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Coyotes GM Don Maloney on Kyle Turris’ contract demands: “It’s illogical”

2011 NHL Entry Draft - Rounds 2-7

ST PAUL, MN - JUNE 25: Executive Vice President, General Manager & Alternate Governor Don Maloney of the Phoenix Coyotes answers questions during day two of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft at Xcel Energy Center on June 25, 2011 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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While Drew Doughty and the Los Angeles Kings and their contract negotiations for the restricted free agent are getting a ton of attention, what’s going on in Phoenix with the Coyotes and Kyle Turris makes those talks seem normal by comparison.

Turris has said he wants a deal that pays him anywhere from $3 million -$4 million per season. For a guy that’s scored 19 goals in 131 games over parts of three seasons, that either means Turris thinks the market is really crazy or he’s got big brass ones. After all, the Coyotes are still without an owner and aren’t exactly spend-crazy while waiting and hoping to get a new financial sugar daddy.

Coyotes GM Don Maloney is the guy in charge of trying to negotiate with Turris and his agent Kurt Overhardt on a new deal and while Turris’ demands appear to have done the job we thought they would in making him a bit crazy, Maloney is more exasperated not knowing where Turris is coming from in asking for so much money as he said today at the start of Coyotes training camp (video).

“This is just so illogical, from our standpoint, the position he’s taken it makes absolutely no sense to me,” Maloney said.

“I have no intention of trading him whatsoever. We still think he’s a young, developing player but he’s still developing. Once you’re a proven 30 or 40-goal, 80 point guy then, yes, you get the brass ring. But until you get there you have to settle... Well, again, that’s what makes America great he doesn’t have to settle. He can stay at home and watch Oprah.”


Phoenix Coyotes v Detroit Red Wings - Game One

DETROIT, MI- APRIL 13: Kyle Turris #91 of the Phoenix Coyotes skates against the Detroit Red Wings in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Joe Louis Arena on April 13, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan.(Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images)

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Maybe Turris is at home hoping Maloney shows up to tell him there’s a new contract under his chair. Oprah’s good like that, so why not?

Maloney and the rest of the Coyotes’ frustration in dealing with this rather amazing situation is incredible. While we’ve seen big deals given out to Tyler Myers and Shea Weber recently and to Steve Stamkos this summer as well, seeing Turris’ demands come in so high comes off looking like a cry for help to get traded out of Phoenix where his career has been frustrating for him since making his debut as an 18 year-old in 2007 under Wayne Gretzky.

Is trading Turris a possibility though? Maloney explained his position on why they’re not interested in trading him and why they’re also not giving in to his demands.

“Well I think Kyle believes in himself. He believes he’s a good player in this league and we’d certainly like more opportunity for him to show it,” Maloney said.

“But we’re not a developing team, we’re here to win, we’re here to win now. He showed a step forward in the playoffs last year. That’s why we’d like to get him back. We’d like to show that process and that step forward and the production we need out of Kyle Turris to be a good offensive player. But it’s not there yet... You have to perform before you get paid.”


Proving his worth on the ice would be a great move for Turris before coming up with such big demands, but coach Dave Tippett’s wont to use Turris is proving to be a problem. If Turris thinks that getting big money will help Tippett play him more, he’s wrong. It’s a curious kind of “chicken or egg” situation for Turris as he won’t get the ice time he’s looking for unless he plays things Tippett’s way, but doing that might not help him score the goals he thinks he’s capable of.

If you had to make a bet as to who blinks first in this battle, don’t expect the NHL-run Coyotes to give in any time soon.