Breaking down the Arizona Coyotes ahead of NHL Free Agency.
Updated: Sunday, June 29
Pending free agents
Unrestricted: 15 | Restricted: 2 | See full list
[teamleaders league=”nhl” team=”pho” season=”2013″]
Coyotes overview
The Coyotes appeared to be in the driver’s seat for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, but lost seven of their final 10 games to close out the season. They finished with 89 points in 82 games, good enough for the ninth spot in the conference.
Head coach Dave Tippett and general manager Don Maloney will return in 2014-15, but the team lost up-and-coming assistant GM Brad Treliving to the Calgary Flames. They’re expected to name a replacement before the NHL Draft.
In terms of the roster, Arizona is a bit old at forward and lacking team speed as a result. The club isn’t expected to retain any of its free agent forwards — the most notable being Radim Vrbata. To replace him, the team could turn to 19-year-old Max Domi — the 12th overall pick in last summer’s draft.
“He’ll get a real, long look,” Maloney told Sportsnet 590 The Fan last month. “Max is strong, talented; we’re going to need talent in our lineup. He’ll get a long look (in training camp) in September.”
Arizona boasts a young still-improving defence that is anchored by Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Keith Yandle. They also have a reliable goaltender — a staple of Tippett’s clubs — in Mike Smith, who will be the starter again in 2014-15.
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Areas to address
After failing to make the playoffs the last two seasons, Maloney is not content with his roster. The team is still working on a budget with its new ownership group, but the front office is preparing to make changes throughout the roster.
“We’ve got some work to do,” Maloney told Sportsnet 590 The Fan. “We have to turn our roster over a little bit. We plan to open up some positions for some younger people that bring more energy. I felt the speed of our team this year was lacking.”
According to CapGeek, Arizona has approximately $16.4 million in salary cap space so they could be free agent spenders if ownership gives them the money to do so. In terms of their own free agents, the priority is signing backup goaltender Thomas Greiss, who performed admirably last season when Smith suffered an injury. The 28-year-old Greiss shouldn’t cost too much to retain.
The focus will be up front where the club ranked in the middle of the pack in terms of goals scored. The Coyotes added Martin Erat last year but that won’t be enough to counteract the expected loss of Vrbata, who scored 20 goals for the club last season.
On the back end, Arizona isn’t expected to do much in free agency. They have the majority of their core pieces on defence under contract and have some intriguing young players ready to step into new roles. Derek Morris is an unrestricted free agent and it would be a surprise to see the club re-sign him.
Possible signing targets
Matt Moulson (LW): At 30-years-old, he’s still in the prime of his career and would fill an organizational need for Arizona.
Mason Raymond (LW): He isn’t expected to return to Toronto and could provide the Coyotes’ third line with a necessary boost of speed. He’ll be looking for a raise from his $1-million salary with the Leafs, but wouldn’t be expensive to acquire either.
Mikhail Grabovski (C): He is best suited for an offensive role on the second line and that’s precisely where the Coyotes could slot him in.
