Arizona Off Season Acquisitions

Torey Krug Returning to the Desert

In what has been a busy month for the Arizona GM, the Coyotes look to continue to grow into a Stanley Cup competitor. After their first year in the Central Division, the team was unable to compete with the league superpowers and fell short of their goal to compete once again in the playoffs.

Arizona looks to change that after an active month of talk and trades. 

The first move saw Arizona trade long time player Christian Dvorak, Raphael Lavoie, and their 2023 3^rd to Vancouver in return for William Karlsson. It’s been no secret that the team has been looking to find a player to fill that role, but with drafting Matty “Beans” Beniers, it was expected the team would look to wait another year before trying to get back to the big dance.

Some have suggested that it makes Beniers expendable to the team and they may look at moving him. When asked, the GM simply laughed and walked out of the presser. Either the GM is looking at hiding his real plan or there is simply no chance of that happening.

With Tanner Pearson having a more likely role on the third line, it was clear that the Coyotes also needed to find a player who could move up and down the line up but also being on a cheaper contract heading into free agency. Arizona was able to package Boris Katchouk and cash to add Lawson Crouse to their lineup.

Arizona also managed to pull together a deal for Jordan Greenway by sending Montreal Danton Heinen, 2023 2^nd, and prospect Matthew Stienburg. This deal rounds out the teams middle six, while also freeing up some cap space for the team. 

                                                       Expected Opening Day Line Up
                                                            Svechnikov – Barkov – Kane
                                                          Crouse – Karlsson – Nichushkin
                                                           Pearson – Lowry – Greenway
                                                             Erne – Stenlund - Bellows

Finally the time had arrived, Free Agency. Arizona was now looking to fill the hole left by Torey Krug on the second pair and to complete their goalie tandem. It is believed that Arizona was interested in Erik Johnson however he chose to sign with Vancouver. Arizona was always open to bringing back Krug, who posted 40 points in 82 games. It didn’t take long for Krug to put pen to paper and to resign for four years at just over six million.

                                                        Expected Opening Day Line Up
                                                                     Josi – Provorov
                                                                    Bouchard – Krug
                                                                      Fabbro – Bean


With Oettinger expected to have full control of the crease in the next few years, Arizona will be looking to run a 1A/B situation. Arizona was initially in on goaltender Mike Smith, but he opted to sign with Detroit, whose logo the last few years should have been changed to a tire on fire rather than the iconic winged wheel. Arizona ended up landing Jake Allen on a two year, $3.6m AAV deal.

With the pieces all together, lets see if this year the Coyotes can push their way into the playoffs in the powerhouse Central Division rather than being a “mid” team.


Out:

-       Anton Khudonin

-       Christian Dvorak

-       Raphael Lavoie

-       Boris Katchouk

-       Danton Heinen

In:

-       Lawson Crouse

-       William Karlsson

-       Jordan Greenway

-       Jake Allen

-       Torey Krug (re-signed)