The NHL’s trade deadline isn’t until March 2, but it’s never too early to start identifying potential targets.
Coyotes center Antoine Vermette, a pending unrestricted free agent, is one to keep an eye on, according to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston:
Vermette isn’t just playing out the final year of his contract; he’s doing it for an Arizona Coyotes team that is unable to open real negotiations until its ownership restructuring has been completed. He is in limbo and he’s trying really hard not to think about it.
On top of that, the Coyotes (5-6-1) are off to a slow start. As a result, they already sit five points back of fifth place in the Pacific Division, arguably the toughest division in the NHL.
Which is to say, there’s a very good chance they’ll be sellers at the deadline.
On a Stanley Cup contender, Vermette could be an excellent third-line center, able to win faceoffs and kill penalties, while chipping in offensively. His cap hit isn’t huge at $3.75 million, and the Coyotes could always retain part of his salary to grease the wheels on a deal.
Vermette refused to “go too deep into this” with Johnston; however, the player did concede, “I’ve moved before.”