The Arizona Coyotes are rebuilding; there is no secret there, no breaking news. As a result, this trade deadline saw another exodus of players including star defenseman Jakob Chychrun. Let’s talk about these and see how it sets up the future and fits into GM Bill Armstrong’s plan.
Jakob Chychrun
Out: Jakob Chychrun
In: 2023 1st round pick (top 5 protected),conditional 2024 2nd round pick(if Ottawa gets to the Eastern Conference finals pick becomes a 2024 1st round pick), and a 2026 2nd round pick
This was the big one. The trade we’ve been waiting roughly 15 months for finally dropped. I understand the pain and frustration that the return wasn’t two first-round picks or any prospects but at the end of the day the first-rounder that was acquired should be a lottery pick in a truly fantastic and deep draft. Any other trade that could’ve been made with first-rounders as the key return you’re likely looking at mid-late 20s this year and next year. Should GMBA have retained? Absolutely not as that would’ve meant 2 out of 3 possible retention slots would be used for the next two seasons after this.
Should GMBA have taken a bad contract back? There’s some validity to that complaint but per the man himself, he stated in an interview with Jeff Marek, prices for acquiring bad contracts are higher in the offseason and acquiring them now would remove the ability to do that in the offseason. It was not the perfect trade but the criticism is far too harsh for what should be a pick in the 8-14 range, 17 in almost the worst-case scenario. Having that opens the team up to multiple options at the draft that wouldn’t have been there with a mid-late 20s pick. Let’s wait to judge this too harshly before we even know what the pick will be.
— Jakob Chychrun (@j_chychrun7) March 4, 2023
Shayne Gostisbehere
Out: Shayne Gostisbehere
In: 2026 3rd round pick
The man affectionately called Ghost Bear has been a model example of what the Coyotes have done ridiculously well so far during this rebuild: leverage cap space, take on contracts that are looked on as bad for draft picks and either rehabilitate and flip again(like Gostisbehere) or flop which doesn’t really affect a team not looking to make the playoffs currently. The Coyotes gave up nothing and were paid in a second and seventh round pick to take him on. Ghost Bear far exceeded his expectations with his play on ice and impact off of it. Unfortunately, this deadline was definitely a buyers market and between that and lacking retention spots there just wasn’t enough of a market and too many defensemen available to get the return he would’ve fetched most deadlines.
Overall though getting a second, third, and seventh round picks in total for a player deemed to have negative value before he was acquired is a tidy bit of business.
Nick Bjugstad
Out: Nick Bjugstad
In: 2023 Third Round Pick, D Michael Kesselring
The last of the major trades was easily the best trade made by the Coyotes as far as relative value of the bunch. Nick Bjugstad was another guy who due to his work ethic, leadership, timely goal-scoring, and general attitude was a fan favorite. But the return on this trade was really good for an upcoming UFA. A 2023 third round pick is going to give the Yotes extra trade chips to move up if they choose or in this deep draft there will still be quality there. Throw in Kesselring who’s leading the AHL in goals scored by a defenseman and xG by a defenseman. Could be a very sneaky good deadline add and I am looking forward to his debut!
Minor trades and salary management acquisitions
In: Brett Ritchie, Connor Mackey, Jakob Voracek (contract),2023 6th,2025 3rd,Shea Weber (contract),2023 5th
Out: Salary Cap space, Dysin Mayo, Jon Gillies, Nick Ritchie, Troy Stecher
Picks, Picks, Picks and picks. The Coyotes have decided (finally) to rebuild truly through the draft and the sheer amount of draft capital coming in shows that. This team has never stuck with a rebuild and has always tried to take shortcuts around it. They are not doing that this time. The goal is to build a sustainable winner. Now whether that works or not will not be known for several years but they have a plan, are executing and following through, and seem to have the patience to stick it out.
Now let’s go and cheer for some Ottawa Senators losses to stack up!
