Arizona Coyotes Trade Rumors Are Mounting

According to Shane Seney of nhltraderumors.me, two soon-to-be free-agent members of the Arizona Coyotes may be traded by the deadline. Coyotes trade rumors may include forward Nick Ritchie, and Shayne Gostisbehere. Both players are having successful results in the new 2022-23 season. Ritchie has three goals and one assist, while Ghost has two goals and three assists in four contests. That will attract quite a few teams’ attention as both are free agents after this season.

Coyotes Trade Rumors Align With Rebuild

When an NHL club decides to go through a rebuild, they are thinking about the future, not the present. The team acquired both Gostisbehere and Ritchie with that in mind. Assets can turn into draft picks or prospects helping the team move forward and be more successful. General manager Bill Armstrong has made that perfectly clear as he has made numerous moves to supplement that theory.

Some fans may not like that the team is being dismantled and being stuck at the bottom of the standings. Short-term pain is hoped to develop into a longer-term plan to get the team into the postseason more often, and in turn, attempt to win a Cup. As an example, look at what the Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche have accomplished. They chose excellent players in the draft like Nathan MacKinnon (2013, 1st pick), Mikko Rantanen (2015, 10th pick), and Cale Makar (2017, 4th pick). Every two years they added an impact player to help them become the powerhouse team they are today.

That’s exactly what Armstrong is trying to do. He selected Logan Cooley third overall this year in hopes that he will develop into a top-line center. He is currently playing with the University of Minnesota and has collected two goals and three assists in just four games. Then, Armstrong also drafted Conor Geekie with the 11th pick this year. He is playing outstanding hockey in the WHL with the Winnipeg Ice. In nine games thus far, he has tallied six goals, three assists. Just these two centers will influence the team for years to come. So, hang on fans… things WILL get better!

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Teams Who May be Interested in Making a Deal

Ritchie has proven his worth and can help almost any team who is interested in a forward with size and offensive punch. He stands 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, and is a presence in front of the net. As the trade deadline approaches on March 3rd, teams will be on the phone with Armstrong asking his return for a player like Ritchie.

As far as Gostisbehere is concerned, Seney stated teams like the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators and St. Louis Blues could come calling. He is a good puck-moving D-man who can be a power play quarterback for a team heading into the postseason. Last season he collected 14 goals and 37 assists while playing in all 82 games. He also was a workhorse playing 23:41 minutes a game. He isn’t a great defender, being on the ice for 100 of opposing teams’ tallies, but he will be a valuable trade asset for the Yotes.

Coyotes Trade Rumors Analysis

Look, this team may be a bit better as currently constructed than last season. Yet, the object is to be worse. Right, to be able to be in the running for Connor Bedard, they stand a better chance by finishing last as the Montreal Canadiens did last season. Losing Gostisbehere and Ritchie will be hurtful. The never-ending Jakob Chychrun trade rumors aren’t helping either. If all three of these talented players are moved, what will be left of the team will be a club with a good shot at finishing last.

It may be difficult to accept that as a good thing if you’re a die-hard Coyotes’ fan. The whole arena mess has hurt the team’s image as well. The very best thing which could happen to the Coyotes going forward is to get another handful of impact players similar to what the Avalanche did. It will fortify the team for years and bring fans into that shiny new Tempe arena in a few years.

Then, at last, this team may get some respect, some national recognition it deserves. Drafting Bedard would light up this entire valley. Everyone will be talking about going to a Coyotes game and be excited about the future. It’s what Armstrong is building, block by block in hopes to become a contender. He won’t stop until he reaches that goal… and that’s good news for Arizona Coyotes fans.