Keith Tkachuk is most likely to be pushed out. Jeremy Roenick's career as a Coyote also is in jeopardy. The Coyotes already are said to be bleeding money from their awkward lease with America West Arena, a lease that favors the NBA team and limits off-ice income streams for the Coyotes. The likely scenario in Phoenix is that the club keeps Roenick as a gate attraction, but dumps Tkachuk on any club that will relive the franchise of the salary. Dallas Drake likely will be a difficult player to re-sign.
Drake is coveted as a superior role player by many teams.
He is a tremendous hitter, a talent that is making a big comeback in the NHL as the league seems to have relaxed some rules in that regard, especially when it comes to running goaltenders. Even the roles of general manager Bobby Smith and new coach Bob Francis will likely be given a full review. Though the team is thought to be talented, it hasn't moved off the first-round schneid during Smith's tenure. He already made one coaching change last spring, firing Jim Schoenfeld after the team blew a 3-1 lead in the playoffs and lost to St. Louis. This team didn't even do that well and Smith will have to answer to the new owners for that.