Dreger: Bruins, Penguins believed interested in Coyotes' Vermette

Darren Dreger was on Edmonton’s TSN 1260 on Tuesday morning.

On the Arizona Coyotes:

“I know leading up to the roster freeze last Friday that Maloney had let it be known to a number of general managers that things were heating up as far as Antoine Vermette is concerned. There are other pieces there in Arizona that I’m sure that he’s have to listen to and will likely move. Any pending unrestricted free agent is obviously free game in that regard. But Vermette has drawn quite a bit of attention. I’d be surprised if he didn’t go relatively early, or among the first to go.

“But in saying that, because of the interest in him – Boston believed to have to have interest in him. Pittsburgh’s believed to have interest. There’s two pretty powerful teams in the Eastern Conference. Maybe Maloney is better to hold on a little bit and see how things go and get closer to the trade deadline. He’s got an asking price in mind, and it sounds like it’s a young prospect and a roster player. And if he gets that right combination from a team willing to make that deal, then maybe he makes the deal.

“But what seems clear is that whether Maloney and Dave Tippett like it or not, I think the ownership is going to come in when the Barroway buy is finally approved by the NHL Board of Governors and look for some direction here. ‘Where are we going long-term? We’ve got a couple of good young pieces here, but none of them are the quality you’re going to build a franchise around.’ And then again, you’ve got McDavid, you’ve got Eichel, you’ve got Matthews coming around the corner. You have to put yourself in that position to draft one of those players. I think that’s going to be the harsh reality for Maloney and the Arizona Coyotes in the second half.”

As part of a discussion on the struggles of Mike Smith this season:

"There are some wondering out loud whether or not he might be a movable piece in the future in the second half of the season. But again, this is all the type of speculation that goes around an organization that doesn't seem to have much in the way of direction."

Source: TSN 1260/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

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