The Coyotes have traded David Rundblad and fellow D Mathieu Brisebois to Chicago for a second round pick.
When they acquired Rundblad for Turris just over two years ago, they also received a second round pick.
That means they have got 2 second rounders in exchange for the third overall pick of the 2007 draft. This is bad asset management anyway you manage it.
Hopefully in Chicago Rundblad will get a chance to actually play, something he didn't get to do much this year, due to a glut of talented defenseman ahead of him in Phoenix.
Writing about the Coyotes is 99.9% of the time a pretty awesome job.
If, however, there is a single drawback, it is that the Phoenix Coyotes receive almost no league-wide coverage. Usually this isn't a real problem because all you have to do is watch the team play hockey and the stories write themselves. You know: This sucks, that sucks, they should do this, that was a bad move, hey I liked this...etc.
The problem - .1% of the time - is on/at trade deadline day/week.
While the rest of the league revels in rumours and speculation, the Coyotes, lead by their low-key risk adverse management team, gather round in front of the bat-wings of a dusty saloon and watch tumble weeds roll down a dirt road.
They might make a trade. Maybe ten. I can't predict these things.
All I really know is that while they are probably working the phones as much as any other team, the NHL insiders like Lebraun, Kypreos, Mackenzie barely acknowledge that there is a team in the desert.
Now, maybe the team just isn't active, but I doubt it. You have to realize that this is a hits/viewers business. It's not a coincidence that the players mentioned the most play for teams that are a) near the top of the standings b) traditionally popular and/or playing in Canada or the northeast.
And hey, it's not all the market: The Coyotes sit 11th in the Western Conference.
Even though the Coyotes are rarely mentioned in trade rumours, they are sometimes. A few names have been kicked around: Moulson and Gardiner most prominently, but there is also Whitney, Stepniak and a few others.
Since there are no hot rumours to speak of, but since it only makes sense that Don Maloney calls every GM, even if its just to inquire on the cost, I thought it might be fun (and possibly worthwhile) to look at all the rumoured available players and how they might fit into the Coyotes, all the while keeping in mind the following facts: I have no inside information, sources or access, and these names, in most cases, have never legitimately been linked to Phoenix.
Team Needs
Everyone talks about a left winger for the Hanzal line. To me, this is a joke. Why not just admit the truth? This team does not have a single first line player. If you added three first-line players to the current incarnation of the Coyotes, you would probably have a team that could compete for the Cup. Unfortunately, if the Coyotes where realistically able to add three first-liners, they would probably have to ruin their other team strengths to do so and end up no farther ahead.
So, assuming they want to try to win this year, or at least make the playoffs, the team needs: 1) An elite top-line scorer, preferably a centre. 2) A couple quality top line forwards, not necessarily elite 3) Someone a little tougher to play on the second/third line. 4) A fourth line centre better than Jeff Halpern 5) A bottom pairing shutdown defenseman
While I think the Coyotes will be buyers instead of sellers, I think their best move would be to convert all current assets that they don't see being here long term into picks and futures. But, since that isn't going to happen, if they are going to do anything, it should be for young players that will help in the future and not guys who will be rentals or retreads.
Lets see what might be available.
Matt Moulson
30 years old. UFA after this season.
For a guy with 17 goals and who seems unlikely to hit 30 this year, the hype around this guy is crazy. I think he is more helpful as an additional scoring forward for an already competing team than he would be to Phoenix, where he would instantly be thought of as a first line, go-to guy. I think if the Coyotes added him, he wouldn't be as much of an upgrade as people think, and would just join Vrbata, Doan, and Ribeiro in the Coyote's collection of second tier scoring forwards who get about 20-25 goals.
Advice: Pass
Lee Stepniak, Ray Whitney, Mike Cammalleri,
For the same reason the Coyotes shouldn't bother with Moulson, they should also pass on these guys. Too old, not going to have enough impact etc. And, despite everyone in Phoenix being in love with Ray Whitney, he isn't going to be traded to a team directly competing with Dallas for the same playoff spot.
Jake Gardiner 23 years old, RFA after this year.
The Coyotes are said to be interested in Gardiner and he is a young, offensive defenseman who could potentially replace Yandle (should he be converted into a forward) and would be an upgrade over Rundblad. Gardiner's potential is off the charts but the Coyotes do not really need him unless Yandle is moved.
Advice: Maybe get him, depending on what else happens. He would be a nice add to any team with his youth and potential.
Jordan Staal
Age 25 and signed through the 2022-23 season.
If it's true that the Carolina Hurricanes want to move salary and would be open to moving Staal, every team in the NHL would have interest. His cap hit is high for this year, but will become significantly cheaper as time goes on and salaries rise. Staal has never been given significant first line time, and on the Coyotes he could be the number one centre. He could get 20+ minutes every night and all the power play time he wants.
