Arizona Coyotes: Contract Negotiations Frustrate Tobias Rieder
Arizona Coyotes RFA winger Tobias Rieder remains unsigned as training camp continues. Will we see him in the desert after the World Cup of Hockey concludes?
There seems to have been no progress in the Arizona Coyotes’ negotiations with forward Tobias Rieder.
According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, they continue to hold firm with an offer in the neighborhood of two-years at $2.2M per season, which has frustrated the Rieder camp.
Tobi and his agent are seeking a two-year deal at $2.5M per year.
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In general, if the player has proven his value, I tend to side with them in these disputes. In this instance, however, Rieder should take the deal and report.
There are just too many factors going against him to make this stand.
The offer put on the table by GM John Chayka and the Yotes is plenty reasonable when you look at players comparable to Rieder. Not only that, we’re looking at a difference of $300,000.
It’s hard to buy that the holdup is simply money when the gap is that small.
For Chayka, there’s plenty of reasons to stand pat. First, we have the Jordan Martinook factor.
Former GM Dave Maloney and Head Coach Dave Tippett found another Tobi Rieder last season, or at least a fairly close approximation. Comparing their rookie seasons we can see that they share some similarities:
Tobi took a bit of a leap in his sophomore campaign, and for a moment it looked like perhaps he’d flirt with 20-goals but ultimately finished with 14.
Martinook could potentially reach that goal-scoring total in his sophomore campaign, but as with most bargain versions of products, he could simply give you just 70-80% or more of what you missed while still providing the speed the team covets.
Is 70-80% of Rieder’s output worth saving $300,000? Apparently so for IceArizona and John Chayka.
Not so quietly waiting in the wings is AHL prospect Michael Bunting, who possesses many of the same qualities as his two predecessors, coupled with a love for mixing it up and getting under player’s skins. He’s been impressive in camp and would love a roster spot.
This puts Coyotes management in an enviable negotiating position of saying, “We want you, but we do have bodies behind you. This is our final offer.”
For my money, however, the stalled negotiation seems strange. Are the two sides going to walk away from a mutually beneficial partnership over such a paltry sum?
There has to be more at stake for both parties, whether it’s expansion draft protection or usage.
Tobias Rieder checks off every box that the Arizona Coyotes’ new GM covets.
Speed? Check. Skill? Check. Ability to play a possession game? Check.
Arizona sure could use a player like that to help along the next stage of the Yotes’ rebuild.
Will he sign before the season begins or bolt for the KHL? That’s the $300,000 question.
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