First - the Coyotes are not trading any of Chychrun (future captain having a down year, still the team's core franchise player), Keller (hard contract to move, also finally starting to play up to his potential), Hayton (getting his feet under him, playing good 200 foot hockey, the points will come), Ghost - he's been great, he seems to love AZ, this team still needs some real players, and he's been a source of offense and effort, I think it would take a monster offer for a team to get Ghost, finally Vejmelka - a scouting diamond for the team who found him in the Czech league, great competitor, still learning north american hockey but could be the goalie of the future. Also any 1st round pick, or any significant prospects aren't going anywhere.


Yotes best deadlines assets are as follows:

Johan Larsson: Before he landed in the COVID-19 protocols, Larsson was logging the highest average ice time among of any forward on the team (Keller and Crosue have since surpassed him). Part of that was out of necessity due to the team’s lack of center depth, but Larsson was holding his own in tough defensive matchups and centering Kessel and Crouse. He's a beast in matchup play with some offense and due to his expiring contract and affordable price is a perfect deadline piece.

Travis Boyd: Travis Boyd is shooting 31.3 percent. That’s not going to last. Most players shoot around 10 percent so he is due for a major regression. Even so, for a player who was considered “just a guy” by media in Toronto, Boyd is making the most of his opportunity to jump up in the lineup with three Coyotes centers (Larsson, Jay Beagle and Nick Schmaltz) out of the lineup. He has already tied his career-high for goals and he is on pace to shatter all of his career numbers... I also know its a flawed state but's he's plus 1 on the season on a team with an almost -40 goal differential. He's currently our 1C. He's been great, I wouldn't be surprised if the Yotes extend him but maybe that production and his all-around play mean's he's a great deadline asset for cap strapped team like Tampa or Vegas.

Lawson Crouse: Crouse has five goals and 10 points, which still puts him on pace for career highs, but he is doing so much more away from the puck at 5 on 5, on the power play and on the penalty kill. He is also driving offense with the highest expected goals rate on the team (3.56). Crouse, 24, will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. He looks like a valuable piece for the Coyotes’ future but he'd also be a VERY valuable add for a contender, his price is high.

Phil Kessel: Phil wants out, the Coyotes want to grant him that wish and to Kessel’s credit, he hasn’t pouted about his situation. He has been playing hard. He has three goals and 11 points in 21 - on a better team where he could eat bottom 6 competition and play PP specialist he'd still be an impact guy.


Hopefully you all can use this information when making your teams and you'll stop trading Chychrun to Montreal for a 2nd and two middle prospects.

What about 3 middle prospects?

What about schmaltz (when he comes back healthy) and dzingel?

I would assume anyone trading for Chychrun is just pipedreams. He’s not actually be traded unless the Coyotes got offered a stupid return (which isn’t happening) (stupid is like 4 firsts + prospects + more +) .

Chychrun I’d bet really is hoping to turn his favour; he still has time to play a spot into team Canada after Chabots red hot start has cooled. He’s on their depth charts but needs to perform to be a shoe in, I’d think he’s gonna do all he can to start putting together his case.

Johan Larsson = 4th round pick
Travis Boyd = 6th round pick
Lawson Crouse = 2nd round pick + b/c prospect
Phil Kessel = 2nd round pick

what about lyubushkin, 3rd pairing rental defenseman

I loved Boyd on the Leafs.

He was heating up, then got thrown on waivers.

I never really understood why.

Dzingel I'm sure they would move. Not sure how much value he has.. but he's been a good soldier and seems to like it here.

Schmatlz is tough, he's part of what we call the "middle core" with Keller, Crouse, Chychrun basically the holdovers from the last rebuild. BUT - this GM and ownership group didn't sign him to this current contract so I don't think they are beholden to him. That being said, he flashes some elite stuff when he plays, and if healthy he'd be our 1C so I think it would take a decent offer to move him, almost identical to Dvorak.

He's a righty and he's physical, those dudes always have value. He's got a little bit of cowboy in him in that he can break structure and try and do too much sometimes, and for being bigger he's sometimes a mess net front defensively. I'd think of him like Jani Hakanpää at last year's deadline who fetched a decent NHL ready prospect/tweener or a 3rd rounder.

I'd argue - Larsson 2nd (think Janmark last year)
Boyd - 4th
Crouse - I agree 2nd and strong prospect (think Bennet last year)
Kessel - 2nd but if salary retention could be a 2 + b/c prospect

What about Loui Eriksson? He’s got to have some value still.

I appreciate your perspective on this. There's been a lot of talk throughout the season about trading Chychrun, and TSN has him #1 on their trade bait board now, but I don't understand it. He seems like a good young player they can build around. The only way it might make sense is that his contract is back-end loaded and the cash is more of a concern for the Coyotes than the cap hit, and they think he's overvalued after his great 2021 season so they can create a bidding war and get back more than he's worth. It's been over 3 months since you said he's not going to be traded. Do you still feel that way or could TSN be right?