Arizona Coyotes: Chicago Blackhawk Players To Acquire

With Attention Being Given To The Draft For The Arizona Coyotes, Don’t Forget Free Agency Begins July 1st

With all the hype of possibilities which the Arizona Coyotes have for the third overall selection at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft on June 26th, you may have forgotten that free agency begins at 12:01am on July 1st.

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GM Don Maloney, and his coaching staff have already been considering whom to go after in the free agent market, or via the trade route. Two names I’d like to see is Bryan Bickell, or Patrick Sharp. Bickell is younger at 29, while Sharp is 33. The Arizona Coyotes have mentioned that they want to get some proven veterans to compliment their young prospects they want to give a shot at making it in the NHL.

Although these two three time Cup winners are not free agents, the Blackhawks have multiple salary cap issues to resolve. Like, Kane and Toews each getting $10.5 million, and Crawford $6 million. So, they be contestants for “Let’s make a deal”.

That’s a hunk of change for just three players. Plus Hawk management has vowed to keep Brandon Saad, who performed great in the recent Stanley Cup playoffs. The balance sheet won’t balance without removing salary somewhere.

Bickell, who is a huge 6′ 4″, 223 lb forward who throws around his size well, could really help the Arizona Coyotes front line. He had 205 hits in 80 games during the regular season, and that comes to 2.6 hits a game. Color him a physical presence.

With Max Domi getting a shot at the starting lineup, and not the biggest forward, someone like Bickell would be great to have on the team. Throw in that he has been with the Blackhawks since ’08, and has won three Cups. Having a winner like that on your hockey club does nothing but inspire the other players, and help show what it takes to succeed and be a champion.

Jun 13, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Patrick Sharp (10) scores a goal. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Patrick Sharp, who was instrumental in the Hawks Cup win had 16g-27a in 68 games, and in the playoffs registered 5g-10a in 23 games. Even at 33, the Arizona Coyotes have got to be looking at his resume and come away impressed. It’s not easy to ignore that in the ’13-’14 season his tallied 34g-44a and played all 82 games. The Arizona Coyotes would be a different team if they had a player with those offensive numbers.

Let’s talk salary…

Bickell is under contract until ’16-’17 for a $4 million hit on the salary cap. Sharp is at $5 million with his contract ending the same year. Seeing as how the Arizona Coyotes have tons of salary cap room, even though they will not get near the cap, they MUST at get to the bottom of the cap, per NHL rules. They have in excess of $17 million to do that, but must sign Mikkel Boedker, and any other soon to be free agents they wish to keep on the roster.

GM Don Maloney knows there are holes to fill on his team, and adding one, or both of these proven veterans can only help the team become more competitive and move them from the mediocre depths they’ve slipped to recently.

But, again don’t forget that other NHL teams would love to acquire one of these two excellent forwards also. Factor in that the Glendale city council has put half-nelson head lock on the Arizona Coyotes bargaining ability by making the team’s future here tenuous, at best. Thanks a lot Glendale city council — let’s see how well you fare in court.

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