Maloney fielding numerous offers as NHL Draft approaches
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The NHL's most candid general manager was a locked vault on Wednesday evening. As the Coyotes prepared for the NHL Draft on Friday and Saturday in Sunrise, Florida, Don Maloney wasn't giving away his game plan.
That's normal this time of year. Smoke screens and misdirection play as large a role as real possibilities in a GM's pre-draft tactics. Maloney, however, is also dealing with some unexpected dilemmas.
By Wednesday evening, he said he had four or five "legitimate offers" for the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, with three to four more "tire-kickers" whose offers made him believe they weren't all that serious.
"I guess I am surprised at the type of names being presented for trades, outright," Maloney said. "These are people that would fit into our future plans; existing NHL players. It speeds up your development timeline a little bit, so they are offers you really have to stop and consider."
Maloney said there is also interest in trading down in the draft, with additional players the team might be able to acquire out of that scenario. One team offered him a pair of mid-first round picks and a player. He did not specify the years of those picks.
Winnipeg has the 17th and 25th picks in this year's draft. Ottawa has the 18th and 21st picks. Toronto has two picks, but one is early (No. 4), one is No. 24. Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reported that one of the teams believed to be in the mix for that No. 3 pick is Columbus, which owns the No. 8 overall selection.
"There's one team that has been very aggressive in different scenarios, and if they pay us what we want, we will trade the No. 3 pick," Maloney said. "The only way we're going to trade down is to get a young player who can be a part of that (Max) Domi, (Anthony) Duclair, (Brendan) Perlini group of players going forward."
2015 NHL Entry Draft
Where: BB&T Center, Sunrise, Florida
When: First round on Friday, 4 p.m.; Rounds 2-7 on Saturday, 7 a.m.
TV: Friday, NBC Sports Network; Saturday, NHL Network
Locally: The Coyotes will hold a rally for fans at the team's viewing party on Friday from 3-7 p.m. at Gila River Arena. Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers will perform live. Coyotes' first-round draft picks Brendan Perlini (2014), Max Domi (2013) and Connor Murphy (2011) along with second-round draft choice Christian Dvorak (2014) will be at Gila River Arena to introduce the Coyotes' new home and away uniforms. The uniform unveiling will take place on the arena floor from 3:30-4 p.m.
Maloney reiterated a trend that many executives have noticed: There is an appettite for trades before and during the draft.
"What's happening right now is I think teams are trying to move contracts out; even younger players," he said. "You've got these future contracts where maybe a second-year pro is going to make a major leap forward a year from now and maybe the team sees the need to move someone out sooner rather than later.
"At some point these teams are going to realize that to move this money, you're not going to get the return you wanted. When that happens, then we can talk. Right now, the price is really high."
If the Coyotes do stay put at No. 3, the choice boils down to the same four players whose names have been bandied about the local media since the Coyotes' season turned irreversibly south: centers Dylan Strome and Mitchell Marner and defensemen Ivan Provorov and Noah Hanifin.
"The best thing about this pick is it's not something that was sprung on us at the last minute," Maloney said. "We've had five months to evaluate the pick. I think we know what we want to do, but there are different things being discussed because of these offers."
As is normally the case, any deal the Coyotes make will come on the draft floor -- perhaps even when they are on the clock.
Maloney has said several times that this draft class goes about a dozen player deep, so moving down to acquire an extra piece could benefit the team's rebuilding process. The Coyotes also need top-end talent, particularly at the center position. The team is pleased with OHL center Christian Dvorak's progress, and there is hope that Laurent Dauphin and Ryan MacInnis can help down the road, but stockpiling players at this vital position -- in a conference rich in centers -- is still a priority.
"I would expect there will be even more activity between now and the draft," Maloney said. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I've said it before, the draft really starts with our pick at No. 3."