Coyotes Sign Holdout Tkachuk

Holdout left wing Keith Tkachuk signed a one-year contract extension with the Phoenix Coyotes on Friday, ending a dispute that led to his suspension when he failed to show up for training camp.

Terms weren't disclosed.

Tkachuk, who had two years left on a five-year contract, had insisted he would return to the fold only if he gained financial concessions in an extension that would place him among the NHL's highest-paid players at his position.

The team captain was to get $2.8 million this season and $3 million in 1999-2000 but reportedly wanted a five-year package worth $40 million, an average of $8 million a year. He had rejected two offers, including a three-year extension worth $33 million, an average of $6.5 million a year.

Coyotes general manager Bobby Smith,"one of the premier power forwards in the game today" in expressing pleasure with resolution of the dispute.

Tkachuk, who has stayed in Boston while the exhibition season opened, said he also was pleased.

"I have always stated that Phoenix is the city I love and want to play in," he said. "Now I can put this behind me and concentrate on one thing, playing hockey."

Tkachuk led the Coyotes in scoring last season for the third year in a row with 40 goals and 26 assists in 69 games. He finished sixth in the NHL in goals, the fourth time in five seasons he had 40 or more goals. He fell short only in the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season when he had 28 in 48 games.

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