Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

The Coyotes are worth watching... for potential trades

Montreal Canadiens v Arizona Coyotes

Montreal Canadiens v Arizona Coyotes

Getty Images

The Arizona Coyotes (9-14-5) have just one win in their last eight games. They are 29th in goals for, and 29th in goals against. Last night, they got embarrassed, 7-0, in Pittsburgh.

In other words, it’s only December, but there’s little hope of a playoff berth for the Desert Dogs, even in a Western Conference that’s lost some of its strength. Heading into tonight’s game in Detroit, the Coyotes sit seven points back of a wild-card spot, and they’d have to leapfrog six teams to get in.

For the rest of the league, barring a miracle, about the only thing worth monitoring in Arizona is how the Coyotes will approach the trade deadline. GM John Chayka has not been afraid to make moves early in his tenure, and there are a number of pending free agents who could garner interest, including captain Shane Doan.

Doan would have to want a trade, as the 40-year-old winger has a no-movement clause. Though he only has three goals through 28 games, his 61 shots suggest he’s still getting chances. And he did score 28 times last season.

Forwards Martin Hanzal and Radim Vrbata are also pending UFAs. The former is a big center who’s already heard his name in trade rumors; the latter leads the Coyotes with eight goals.

Then there’s Anthony Duclair, who’s also had his name come up in speculation. The Coyotes do not lack young forward talent, so trading Duclair for help elsewhere could be something that Chayka would consider. The 21-year-old winger has just one goal in 25 games, but he did score 20 last season. He’s been scratched the past two games, after logging just 8:21 Thursday against Calgary.

Now, all that being said, it seems unlikely that the Coyotes would start any fire sale today. They still have to play out the schedule, and trading veterans like Doan, Hanzal and Vrbata would put their youngsters in a very tough spot.

Moreover, Stanley Cup contenders are better able to fit trade acquisitions under the salary cap later in the season, and the Coyotes will want as many bidders as possible to maximize their returns. Unless Chayka gets an offer he can’t refuse, he may be better off waiting.

In the meantime, Dave Tippett will try to coax a more competitive effort out of his charges. The head coach was left fuming after getting throttled by the Penguins.

“There is a standard you have to play to in the NHL, whether you are a young guy or a veteran, and we did not play or compete at an NHL level tonight and we ended up that is the score you get,” he said.

“That is where we are at today.”