The days were passing and the deadline was rapidly approaching.  If Kyle Turris did not sign an agreement with the Phoenix Coyotes by December 1st he would have been declared ineligible for play in the NHL for the rest of the year.   Turris, a restricted free agent, was holding out for a larger contract. He signed a two year deal worth $2.8 million.  It had been reported that Turris was looking for a multi-year deal worth up to $4 million a year.  A trade was requested earlier in the hold out, but Don Maloney had refused.   
 
Turris was the third pick of the 2007 draft and hasn't had the numbers of players that were taken ahead of him. The first and second picks of that draft, Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks) and James van Riemsdyk (Philadelphia Flyers), have been more consistent and more productive players. While Turris has been in 128 games the past two seasons and has only posted 19 goals and 27 assists, very not worthy of a $4 million a year agreement. I don’t know who had put ideas in Kyle’s head that he was worth more, but Coyotes General Manager, Don Maloney, knows what Kyle’s value is and there was no way he was going to agree to a deal at that level. 
 
Kyle now has to face his teammates that have already played a quarter of the season without him.  Since he had been holding out he did not go through training camp, pre-season, or any team related activities.  No time for bonding or chemistry mixing and creating with his teammates.  What is going to happen to the chemistry once he returns to the lineup?
 
He led the skate around warm-ups last Friday hours before the game that night.  However, I don’t believe he is going to be able to step in where he left off last year.  Kyle is going to need to get some competition time under his belt before he hits the ice again with the Coyotes.   He may spend some time with the Pirates, the Coyotes AHL affiliate in Portland, Maine.  Although, he did travel with the team on this road trip for games in Chicago and Winnipeg, Tippett says he needs more practice. 

Kyle Turris decided to hold out for the first two months of this season.  I hope his holding out and then finally resigning with the team doesn’t end up a mistake that will haunt the Coyotes for the rest of the season.  That the chemistry of the current players doesn’t get diluted and turn a hopeful return to the playoffs into a disaster.  If this experiment doesn’t gel then expect Don Maloney to work his magic later this season.