Breaking down the Phoenix Coyotes ahead of NHL Trade Deadline Day.
Deadline approach
The Phoenix Coyotes will be: Buyers
Pending free agents
Unrestricted: 11 | Restricted: 6 | See full list
[teamleaders league=”nhl” team=”pho” season”2014″]
Coyotes overview
It’s been another typical season for Dave Tippett’s club. Phoenix is in the mix for a playoff spot with a group of no-name forwards (outside of longtime Coyote Shane Doan and veteran Mike Ribeiro) and an up-and-coming defence that features the likes of Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Keith Yandle. Tippett’s teams have always gotten outstanding goaltending (even Ilya Bryzgalov excelled in Phoenix) but Mike Smith has been a bit erratic this year. His goals-against average and save percentage aren’t at the same level they have been over the past three seasons. The Coyotes will need Smith to improve over the final few months of the regular season.
The Coyotes rank in the middle of the pack in the Western Conference for both goals scored and goals allowed. On offence, it is a very balanced group that does not rely on one specific line. Heading into the Olympic break, Phoenix had six players that had already exceeded 14 goals.
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| Click player positions to see depth chart | ||
Areas to address
Coyotes GM Don Maloney has already stated that the team will not be sellers at the deadline. Looking at the current roster, adding a forward — especially on left wing — would be the biggest need for Phoenix to immediately address. According to Maloney, the team would prefer to add without tweaking the current group so a rental forward for a draft pick or prospect would be a very logical approach.
“I think we can work with the pieces we have here,” Maloney said before the Olympic break. “I think the focus will be on adding one or two forwards to the mix.” Those additions could come in the form of a veteran presence for a Coyotes’ playoff run.
Some believe that the Coyotes should look to add another defenceman as well, but Maloney is said to be fairly satisfied with the group, especially since veteran blueliner Zbynek Michalek returned to the lineup.
Possible trade targets
Ray Whitney, Dallas Stars
Matt Moulson, Buffalo Sabres
Devin Setoguchi, Winnipeg Jets
