Coyotes goalie wants reassurances to stay

• A hometown discount%2C it seems%2C is a possibility%2C but Mike Smith needs other assurances
• %27I want to be in a position where we%27re going to be in a city for a long time%2C%27 he says
• Negotiations are on hold as ownership situation plays out

"This is Mike Smith, goaltender for the Phoenix Coyotes."

The telephone greeting Smith recently used still applies, but it could be outdated sooner rather than later.

Smith is the team's top unrestricted free agent, and he'll be the most coveted goalie July 5 when the free-agent market opens for business. After only two seasons as a No. 1, Smith has made it clear he considers himself among the elite of the position and expects a salary to match.

And if the Coyotes let him reach free agency, it's very likely another team will meet Smith's monetary expectations. He's enjoyed recent playoff success, has a likeable personality and is the star attraction in a shallow goalie market.

But if the Coyotes and Smith do part ways, it might not be because of money, which many have predicted would be the source of a potential divorce.

"I'm not gonna be selfish with this whole situation and demand this stupid contract that we're not going to be able to build a team around," Smith said. "I believe you don't put all your eggs in one basket. There's good players that make a lot of money, and I think I deserve a fair contract. By any means I'm not expecting to hit a home run."

A hometown discount, it seems, is a possibility, but Smith needs other assurances before agreeing to stick with the Coyotes.

"The biggest part about me signing back here will be: Is the ownership group coming in, is this going to be a place that free agents are going to want to come and play and are they going to spend the money to make this a better team on an every-year basis?" Smith said. "I think that's the most intriguing piece of the puzzle."

The Coyotes haven't been able to answer these questions, so negotiations have stalled. Smith's camp and general manager Don Maloney agree until there is ownership clarity, it's premature to discuss the details of a new deal.

"It's just kind of pointless, really," Smith said. "There's not much Don can do, I don't think, until that happens or else we probably would have had a deal done by now if there was."

Don't expect Smith to take the same leap of faith captain Shane Doan took last year, tying himself to the organization for four more seasons amid the uncertainty. As a longtime backup before the Coyotes rescued him two summers ago, Smith wants stability for his family.

"I want to be in a position where we're going to be in a city for a long time and a place where my kids can grow up and enjoy that my family can be settled for once in their lives," Smith said.

For now, Smith is unfazed by the process and the prospect of a transformative summer. He doesn't feel the need to test the market to know his worth.

"There's other goalies that have signed contracts that I compare myself with," he said.

But money isn't the only factor in this equation. Maloney, associate coach Jim Playfair and goalie coach Sean Burke will be with the organization next season — all encouraging signs — but Smith wants to see where coach Dave Tippett lands.

"My relationship with Tipp is a good one, and I really believe in the way he coaches and obviously that'll carry some weight in my decision-making," Smith said.

And then there's the chance to win a Stanley Cup. Smith wants to be with a winning organization that has the resources to be a perennial contender — by being able to re-sign its core members and attract other game changers.

"Not taking anything away from the players we have — we have some really good players — but I believe we can really use some more players to help this group out," Smith said.

Without ownership in place, the Coyotes can't make those promises. But what Smith does have here is a system that flatters him, chemistry with key players such as Doan and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and a lifestyle away from the rink that his family enjoys.

Still, that might not be enough.

"All those little things come into play," Smith said. "Obviously, I want to be on a winning team and a competitive team. I guess that'll be up to the ownership to hopefully fulfill."

Sarah McLellan covers the Coyotes for The Arizona Republic