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The “Free Agency Interview Period” has begun, and it sounds like Arizona is ready to make a splash in this year’s market.
Joe Pavelski, a pending UFA, has been negotiating a contract extension with the San Jose Sharks for the last few weeks, but reports claim the two parties aren’t close to a deal. It sounds like Pavelski is ready to test the free agency waters this year, prompting a number of teams to pick up the phone: The Arizona Coyotes are one of them.
According to a report by The Athletic’s Craig Morgan, the Coyotes have met with Joe Pavelski’s agent, Dan Plante, this week. The amount of interest is unknown between the parties, but the Coyotes would need to move some assets around if they want to sign the free agent.
As it stands, Arizona has about $6.2 Million in cap space with multiple pending free agents of their own — including Josh Archibald and Lawson Crouse — and Pavelski, 34, is coming off a 5-year, $30 Million ($6 Million AAV) with San Jose and had recorded a 38-goal season. There is almost no doubt Pavelski enters the free agency market at a high value.
The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun says Pavelski will be meeting with multiple other teams throughout this week.