Team: 2022-23 Arizona Coyotes

Initial Creation Date: Jun. 12, 2022

Published: Jun. 14, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Being a few more years away from contention, more pain is coming for Coyotes fans, unfortunately. First off, the bright spot of the team, being the draft. I'll be simulating the draft via FC Hockey and here are the results:

1 (3) - Logan Cooley (C) US NTDP (USHL)
1 (30) - Isaac Howard (LW) US NTDP (USHL)
1 (31) - Lane Hutson (LD) US NTDP (USHL)
2 (34) - Ty Nelson (RD) North Bay Battalion (OHL)
2 (36) - Jimmy Snuggerud (RW) US NTDP (USHL)
2 (43) - Matyas Sapovaliv (LW) Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
2 (45) - Maveric Lamoureux (RD (Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
3 (66) - Danny Zhlikin (C) (Guelph Storm (OHL)
3 (97) - Justin Cote (C) (Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
5 (130) - Sergei Ivanov (G) SKA-Neva St Petersburg (VHL)
6 (162) - Helmer Styf (LW) MoDo Hockey J20 (J20 Nationell)

Well to say the least this team is primed in 2 years time to have Cooley and his NTDP friends join the squad, but until then there is work to be done.

The pick used to select Cote was involved in a deal with MTL, where they send a 3rd to send us Weber's dead cap hit. Where as the first trade would be a result in living up to trade conditions, allowing Ladd to dress in 1/82 games at the very least.

Starting with trades, the first order of business is to deal Jakob Chychurin. Just like Weber's deal coming to die in AZ, this move was rumored last year specifically to LA. With Vilardi (not a Turcotte or Byfield) being the centerpiece of this deal, there will be some draft picks in place. A lottery protected first is the pick in this deal. LA tries to slowly accelerate their rebuild here bringing in Chychurin. And if LA does make the playoffs in a competitive pacific division, highly doubt they'd make it to final 4. Meaning AZ gets another top 20 pick here. I think LA is willing to part with a forward prospect, especially Vilardi. Walker too barely played all year and LA have sound internal solutions to him slotting out of the lineup (Spence). As well Grans seems like a hot commodity to be traded in cap friendly, idk if he said he wanted out or anything but I'll include him.

Next trade here we move on from Shayne Gostibehere and trade him to NYI. Speculation out of NYI is that they're looking for more offense out of their defence + they're in need of a 2LD. Ghost was a frozen asset for the entirety of this year but is almost a guarantee to move him either prior or during this year. Why I chose to acquire a 2nd from years out is that AZ is targeting picks particularly from the 2023 or 2025 drafts. Considering the bounce-back year and cap retention coming with Gostibehere, it's good value.

A trade out of left field trade here as we move on from Conor Timmins. Timmins was limited to a handful of games this year due to injury and is not guaranteed (but is aiming) to be back for training camp 2022/23. With the injury to Timmins, that saw some internal prospects take over the void he left off, the particular player in question is Dysin Mayo. Not only did he make his NHL debut and have a complete rookie season of 67 games, but he earned a 3 year extension to boot. With Soderstrom likely competing for a full time spot this year, Stralman coming back and Walker coming in, + Mayo already on the bench as 7th D, it is now a position of strength and Timmins essentially played himself out. Not to say we don't get any value from him. As we pick up fellow 2017 draft class defencemen in David Farrance. With NSH likely moving on from Myers this offseason, they'll need a place holder on RD which is why I think this trade works. NSH also moves down from a 2nd to a 3rd in this deal, as Timmins does hold more value than Farrance.

Another cap dump here as TOR dumps Mrazek & Holl's deal to TOR with the incentive of a 3rd round pick. In return they take Ryan McGregor. Former Marlie (and Soo Greyhound) comes back on a 1 year 2 way deal currently. Not like he holds tons of value, mainly a contract going the other way. Mrazek comes in as a fellow Czechia goaltender to split games with Karel Vejmelka. Holl on the other hand gets bought out. Like I said with ARZ and their RDs, there is no reason to hold onto Holl. So he gets let go and potentially returns to the Maple Leafs organization on a new less expensive deal?

Last trade is another cap dump coming from Vancouver. They dump defenceman Tucker Poolman alongside prospect goalie Michael DiPietro & a 4th. Poolman was a bad contract from the start and continued to live up to that moniker as he had a poor season. New management in town in VAN which will likely try and move on from the defender. Unlike Holl, Poolman is likely an AHL defender at this point and will start there. DiPietro unfortunately has fallen out of favour with Canucks management. Reportingly seeing Silovs as their goalie of the future and looking to bring in another veteran goalie to work with him in Abbotsford means DiPietro is likely gone. So he gets one last kick at the can in AZ.

Onto resigning. Lawson Crouse gets a handsome payday, as he nets 4.4 over 6 years. Could be considered an overpay, but not much else to waste cap space on. Anton Stralman comes back on a 1y ear deal making 2.5, AZ liked his leadership last year and can log big minutes on defence. Both Hayton & Vilardi get matching 1 year deals, then both will sign likely more lucrative deals next offseason. Fischer gets a simple 2 x 2, he's a good locker room guy, can stick around as a bottom 6 player for this team. Capobianco gets a matching deal to Dysin Mayo. DiPietro signs a 1 year league minimum deal, Imama returns on a 2 year league minimum deal. As well, Farrance signs 2 years slightly over league minimum this time.

Onto free agency here and there is one big move, that is the signing of Nicolas Hague. Hague had a great year and flourished under more minutes due to injury of Alec Martinez last year. For yet another offseason VGk finds themselves in cap troubles, looking like they're prioritizing bringing back Smith, but are going to have money work. While they'll likely work on moving Dadanov and potentially Brossoit due to the breakout season of Thompson, that only helps so much. They lose out on Hague here, AZ making life tough for a fellow west team, still getting value from it as AZ gives up their 2nd. Hague only does sign a 1 year deal, but like Kotkaniemi, would resign mid-year depending on his production. One more roster player FA signing as AZ signs up Ilya Mikheyev. A player who almost certainly played himself out of a cap strapped Toronto team is gonna look for a pay day. AZ can definitely pay up and they give him a nice 2.75 x 2 deal. If you feel that's short for Mikheyev, that's fine as AZ has tons more cap space LOL. 3 more depth signings here as AZ signs Gerry Mayhew and Brett Seney to 1 x 850,000 deals each. 2 opposite ends of the spectrum with the two players. Mayhew is considered an offensive depth player where as Brett Seney is much more defence orientated. Both player center or wing. Start the season off in Tucson but make NHL appearances depending on what type of player needs to be replaced. As well they bring in Colton Poolman (says we offer sheeted him, but he'll likely get let go from CGY), brother of Tucker. Both start in the AHL.

As for starting lineup and who starts NHL vs AHL, there isn't much controversies. In net you have Vejmelka & Mrazek. When one goes down (and they will) likely Provestov takes over. With defence I like the 7 that are currently up, with injuries easily Poolman, Kolychonok or Knot can get called up. As for forwards the only question marks I have are on Guenther and Maccelli. Guenther may not be entirely ready to jump straight into the NHL, Maccelli had a great AHL and also thrived in his short time on the Coyotes. I do believe he'll be back in the NHL lineup frequently, but not 100% convinced he wins a spot out of training camp. You have 2 prospects in Nathan Smith & Jan Jenik as well who can very well spend time or even make the opening NHL roster. McBain > Smith could also be a bad take in months time. If you want one of Jenik or Smith starting in the NHL as well as Guenther & Macceli. You can always start Ladd in the AHL.

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