Arizona Coyotes Trades That Shouldn’t Happen

We recently posted all the Arizona Coyotes trades which could go down before the trade deadline in 34 days. Here’s a list of Arizona Coyotes trades that shouldn’t happen. These are players who this writer feels should stick around until this rebuild is winding down. They will be vital in the Yotes’ search to get back to the playoffs and beyond. See if you agree with my assessment.

Arizona Coyotes Trades That Would Hurt the Team’s Future

Karel Vejmelka

• Karel Vejmelka needs to stay in Arizona. He has a very reasonable contract, and his stats are impressive even on a team in 29th place in the standings. In fact, as of this writing, they are just four points from the cellar… better known as Connor Bedard land. “Veggie” has got to stay with the Coyotes if they have any hope of positioning themselves for postseason play in three-five years. His .907 save percentage ranks him 28th in the NHL, and his 3.19 goals-against-average stands 36th amongst netminders with at least 15 game appearances this season. A stat that really demonstrates his value to the team is the number of shots he faces. He averages 34 shots he faces per game thus far. He has an average of 31 saves a game, so that’s a lot of rubber heading his way every time he steps into his crease to start a game. Considering the Arizona club allows 3.53 goals a game ranking them 25th in the league, Vejmelka’s statistics would certainly be elevated significantly if he were on a contending team. Trading him should not be a consideration UNLESS general manager Bill Armstrong receives a trade offer he can’t refuse. Vejmelka has performed well in the NHL, he was a great find for the team and needs to stay put and get an elevated contract before his current deal expires in three years.

Nick Schmaltz

• Nick Schmaltz has had numerous injuries and for some, that makes him expendable. But, think about how ineffective Clayton Keller (the scoring leader) would be without Schmaltz. They have hooked up for so many scoring plays. Without Schmaltz, Keller would be like a lost puppy. Schmaltz has a terrific 0.85 points per game average, which ranks even higher than Keller who has a 0.84 average. He recently tallied a hat trick against the St. Louis Blues. He holds a contract paying him $5.85 million through the 2025-26 season. It seems the only reason Schmaltz’s name has come up in trade rumors may be due to his contract structure. His total salary this season is set at $4.5 million, while it escalates thereafter. It goes up to $7.5M next season, $8.45M the following season, and finally $8.5M in 2025-26. The other factor which may have started trade rumors is that after his season he has a no-trade clause kick in where he submits a 10-team no-trade list. Obviously, Schmaltz has had his injury woes, but when evaluated for his worth to the team… he should stay.

Christian Fischer

• Christian Fischer has really elevated his play this season. He already has eight goals and eight assists which exceeds his five goals and five assists in four fewer games compared to last season. His play has been rewarded by head coach Andre Tourigny by increasing his ice time to an average of 15:03 per game. He is invaluable on the penalty kill and forechecks with the best of them. His physicality would be missed if he were traded. He has 88 hits this season, which ranks him seventh on the squad. There’s no doubt that he is a valued leader in the locker room. Besides, he gives the best interview, per Coyotes insider Craig Morgan. Keep him!

Barrett Hayton

• Barrett Hayton has started to really pick up his game of late. There were times when this writer felt drafting him fifth overall in 2015 was a mistake. What is obvious in the NHL is that every young prospect develops at his own pace. Hayton was hit with the injury bug, but so far this season, he has stayed healthy, participating in every game. He has four goals and one assist in his last 10 games, showing that his progress is real. He has developed into a good faceoff player, grabbing 49.6 percent of wins in the circle. Sure, he has had his challenges, but given more ice time, he has shown he can be a valuable forward for this team in the next five years. Keep him around to see what I mean.

Around Full Press Hockey

NHL: Paul Maurice: “It’s A Special Place And You Could Feel It”

NHL Rumors: NHL Rumors: Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, Colorado Avalanche

NHL: NHL Power Rankings: Devils Holding Onto The Top Spot

NFL: Remembering John Hadl: “A Great Player, A Great Athlete

Full Press Bets: Early 2022 NFL MVP Odds: Bills’ Josh Allen Favored

PODCAST: Full Press Hockey Weekly Ep 38: NHL Season Preview: Golden Knights, Maple Leafs, Johnny Gaudreau

The Rebuild is in Full Force, But Let’s Not Crash the Plane, Let’s Land it

Most Coyotes’ fans feel that Bill Armstrong is doing a terrific job rebuilding the team. While it may take longer than some supporters of the team would like, he has things under complete control. Look how he is handling the Jakob Chychrun trade situation. He knows he has a valuable asset and he will get the return he feels is best for his organization going forward. Sure, there are other players who are in rumors and the team will assess each deal offered to them accordingly. No rush… other teams will need the Coyotes’ assets as the trade deadline approaches. Will there be deals? Most likely… will everyone agree with them… probably not.

Patience here is key. Just like a player skating in on a breakaway, one is waiting for the other to commit. Then, whoever gives in first is usually the one losing that confrontation. Remember this trade deadline, since in about four-five years it may decide if this team is a playoff contender or a playoff pretender. Right now, Armstrong is displaying his best moves, and in the end, it is hoped that he shows everyone why he waited, and why he was patient.

Good teams are built with patience and wise decisions. We’re about to see Armstrong’s vision for this team. Buckle your seatbelt, it could get bumpy!