The Arizona Coyotes completed a trade for Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jarred Tinordi. The Coyotes sent Stefan Elliott to the Nashville Predators for Victor Bartley. They then sent Bartley and Pacific Division All-Star captain John Scott to the Canadiens in exchange for Tinordi and Stefan Fournier.
The Arizona Coyotes were involved in a surprise trade with the Montreal Canadiens on Friday afternoon, and general manager Don Maloney traded All-Star captain John Scott and Stefan Elliott in exchange for defender Jarred Tinordi.
Stefan Fournier was also acquired in the deal with the Canadiens.
The move comes on the heels of the Coyotes claiming defenseman Kevin Connauton on waivers and sending Elliott on waivers in response. Elliott was put on waivers because the Coyotes had eight defensemen on the NHL roster, and now with the acquisition of Tinordi they again have eight defensemen.
The Arizona Coyotes actually traded Stefan Elliott to the Nashville Predators for Victor Bartley to kick the trade festivities off.
Here’s the Coyotes’ press release:
"The 23-year-old Tinordi has appeared in three games with the Canadiens this season. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound native of Burnsville, Minnesota has also recorded 0-2-2 and six penalty minutes (PIM) in six games with the St. John’s IceCaps (AHL). Tinordi has registered 0-6-6 and 66 PIM in 46 career NHL games with Montreal. He was originally drafted by the Canadiens in the first round (22nd overall) in the 2010 Entry Draft. The 23-year-old Fournier has recorded 5-2-7 and 65 PIM in 24 games with the IceCaps this season. The 6-foot-3, 224-pound native of Montreal, Quebec was originally signed by the Canadiens to an entry-level contract on July 6, 2013."
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For the Coyotes, Tinordi represents a gamble on the future. At 6’6 and 225 pounds, the former first round pick has played just 46 games in the NHL and spent most of his time with the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate. My guess would be he will report to the Coyotes’s AHL affiliate in Springfield after head coach Dave Tippett gets an initial look at him.
For Elliott, he’s getting the chance to go to a Nashville Predators organization needing a right handed puck mover to replace Seth Jones after he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Ryan Johansen.
That leaves the bulk of the questions for John Scott and his Pacific Division All-Star captaincy. Now that he has been traded to the Atlantic Division, does he retain his All-Star spot?
One would assume the Pacific Division will receive a new captain. The hope is that the Arizona Coyotes will also receive a new representative in the All-Star game in Nashville since their original representative now plays for a different team.
Next: Coyotes Claim Kevin Connauton On Waivers
If they do, who takes Scott’s spot? Odds are it would have to be a forward, which brings to mind Max Domi, Shane Doan, and Coyotes’ points leader Mikkel Boedker. Of the three, Max Domi had the most votes in the fan vote competition.
There’s still lots up in the air in the wake of this trade.
The only thing we know for sure is that it looks like Don Maloney got the better end of the deal.
He traded two players who were available for free at points throughout the season for a twenty-three year old prospect who may still have some upside, along with Stefan Fournier.