The Szwarz Is With The Coyotes

Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

No, I’m not talking about the Mel Brooks comedy Space Balls that ruined Star Wars for me as a kid. I’m referring to the Coyotes recalling Jordan Szwarz back form the Pirates and sending Connor Murphy back to the AHL.

Development. It’s a strategy more than anything. A lot of times it’s built on hope. You see how a kid is playing on the farm, you do the necessary numbers, run the mental diagnostics and find yourself convinced or otherwise. But no matter what, once a player receives his notice there’s a bit of gambling involved. And Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney is again rolling the dice on Szwarz, a 22 year old Burlington, Ontario native.

Now, obviously this isn’t a big play here. Maloney is far from betting the mortgage on whether or not Szwarz can give the Coyotes the extra spark they need to get them out of the slump they’re in. This is more of a run of the mill splash in the waters of change. What Szwarz can bring is a physicality to the Coyotes offense. His squat 5-11 200 lb. frame can do a lot to move things down ice. And since he seems to be doing well for the Pirates (4-3-7 and 15 PIM in 12 games) it’s time to trade him out for  Murphy who’s seen his STATS dwindling (1-7-8 and 10 PIM in 21 games) of late.

Szwarz was first drafted by the Coyotes in the 2009 Entry Draft and has been tossed around the AHL and OHL, playing for Saginaw, San Antonio and Portland. He made his NHL debut this past October with the Coyotes and played 20 games before heading back to Portland. Defenseman Murphy, a 20 year old Boston, MA native made his NHL debut with the Yotes in November and was taken by the Coyotes originally in the 2011 Entry Draft.