Coyotes, Rieder hit ‘snag’ in contract talks

The 23-year-old set career highs for goals (14) and assists (23) in his second season with the Coyotes in 2015-16. Rieder's three-year, $2.8 million entry-level contract expired on July 1.

Contract talks between the Arizona Coyotes and restricted free agent Tobias Rieder have “hit a little snag”, according to agent Darren Ferris.

Rieder, who saw his three-year, $2.8 million entry-level contract expire on July 1, didn't sign his qualifying offer and the two sides are having a difficult time bridging the gap.

The 23-year-old set career highs for goals (14) and assists (23) in his second season with the Coyotes while averaging 17:18 in time on ice in 82 games in 2015-16. Rieder made $920,000 last season and would’ve been tendered a qualifying offer with a 10 percent increase in salary.

Since Rieder is coming out of his entry-level deal, he is not eligible for arbitration and his lone option is to withhold services until a deal is reached.

“You end up in a negotiation with that team (Arizona) trying to do something different than the qualifying offer,” Ferris said.

Rieder is the lone Coyotes restricted free agent forward.

On the blue line, both Michael Stone and Connor Murphy are restricted and without deals.

According to Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic, discussions between Murphy and the Coyotes are going well and agent Brian Bartlett is hopeful a deal can be reached in the near future.

Murphy scored six goals and 11 assists while averaging 20:30 in time on ice in his third season with the Coyotes. The 6-foot-4, 212-pound defenseman saw his three-year, $3.4 million entry-level deal expire on July 1.

Arizona currently has $17.9 million in cap space remaining for the 2016-17 season, according to GeneralFanager.com.