The Florida Panthers have stated publicly that they're looking to make a big splash in the off-season. This is the third part in a league-wide search for great potential trading partners for the Panthers. Today we will look at the Arizona Coyotes.
If you missed the previous teams you can find them here...
Buffalo Sabres
Ottawa Senators
Arizona Coyotes: (29-41-12 70 points)
Draft picks owned: 1st round (#5), 2nd round (#55), 3rd round (#65, #73 & #74) 6th round (#158), 7th round (#189)
UFA's: Brad Richardson (RW), Zac Rinaldo (W), Luke Schenn (D), Kevin Connauton (D)
RFA's: Max Domi (LW), Lauren Dauphin (C), Freddie Hamilton (RW)
The Arizona Coyotes had a historically bad start to their season. 1-11-1 in the month of October ruined what was a season with high expectations of taking a step towards playoff contention. After acquiring goaltender Antti Raanta and center Derek Stepan from the New York Rangers, the Coyotes also traded for defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson from the Chicago Blackhawks. These moves marked a shift in team building strategy as there was a sudden birth of veteran infusion to the Arizona locker room.
Despite a horrific start, Arizona did bring back respectability in 2018 going 20-14-7 to close out the season. If new head coach Rick Tocchet is being evaluated much more on the back half of the season, it would make sense for the Coyotes to try and build on what they started last off-season. This is a young team with Clayton Keller poised to become the star of the desert-based franchise.
Defensively the Coyotes were hampered with injuries and didn't have their top three defensemen all in the lineup at the same time until January. The biggest issue the Coyotes have in their foreseeable future is that Oliver Ekman-Larsson, their best defenseman, will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season. If its believed that OEL will not re-sign, Arizona has to get a fantastic return for him.
With regards to the Florida Panthers and who would have to be on the table to acquire such a talent as OEL, it's safe to assume that one of the Panthers previous first round picks will be involved. Either 20 year-old center Henrik Borgström or 19 year-old right winger Owen Tippett represents a good starting point.
Anytime a player of Ekman-Larsson's calibre is dealt, its rare for the trade not to include a first round pick so let's assume the Panthers 2019 first rounder will be included. The Coyotes would not allow this pick to be protected in any way.
Defenseman Michael Matheson, who just signed an eight-year extension with a $4.875 cap hit, is the logical roster player to include in this deal. Matheson set a career high this season in goals with ten and assists with 17. While he's certainly a downgrade from Ekman-Larsson, he could stabilize Arizona after losing such a presence on the left side of their defense.
To Florida Panthers
Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D)
To Arizona Coyotes
Michael Matheson (D)
Henrik Borgstrom (C)
First round pick 2019 (Unprotected)
Second round pick 2020
All of this would be contingent on whether or not OEL was willing to sign an extension with Florida. This deal would have to be completed after July 1 so that the extension can be signed directly following the trade. Essentially Florida would be giving up a top four defenseman, two first round picks and then whatever other obligatory second or third round pick that needed to be involved in order to make the trade work.
I ultimately chose Henrik Borgstrom over Owen Tippett because Arizona needs help at center and Florida already has Alex Barkov and Vincent Trocheck. Could another team swoop in and offer more? The New York Rangers received a similar return for defenseman Ryan McDonagh at the trade deadline this year. OEL's value may stem from what the Ottawa Senators get in return for Erik Karlsson and if the LA Kings decide to trade Drew Doughty, what they receive for him.
The Coyotes and the Panthers would be improved by this trade proposal, and it is very possible that Ekman-Larsson will be looking for a new home very soon.
Check back tomorrow as we continue our series on potential trade partners for the Florida Panthers as we examine the Montreal Canadiens.
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