Radim Vrbata and the Arizona Coyotes just can’t stay separated for too long.
Arizona Sports’ Craig Morgan reports that the two sides are closing in on a one-year contract.
Morgan didn’t specify how much money might be involved, but even for a budget-conscious team like the Coyotes, a single season can only do so much damage. It’s a low-risk proposition that, considering Vrbata’s past in the desert, could bring nice rewards.
It's really hard for me to dislike a one-year deal for Vrbata. If he produces, great. If he doesn't, almost no risk.
— Brendan Porter (@brendanporter) August 15, 2016
While Vrbata made a nice first impression riding shotgun with the Sedin twins in Vancouver, his 2015-16 season was rough, solidifying the notion that things just seem to go better for him in Arizona.
Three of his four career 20+ goal seasons came with the Coyotes, and it’s not outrageous to picture him flirting with 20 or more on a team that could use his shooting skills.
A power play with Vrbata, young talents like Max Domi and quality scoring blueliners Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Alex Goligoski might just help Arizona steal some extra wins next season.
Vrbata seems aware of Arizona being something of a comfort zone, and has been for some time. Back in 2012, he told the Chicago Tribune that “it seems like it’s a good place for me.”
Arizona would be a perfectly sensible place for Vrbata in 2016-17 now, too, so we’ll see if it becomes official.