We have a trade.
According to Craig Custance, the Arizona Coyotes have added some depth up the middle by acquiring center Nick Cousins from the Philadelphia Flyers.
In 60 games this season, Cousins had six goals and 16 points on a one-year, $840,000 contract. He’s currently a pending restricted free agent.
“We are very pleased to acquire Nick,” said Coyotes general manager John Chayka. “He is a tenacious, versatile, two-way center who will add grit and energy to our lineup. We’re excited to have him join the Coyotes.”
The Coyotes pick up Cousins and Harvard goaltender Merrick Madsen from the Flyers, in exchange for University of Michigan forward Brendan Warren and a fifth-round draft choice in 2018.
Cousins has been quite productive at the AHL level, posting 56 points in 64 games two years ago, and averaging a point per game in 38 contests with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2015-16.
Taken in the third round of the 2011 NHL Draft, Cousins posted strong possession numbers in his time with the big club in Philly, but was also eligible for the Vegas expansion draft. In this case, the Flyers now have one less player to worry about protecting, while acquiring a draft pick and a young forward in Warren, who concluded his sophomore season at University of Michigan.
Coyotes plan to protect Cousins.
— Craig Morgan (@CraigSMorgan) June 17, 2017
The expansion draft trade/waiver freeze for all clubs except Las Vegas commences at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday.