David Vest
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 14, 2006 12:00 AM
Ladislav Nagy, the Coyotes' primary scoring threat the past two seasons and one of the keys to their plan to rebuild , wants to sign a multiyear contract before next season.
" 'Laddy' would like to stay in Phoenix, long term," Matt Keator, the left wing's agent, said Tuesday.
Nagy, who notched 56 points and a career-high 41 assists in 51 games last season before undergoing knee surgery, can become a restricted free agent on July 1.
The Coyotes have until June 26 to make Nagy, and all of their potential restricted free agents, a qualifying offer.
Keator said he and the Coyotes have had only preliminary discussions about Nagy's next contract but he expects negotiations to heat up at next week's NHL draft in Vancouver.
Keator said a report that the two sides are $2 million apart in their negotiations is not true.
"We haven't gone down the road that far yet," Keator said regarding any offers and counteroffers. He would not elaborate.
Re-signing Nagy, 27, to a long-term deal appears to be a no-brainer for the Coyotes.
Phoenix won 26 of the 51 games in which Nagy played in 2005-06, and lost 19 of the 31 games he missed.
Nagy was paid $1.9 million in 2005-06 and likely will seek at least twice that amount for 2006-07.
Nagy could not be reached for comment.
