Vermette emotional after possible Coyotes finale: 'I made some friends here'

Antoine Vermette stepped off the ice Saturday knowing he might have played his final game with the Arizona Coyotes.

The Coyotes lost 4-1 to the Boston Bruins and won't play again until Tuesday - the day after the trade deadline. Vermette, one of the top rental players remaining, is expected to be moved by an Arizona team firmly focused on building for the future.

He and captain Shane Doan shared a hug at the end of the contest, highlighting the emotion behind the impending departure. The 32-year-old has appeared in 215 games for Arizona and is still coming to terms with the prospect of leaving.

"It's a strange position, and it’s not a fun one," Vermette said after the game. "The way you see it, as a group here, it’s not the position we want. You gotta take it as a man and it’s part of the game unfortunately."

Vermette has been linked to the Bruins, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Chicago Blackhawks, among other teams.

Coyotes coach Dave Tippett praised Vermette's character on and off the ice in his post-game comments.