Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-32) is likely going to the Murphy Administration in some capacity, sources tell InsiderNJ. He’ll be a key partner in lame duck, as he was on the trail, for now Governor-elect Phil Murphy, sources say.

But the dominoes that have fallen, are falling, or will fall in the direction of Assemblyman Craig Coughlin (D-19) impede Prieto’s path back to the throne. His good relations with Murphy – and the campaign’s reliance on him at critical junctures, make him a natural fit for Murphy World going forward, two sources said.

One source said likely landing zones for Prieto include the Meadowlands Commission- Sports and Exposition Authority.

Faced this past election cycle with the prospect of Coughlin’s challenge, the sitting speaker attempted to corral seats in pioneering northern legislative districts but fell short, even as Coughlin’s allies ensnared bulked numbers in LD2, LD11, and LD16.

But no one questioned his value to Murphy, who enjoyed his first pre-primary victory when Prieto (in his capacity as chairman of the Hudson County Democratic Organization) joined the three other members of the quad-county alliance and backed Murphy. The move effectively short-circuited Senate President Steve Sweeney’s (D-3) run for governor.

Prieto met with Murphy yesterday and the men hashed over options.

Part of what complicates the move is Prieto’s closeness to powerful state Senator Nick Sacco (D-32), who got him to the leadership dance in the first place.

“Nick is going to want something more than free concert tickets,” one Hudson source told InsiderNJ. “He’s going to need something bigger.”

Something bigger has always been Attorney General, where the favorite for the job remains Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez.

Sacco never told Murphy he personally needed the pick.

He just wanted influence in that department.

Suarez looks like that choice, not only to fulfill a political promise to Sacco (and Passaic and Bergen) but also to take the steam off the punch of Prieto losing the speakership, sources say.

One source speculated that if Murphy detours from Suarez, Sacco would insist on putting the state Department of Community Affairs back on the table for Prieto. But LG-elect Sheila Oliver already wants that positoon.

“They’ve have to tell Sheila she can wield real power at the Department of Commerce,” the Hudson source deadpanned.

It doesn’t check out.

Sources say Oliver won’t back down to Prieto yet again (he replaced her as speaker), and anyway there’s no indication that Prieto wants or needs a cabinet level position.

What amounts to a package deal for Sacco includes a dignified exit strategy for Prieto to sports expo or meadowlands and Suarez at AG.