a small trade

Team: 2019-20 Arizona Coyotes

Initial Creation Date: May 8, 2019

Published: May 8, 2019

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

okay, so here's the rub:

- this is basically a spin on the Dave Bolland/Lawson Crouse trade from a few years ago. the Coyotes pick up a bad contract and get a young prospect-type player out of it.
- the Lightning need to dump Ryan Callahan's contract in order to have a real shot at signing Brayden Point. John Chayka calls up Julien BriseBois, says, "looks like you need that bad contract off your books. how 'bout it, eh?" BriseBois goes to Callahan, says, "hey, look, you'd be doing us a favor, AND you get to live in Phoenix." (trust me when I say a lot of hockey players like living in Arizona.) Callahan includes Arizona in his 16-team trade list, and the M-NTC isn't an obstacle anymore.
- from what I hear about Mathieu Joseph, he's fast and is good on the forecheck: sounds like a player Rick Tocchet wants in his system. plus, his brother's in the Coyotes' system, so there's a nice lil' family reunion.
- yeah, sure, Connauton, Cousins, and Archibald look like spare parts. but I think Chayka would have most of the leverage in this situation; BriseBois *needs* that contract off his books. Cousins and Archibald can play higher in the lineup if they need to, in case of injury or the like, but would generally serve as stopgaps until Syracuse's prospects are ready to go. Connauton is a competent 3rd-pairing defender, and nobody in Syracuse's lineup seems ready for the NHL (outside of, like, Cal Foote). the pick is a pick; a 2nd or a 3rd would be fine.
- all of my estimates of RFA and UFA signings come from Evolving Wild's contract projections.