3 Arizona Coyotes Offseason Trade Candidates

As the Arizona Coyotes have been eliminated from playoff contention this season, I think we can safely say this team surprised many with their resilience and strong play at home. Their away record may have sunk them and despite moving on from a number of key players, they still impress and put up a good fight each night. Young players have been able to step in and step up throughout the season, and as they still appear to be too inexperienced and not yet ready for playoff contention, we’re going to look at three players who are offseason trade candidates.

Karel Vejmelka

Karel Vejmelka has been very good for the Coyotes even since joining the team last season. Despite a sub.900 save percentage last season, he was on one of the worst teams in the league and held them in many games. He’s since improved upon his rookie season and is sitting at a .901 SV% for the season with three shutouts. He’s on a very good deal and there was trade interest for him before the trade deadline.

It may be in the best interest of Arizona to move on from Vejmelka after an improved season as the 26-year-old has two years left on his deal at $2.725 million AAV. He has the ability to start and would most likely play very well behind a better overall team in front of him. He could be a team’s starter or even a 1a/1b goalie to give them a great tandem in goal for a inexpensive cap hit. The Coyotes have Connor Ingram and Ivan Prosvetov to hold them over and should be looking for a sizeable return for Vejmelka as the team’s timetable and his contract just don’t line up and make sense.

Travis Boyd

Travis Boyd has impressed this season as a middle-six center on the Coyotes as he has 14 goals and 32 points. He’s had a near identical season as 2021-22, so he is consistent. That is a good quality as any interested team would know exactly what they are getting and where they can use him in the lineup.

Related: 3 San Jose Sharks Offseason Trade Candidates

Boyd has the ability to play center and the wing while he is on a cheap contract for one more year after this one. The 29-year-old is earning $1.75 million AAV and is a UFA at the end of next season. He would serve as a solid offseason pickup for a playoff team or contender and the Coyotes should definitely consider moving him while he has value. They could get more for him this offseason, but the trade deadline is a possibility as well, though there’s no guarantee he stays as productive and his value could drop.

Nick Schmaltz

Nick Schmaltz is an interesting case. There is a need by a number of teams for a solid second line center, and when healthy, the 27-year-old has been able to provide a near point-per-game play for the Coyotes. As a part of the top line in Arizona, he and his linemates have been some of the hottest players in the league in the second half of the season. Though the Coyotes may not want to split that up, again, his contact and level of play doesn’t match up with the timetable for the team to come out of their rebuild.

It’s assumed that it will still be a few years yet before we see the Coyotes compete for a playoff spot and get in, and Schmaltz has three years left on his deal at $5.85 million AAV. He’s in his prime now and showing it, so continuing to play for a team out of a playoff spot seems counterproductive as he could fetch the Coyotes a strong return. There were rumours teams were interested in him at the deadline, so talks could pick back up in the offseason.