Ryan Dzingel should tempt the Arizona Coyotes in free agency
By James Reeve
The Arizona Coyotes need an upgrade on offence and there could be some potentially interesting targets in free agency this summer.
The 2019 NHL draft will help boost the forward prospect depth of the Arizona Coyotes, but Rick Tocchet‘s on-ice roster needs an immediate injection of goalscoring also.
The team ended the season near the bottom of the league in goalscoring and their enjoyable run towards the playoffs came on the back of some exceptional defensive performances, along with Darcy Kuemper effectively standing on his head.
One impending free agent that could be a tempting target by the Coyotes is Ryan Dzingel, currently playing with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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Dzingel is a player that is capable of playing at any forward position, a flexibility that the Coyotes would certainly appreciate, and is more than capable of stepping up in front of the net.
Originally selected in the seventh round (204th overall) of the 2011 draft by the Ottawa Senators, Dzingel has had back-to-back seasons of over 20 goals.
In the 2017/18 season, Dzingel earned 23 goals and this past season saw him increase his total to 26 – 22 coming with the Senators before being traded at the deadline.
The Arizona Coyotes had scoring depth this season, seeing a slew of players earn double digits during their playoff hunt – but the team did not have a single player hit the 20-goal mark.
With Dzingel, the Coyotes have a player that could very reasonably be interested in a move if things go the way they are expected to for the Blue Jackets.
This summer, Columbus are expected to lose Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky to free agency, with Matt Duchene and Dzingel also question marks after the team went all-in for a run at the cup this year.
If two of those four players walk, the Blue Jackets immediately take a step back – prompting the likes of Duchene and Dzingel to seek opportunities elsewhere.
The Coyotes could prove to be a tempting destination for some free agents this season, with the team trending upwards after a solid season overcoming huge adversity.
A strong defensive corps and goaltending situation could see players being interested in a move to the desert, with Tocchet’s side have a strong foundation to build on after this season.
For the Coyotes, Dzingel could also come at a relatively low cost – with the Wheaton, Illinois native having a current cap hit of just $1.8 million.
A long-term deal with the Coyotes could see Dzingel line up with the likes of Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz on the team’s top forward line – giving the team a serious immediate threat on offence.
While Dzingel may attract the interests of a number of teams, the Arizona Coyotes shouldn’t be deterred and should go in heavy with an offer and bring the 27-year-old to the desert – taking further steps towards being a regular playoff contender.
Coyotes should go forward-heavy in 2019 draft. dark. Next
What do you think Coyotes fans? Would you like to see Dzingel signed by the Coyotes? What other free agents do you think the team should realistically target? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!