Arizona Coyotes 2024 Trade Deadline Details

The Arizona Coyotes 2024 trade deadline planned role as buyers has changed. Now, due to a recent tailspin, they are sellers. A 12-game winless streak (10 regulation losses, two overtime losses) changed that almost immediately. To demonstrate how drastically things have changed for the worse, the Coyotes went from two points out of a playoff spot on January 22 to 15 points out just over a month later. At this point, they will be selling off any contracts they can, looking to gain assets for the future.

The List of Free Agents is Lengthy

There will be eight defensemen and four forwards with expiring contracts by the end of the 2024-25 season. Let’s go through them in detail and evaluate the actions the Coyotes may take.

Forwards

• Jason Zucker – (UFA): The Coyotes added him to the roster over the free agency period last summer. He has a $5.3 million cap hit and will likely be moved by the trade deadline. While he is not lighting up the scoreboard with just eight goals and 23 points in 47 games, he is a valued veteran who can help a playoff team. Since he is a native of the Vegas area, and they have lost Mark Stone and Jack Eichel to injuries of late, adding Zucker could be a solution.
• Liam O’Brien (UFA) is the Coyote’s enforcer and a fourth-line contributor. No doubt a team going to the postseason would like to have his tough guy attributes to protect valued players. He only adds minor offense, but man, he can hit! In 50 games, he has collected 135 hits. Going into the corners with him around can be a dangerous endeavor. With his reasonable $775,000 contract, any number of teams can afford his services.
• Travis Boyd – (UFA) A torn pectoral muscle ended the veteran’s season in December. He played well, with two goals and six assists in 16 games. His $1.75 million contract is reasonable; at this point, we must wait to see if Boyd can recover from the injury. He may still have a future in Arizona since he is a center and fills in when needed. Boyd could also go to free agency this summer.
• Barrett Hayton – (RFA) He went down to a hand injury and missed 32 games. His presence was missed when he centered the Coyotes top line of Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz. The Yotes will likely re-sign the fifth-overall pick in the 2015 NHL draft. He is one of the top faceoff winners on the team and contributes by chasing down pucks and going to the net. He is GM Bill Armstrong‘s kind of player in that he isn’t afraid to go to the hard spots on the ice to retrieve the puck. He’ll be back.

Defensemen

• Matt Dumba – (UFA) While it was thought Dumba would be an excellent addition to the blue line, his contributions have been limited. He can still hit with authority but has only four goals and five assists in 53 contests. His defensive coverage leaves something to improve, and he has taken too many penalties. Yet, he is a hot topic in NHL rumors, with numerous teams needing a valued right-shot defenseman. His future in Arizona is most likely over. He has a $3.9 million cap hit, so we will see where he is headed.
• Josh Brown – (UFA) Here is a colossal player standing 6’5″ and 220 pounds who can provide a team with his physical presence. He has a $1.275 million cap hit and could see some interest from teams desiring his style of play. Brown could stay, but he could also be dealt at this year’s deadline.
• Travis Dermott – (UFA) He is another low-scoring blueliner with just two goals and three assists in 37 games. Dermott is a good shot blocker with 50 to his credit this season. He carries a $800,000 contract and could return next season.
• Troy Stecher – (UFA) Stecher has averaged over 18 minutes of ice time and has a good +/- stat of +7. In his 42 games this season, he has 57 blocks and 43 hits. Stecher is a good defender and has a $1.1 million contract. He should be back next season.
• Sean Durzi – (RFA) Durzi can score with eight goals and 22 assists in 51 games this year. He has shown brilliance at the point and was a bargain acquisition by Armstrong. He was added with just a second-round pick going back to the Los Angeles Kings. His $1.7 million contract should be doubled since he is the highest-scoring defenseman on the team. If the Coyotes don’t re-sign him to a multi-year deal, they are crazy. The kid can play.
• Juuso Valimaki – (RFA) He missed some games after getting hit in the mouth with a puck. While he may be on the bubble as to being re-signed, he will likely remain a Coyote. He has a $1 million deal and could get a slight increase if he stays.
• Michael Kesselring -(RFA) Kesselring has been a pleasant surprise for the Coyotes. He came to Arizona in the trade with the Edmonton Oilers when Nick Bjugstad was sent to the Edmonton Oilers at the trade deadline last season. This young player has some great potential and should remain in Arizona. He has a $925,000 contract, and Armstrong will undoubtedly give him a raise as his play has been exemplary.
• J.J. Moser – (RFA) Moser has added some depth to the blue line. He has scored 67 points in 180 games in Arizona. Moser is an excellent fit lined up with Durzi and has performed exceptionally well. He has a $886,667 cap hit and is a restricted free agent at the end of this season. I can’t see any possibility of him not staying as he has earned a new contract with a healthy increase.

In Conclusion

The Coyotes will have a much different team next season. They will undoubtedly have an excellent opportunity to draft new prospects with seven picks in the first three rounds. They also will have those picks to use to improve the team for the next campaign. The only other major issue is off the ice. We should know more about the prospects of a new arena site on March 14, when the next State Land auction takes place. Then, all the conjecture about the team playing in a college-sized arena holding only 4,600 fans will begin to be old news.