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Arizona Coyotes Waive Zbynek Michalek, Klas Dahlbeck

By Jason Harrison

Mar 12, 2016; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Arizona Coyotes defenseman Klas Dahlbeck (34) during the face off against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period at Rexall Place. Arizona Coyotes won 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Arizona Coyotes defenseman Klas Dahlbeck (34) during the face off against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period at Rexall Place. Arizona Coyotes won 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Arizona Coyotes have waived Zbynek Michalek and Klas Dahlbeck ahead of the final cuts to reach the 23-man roster on Tuesday.

As they approach the final day of roster cuts, the Arizona Coyotes waived two defenders today in order to secure roster flexibility.

Zbynek Michalek and Klas Dahlbeck were both put on waivers by General Manager John Chayka, and the move seems destined to allow the team flexibility surrounding final decisions on several of their prospects, most notably Jakob Chychrun.

Michalek hitting the waiver wire was especially surprising given his contract and tenure with the Coyotes. He’s played 609 games with the Arizona Coyotes in his career, so he’s a bit of an institution.

If this flexibility ultimately ends up with Michalek in Tucson or expendable, it’d be a shock but not altogether unsurprising when you look at his declining play on the ice.

We are truly in a new era of Coyotes management.

While it is unlikely that Michalek will be claimed on the waiver wire, the Coyotes could potentially have to part ways with Dahlbeck to another team. Based on last year’s disappointing production, that wouldn’t be the worst outcome.

By waiving the two defenders now, Chayka does not have to send them to the American Hockey League immediately – assuming they clear – but has that option over the next 30 days or 10 NHL games played.

With the playing status of Kevin Connauton and Michael Stone up in the air for the start of the season, management can now conceivably notch two more names off their list when those two players return to health.

Most importantly, this move appears to signal that standout rookie defenseman Jakob Chychrun has impressed the staff enough to earn at least a nine game tryout in Glendale. At that point, Chayka and the Arizona Coyotes could send him back to Sarnia of the OHL for another season, or keep him around for the year and burn a year off of his entry-level contract.

It’s unclear whether the Coyotes brain trust expected this outcome with Chychrun when they selected him 16th overall, but they were very confident they got the best defender in the draft when discussing the 18-year-old on June 24th.

Early returns suggest they weren’t too far off the mark.

Beyond the defensive saga playing out here at the end of training camp, there remains the question of which touted forward prospects will make the Arizona Coyotes roster.

Next: Has Dylan Strome Earned An NHL Roster Spot With the Coyotes?

Laurent Dauphin, Christian Dvorak, and Dylan Strome are vying for anywhere from two-to-three center spots on the roster. In the meantime, power forward Lawson Crouse is also waiting in the wings.

All have had their moments. Some more than others. Tomorrow by 2 PM we’ll get our answer with the roster for opening night.

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