If he is available, I think Maloney should move heaven and earth to acquire him. What would the cost be? If it's salary they (Carolina) want to move, then Yandle isn't going to do it. How about Murphy, Domi and a pick? I'm just spitballing here, but whatever the cost, it would be worth it to build around Staal and Ekman-Larrson for the next ten years.
Ryan Kessler
Age 29 and two years remaining with a 5 Million cap hit.
Kessler is an enigma. He could be a dominating two-way forward - maybe the best in the league. But, does he have untapped scoring potential? Can he be a number one centre? I don't know. I think he would be a nice addition to the Coyotes if he was younger and less beat up, but he plays a style I can't see being conductive to a long career. If you pay to get him, you should be a Cup contender. The Coyotes should pass.
Tomas Vanek
Age 30. Pending UFA
Again, more suited to a contender. He alone isn't going to make the Coyotes one, so pass.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers seem like a team that would like / need a player like Yandle. They have draft picks that would be high and intriguing, they have Yakupov and Gagner, both of who are young enough that the Coyotes should be interested.
My advice would be to pursue this, but I also think that if the Oilers wanted to auction off Yakupov, they might get more than Yandle. I also think that if they were going to trade their pick, that they would get more for it when it's confirmed as the number one pick, so I don't see them doing anything this drastic.
Nazem Kadri
Age 23, signed for one more year at just under 3 million.
Kadri is an interesting player. He hasn't been as dominating as his skill set suggests he could be and he has a history with Boedker. He would instantly be the most talented forward the Coyotes have. But how do Toronto and Phoenix match up? Pretty well actually, I think. The Leafs need a top pairing partner for the criminally under-appreciated Phaneuf and would probably covet Yandle. The only problem would be who would centre Toronto's second line if they moved Kadri, and Phoenix certainly has nothing to offer in this capacity as Ribeiro probably wouldn't fit salary wise, or style wise in Toronto. (Or anywhere, let's keep being honest).
Marion Gaborik
Age 32, one year left on a 7.5 cap hit.
While Gaborik would be the best forward on the Coyotes, there is no sense in them acquiring a player this old and fragile for a playoff run that is looking increasingly unlikely.
Josh Bailey
Age 24 signed for four more years at a 3 million cap hit.
Bailey is a talented forward who could be acquired cheaply (since a buyout is being mentioned if he can't be traded). He was rushed too early to the NHL and hasn't lived up to his billing, but I think he could present a nice risk/reward scenario for the Coyotes. Get him cheap, he could surprise and you really lose nothing if he doesn't. Maybe the Islanders would be interesting in a player in a similar situation: David Rundblad.
Alexander Radulov
Age 28 UFA (not sure what the rules about getting him out of Russia would be)
Took some heat for this last month, but Radulov is probably one of the top 2 or 3 players in the world not currently in the NHL. If he ever lived up to his potential, he could be a top ten scorer in the NHL. He is unbelievably talented. If you are the Coyotes, you need to find ways to get an edge because UFAs are not lining up to sign with you and you can't just spend your way out of trouble. Why not take a flyer on Radulov since the risk would be minimal.
Paul Stastny
Age 28 UFA after this season.
I think Stastny is one of the league's most under-appreciated players. He can get you a ppg if he gets the most ice time on the PP out of your centres, he kills penalties, wins face-offs and plays an allround game. He could be exactly what the Coyotes need. I don't know that Colorado would want to move him with them having such a good year, but he is a UFA and I think he'd be worth the cost to get a chance to convince him to sign in the desert.
Conclusion
Depending on how aggressive Maloney wants to be in improving his team, I think that he has some decent options. He has a ton of young defenseman and prospect forwards, plus all his draft picks, to make a move. A lot of his older players are movable and would bring a decent return. I think the potential to put together a package for a player like Staal is definitely there and the Coyotes - who have been dressing Antoine Vermette in the role - are desperate for a number one centre.
My first choice would be to target Jordan Staal, and after that Stastny. Then I would work to try to acquire players who might need a change of scenery, or who present a nice risk/reward situation, like Baily or Radulov or even Kadri. I would not attempt to acquire older, slightly washed up second-liners like Cammalleri. Of course, I am just some guy writing this in my Mom's basement while wearing only my underwear, so what do I know?!!!
Thanks for reading, the deadline should be fun. I'll update if anything goes down.
Tweets:Coyotes1234
----
Taking a backseat to the trade deadline is the fact that the Coyotes play the Canucks tonight in Vancouver.
The Coyotes will be without C Martin Hanzal tonight who is out with the some kind of injury, which will not be disclosed because the NHL and it's teams are a joke when it comes to disclosing injuries.
Also, Rundblad will be back tonight after a conditioning stint in Portland. Hopefully they play him, as the team hasn't really given him a chance to succeed this year. I think he has talent and the way they have utilized him has bordered on stupid since he cost them a #3 overall pick in Kyle Turris and by not playing him they have destroyed any trade value he might have had.
Tonight would be a great night to get back into the Win Column since the Canucks are vulnerable and also directly competing with Phoenix for the final playoff spot.