Coyotes sign 2 free agents

PHOENIX - Phoenix Coyotes general manager Don Maloney wishes he had a larger budget for next season.

What general manager doesn't?

The NHL and owner Jerry Moyes have been battling in bankruptcy court, but Maloney said representatives of the league and Moyes have agreed on a payroll that will allow the financially strapped team to be competitive.

"Would you like another ‘X' amount of millions to maybe be available? Sure," Maloney told The Associated Press this week.

Maloney wouldn't disclose his projected payroll for 2009-10, but it's expected to be in line with last year's payroll, estimated at about $43 million.

Even before the team filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May, the Coyotes were not expected to be big players when NHL free agency opened on Wednesday. The club has been sticking to its latest plan to develop draft choices, who typically cost less than proven NHL veterans.

"We're not going to be able to go out and grab that scorer who is an All-Star," Maloney said. "We have to develop that All-Star ourselves."

Later Wednesday, Maloney announced that the Coyotes had signed center Vern Fiddler and goaltender Jason LaBarbera, both to two-year contracts.

Fiddler, 29, had 11 goals and six assists in 77 games last season for the Nashville Predators. He has played in 305 NHL games over six seasons, all with Nashville, and has 45 career goals and 48 assists.

LaBarbera, 29, had a 8-10-6 record and 2.78 goals against average with two shutouts in 28 games last season with the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks.