Team: 2021-22 Arizona Coyotes

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 30, 2021

Published: May 3, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

The best thing for this team to do is take advantage of their cap space and take on some bad contracts for assets. Then flip those assets to a team with expansion protection issues for more low risk high reward assets. This team should also not be trying to make the playoffs (if it happens as a happy accident that means that players like Schmaltz, Keller, and Dvo have taken a leap and maybe OEL isn't trash so that's gravy, and maybe the Bunting thing is real and he's the new Garland). But a top 3 pick is the next draft nets you one of Wright, Lambert or Savoie which should be enough of a reason for this team to want to be awful. Kuemper being on this team essentially ensures you're not going to be that bad.

That being said, you Trade Kuemper to a team that has been desperate for an elite goalie for almost decade. Olofsson isn't perfect but he scores goals and is a nice PP player.. Hayton feeding him passes could help his development and confidence. You protect Hill in expansion (he's shown this year he's ready for regular NHL work). Andersen signing is two fold. 1.. the Coyotes have maybe the deepest and best goaltending coaching department and development team in the league. He's a perfect reclamation project. 2. Andersen already spends his offseason in Scottsdale living and training with his best friend Auston Matthews. Doing Andersen a solid and singing him gets you even more good will with AM.. so when summer of 2023-24 rolls around and you make your Matthews UFA play you've got that in the bag.

Eriksson might be the worst contract in the league. Taking the full freight and helping Vancouver out with their cap situation and you get a plus prospect at an area of need (RHD.. and a couple picks as the sweeteners).

Cody Ceci has had a nice bounce back year in Pittsburgh. He's mobile, he's a righty, he won't be expensive. Ryan Murray is a nice defensive anchor, he doesn't move the puck at an elite level but he defends at an elite level. He's the perfect kind of stay at home steady force that would allow a player like Foote to take more risks and grow.

Goose has been great in the 2nd half. He's got a great relationship with Chychrun, good chemistry. He's old yes, but 1 year and it's cheap (heck I'd even give him trade protection if he wants it).

Is this roster really worse than this year's Coyotes? You could argue it's probably better but that with no Kuemper it doesn't have as high a ceiling. Also next year when you don't have to play Colorado and VGK 8 times a piece that'd be nice. Maybe this roster flirts with the 8 seed, fades down the stretch and gets a top 3 pick.. wouldn't that be nice.

1.

2.

3.

4.