Arizona Coyotes Trade Deadline Show No Results Yet

With the NHL trade deadline quickly approaching on Friday, the Arizona Coyote trade deadline has been rather quiet. The main trade candidate Jakob Chychrun remains in a Coyotes’ uniform and may not get traded after all. You see, the main trade destination for Chychrun, the Los Angeles Kings just made a trade late Tuesday night. They acquired Vladislav Gavrikov from the Columbus Blue Jackets along with goalie  Joonas Korpisalo for Jonathan Quick and two draft picks. It seems that GM Rob Blake‘s patience wore thin waiting for the Yotes GM Bill Armstrong to lower his asking price for Chychrun.

Arizona Coyotes Trade Deadline Is a Bust So Far

With just two ‘deals’ (taking a contract or helping finance another) so far that don’t involve moving such rumored players as Chychrun, Nick Schmalz, Nick Bjugstad, Shayne Gostisbehere, Nick Ritchie, or Karel Vejmelka… you wonder if or WHEN something will happen. Bill Armstrong is a crafty negotiator and won’t give away the farm for free. Look how he has held out on the Chychrun trade front. Now, he may lower his price if the right deal is presented to him, but thus far that hasn’t happened.

TSN’s Darren Dreger has reported that at least three teams still may have interest in Chychrun. The Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Ottawa Senators remain in the mix. Outside of the Pittsburgh Penguins who are clearing cap space for some type of deal, the list is shrinking as to teams who may acquire the talented defenseman.

Teams are poised, hoping for a price drop on Chychrun. Buffalo is staying close. Columbus has some collateral after the trade with the Kings and is interested. Ottawa is always willing to listen and the Sens are on a roll. Question is, will there be a price drop?

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) March 1, 2023

The Blue Jackets have some bargaining power now that they acquired two draft picks in the L.A. trade. They lost Gavrikov and may actually look hard and long (time depending) at trading for Chychrun. The Columbus club has six defensemen on their roster now, and Adam Boqvist is the only player on the blueline who can carry them forward. They NEED Chychrun.

Ottawa is in a funk, not knowing whether to be a seller or buyer. They rejected Armstrong’s return demand and now that they are on the cusp of nearing a wild-card spot, perhaps they rethink their position.

The Sabres have tons of cap space, are an up-and-rising team, and could go after Chychrun yet. Stay tuned to Full Press Hockey to know all the latest trades going down before Friday.

Other Coyotes Who May Be Moved

Nick Bjugstad is an interesting player who can help playoff-bound teams with his size and offensive output this season. He was held out of the Coyotes’ 4-1 win on Tuesday night against the Chicago Blackhawks for “trade-related” reasons. There are a number of teams who could add Bjugstad since he only holds a reasonable $900,000 cap hit and is an ideal rental bottom-six forward. After the dust settles from all the trade activity on Tuesday, including seeing Patrick Kane finally traded, we may know more about if and to whom Bjugstad is headed.

Shayne Gostisbehere will certainly be moved, although the defenseman market has diminished over the last day or so. He could still add something to a playoff team’s power play, even though his defensive skills are not great. He is a skilled puck-moving defenseman, so we shall see where he is headed.

Nick Schmaltz has made recent trade rumors talk since he has been on fire of late. He could certainly help a team like the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canes have $7.1 million in cap space and must be feeling the pressure of the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs improving their lineups significantly. The time may be now to move Schmaltz and it would depend on the return.

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Karel Vejmelka being moved never seemed a reality, until… well Jonathan Quick and Joonas Korpisalo were traded late Tuesday night. If Vejmelka was on the trading block, L.A. would have gone after him. “Veggie” has been instrumental in making the rebuilding Coyotes more competitive… if not too competitive for the Bedard sweepstakes. He has to be seen as their goalie of the future and it’s doubtful he will be moved.

Finally, Nick Ritchie is another good-sized forward who can score that other teams may look into acquiring before the deadline on Friday. He checks lots of boxes for teams who need a guy who is tough, has net-front presence and is available.

Tank, What Tank?

The Coyotes’ plans to be in the running for Connor Bedard are up and down now. They have looked very competitive at times and one must wonder if they lose some of the key players highlighted here how much they will falter as the season comes to a conclusion. Head coach Andre Tourigny has the boys playing well and he knows how to handle the pressure of the trade deadline. He mentioned they are all professionals and must produce accordingly.

So, to sum up this season so far, it can be characterized as an enigma. We should know more as the clock ticks towards Friday at 3 pm ET. Who will stay and who will go? Good question!