almost $10 million in cap space before he can be activated from long-term injured reserve … Kyle Davidson, Eric Tulsky and Scott Mellanby have interviewed for the Chicago Blackhawks open GM post. The team is expected to make a decision quickly … The Coyotes are willing to take on contracts in exchange for future assets before the trade deadline … Connor McDavid on chasing another scoring title: “I truthfully do not care about the scoring race. I don’t really care where guys are at. I want to win games.”

C.J.’s Top Five

As we move into the second half of the season, the March 21 trade deadline takes on more focus. Here are the five expected buyers most worth keeping an eye on:

1. Colorado The Avs went 15-0-2 heading into the all-star break and still believe they need to add multiple pieces. Don’t be surprised if a goalie is one of them.

2. Carolina The Hurricanes have accrued a bit of cap space and are in the market for a defenceman.

3. Edmonton No GM is arguably under more pressure than Ken Holland, who can’t let another prime McDavid/Draisaitl season go to waste.

4. Tampa Bay Julien BriseBois turned big deadline trades into Stanley Cups the last two years. He’s going for the hat trick.

5. Toronto The Leafs are running low on cap space and 2022 draft picks, but they’re all-in on chasing a title.

Parting thought

The all-star games may not be memorable, but the all-star weekends are. It was great seeing so many of the sport’s top players relaxed and enjoying themselves in Las Vegas. They showed plenty of personality, too. Viewed in the proper context, all-star remains an important event for the NHL.

Chris Johnston is a Toronto-based journalist with a new gaming company. His work will be seen on the website and app for the new gaming company, and also in the Toronto Star. Follow him on Twitter: @reporterchris