Arizona Coyotes: Acquiring Bickell/Signing Franson Vital

Arizona Coyotes Can Really Improve More If They Can Acquire These Two Key Players

I know the team has made some strides to improve the roster, in both the offensive side of the puck, as well as the defensive side. Adding back Vermette and Michalek was important, since they know the Dave Tippett system, and love playing here. The addition of Brad Richardson was a good move to add more size, and tenacity to the lineup. The Steve Downie signing was not on my favorite list, but he will fill the tough guy role, along with Kyle Chipchura.

On the defensive side, Michalek is almost a second goalie, and will fill the need for a right hand shot on the blue-line. The BIG (apologies for the cliché) acquisition on defense was Nicklas Grossmann. His size will certainly help the Arizona Coyotes stand some forwards up at the blue-line, and I pity anyone challenging him in the corners. Good signing by the Yotes.

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GM Don Maloney has mentioned he may not be done dealing to further improve the team. He said perhaps another winger, and a puck moving D-man. My winger suggestion is signing Brian Bickell from the Blackhawks, who need to shed salary to stay below the cap limit. His $4M salary cap hit might be steep, but he comes from a winner, and I’m sure Vermette can testify to his worth. And at 6′ 4″, 223 he would be another large body to make this team a force to be reckoned with on the ice. Bickell may be acquired for draft picks, and maybe a prospect, since the Hawks need to reduce salary.

Maloney has mentioned that the team has lots of young talent at center ice, and needs another winger to balance things out. I say either grab Bickell, or give a young prospect like Brendan Perlini a shot at that spot. When I think about it, Bickell has the experience, and three Cups showing he knows what it takes to get there, something along with Vermette that can be passed on to the other players who haven’t been in that situation. So, GMDM either sign Bickell, or give Perlini the winger job. I am totally impressed with Perlini’s skills, and feel he is an up and coming NHL caliber player. His shot is quick, and accurate, his skates well, and plays the full length of the ice.

Then, on defense we could really use a Cody Franson, who is still out there on the free agency market. He’s by far the best available D-man available, and the Coyotes could use him. I know he won’t come cheap either, with his $3.3M salary he earned last season. He will probably be demanding more in the range of $4-5M, and that might be too steep for the Desert Dogs to entertain. Still, with him AND Grossmann, AND OEL we would have three very talented defenseman to help Mike Smith defend his goal next season.

Will it happen? Doubtful. It won’t surprise me to see other teams grab both these excellent players before the Arizona Coyotes do. And, I’m not quite sure why. They’re sitting at $55.708M per nhlnumbers.com, and if they want to make a move to improve their performance this season, they had better look for some talented players.

Buffalo with O’Reilly, Eichel, and Evander Kane (remember him?) will be better. They will NOT finish 30th, and team President Anthony LeBlanc , has already stated his team will not finish last, and be in the running for the first overall pick — Arizona native Auston Matthews. So, you can’t have it both ways. Spend the money, get the required players to move you up in the standings, or go through another horrible season without any post season participation.

Edmonton will NOT finish 28th this season. They got the next Crosby/Gretzky clone known as Connor McDavid. While he can’t do it all himself, he will aid in the Oilers improving. They have cleaned house in their front office, hiring Peter Chiarelli as GM, and Todd McLellan as head coach.

Where does that leave the Arizona Coyotes? I know, don’t think it — dead last if they don’t improve, or get some surprises from the young guns they had at the rookie prospect camp this week. And as stated that’s not ownership/management’s goal for this upcoming season, but they can also do something about it. Sign these two guys, and turn this hockey team around!

Next: Arizona Coyotes: Free Agent/Trade Evaluation 2015

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