Arizona Coyotes should bring Antoine Vermette into the fold

Former Arizona Coyotes forward Antoine Vermette announced his retirement earlier this week and the organisation should look to bring him onboard behind the scenes.

Antoine Vermette had an immediate impact on the Arizona Coyotes, then known as the Phoenix Coyotes, when he arrived in 2012.

That year, the Coyotes managed to reach the Western Conference finals – with Vermette earning 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 16 playoff appearances.

Vermette played a part in five consecutive seasons with the Arizona Coyotes, with the Canadian centre also finding himself lifting the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015, before returning to the desert the following season.

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The 36-year-old retired after spending the past two seasons with the Anaheim Ducks and goes out tied for 14th-most face-off victories in the NHL.

His impressive success in the face-off circle was a big asset to the teams he featured on, with the Coyotes the beneficiaries for the better part of five years.

Vermette was also a decent goalscorer while playing in the desert, with 24 in the 2013/14 campaign and 70 in total during his time with the organisation.

When players retire, there are always questions as to what they will do next in their lives. Will they remain in hockey? Or will they choose to step away from the sport altogether?

For Vermette, if he is interested in remaining in the game, the Arizona Coyotes should certainly offer a way back for their former alternate captain.

The organisation should work with former players, much like they have with Paul ‘Biz Nasty’ Bissonnette, and give them a way of sticking around to help.

Shane Doan should be at the top of the list for players the organisation should continue to work with, but Vermette should also be very high on their list after five solid seasons.

Vermette will no doubt still appreciate the organisation giving him the opportunity to win the Stanley Cup when it was clear the Coyotes would not be able to compete, so it could be reasonable to see Vermette back in the desert to help out in some capacity off the ice.

Perhaps Vermette would be interested in being a specialist face-off coach, helping to give the team’s young centres tips on how to improve their own chances on draws.

Whatever it might be, Antoine Vermette is certainly deserving of an opportunity to return to the game and the Arizona Coyotes should be the first to make that call.

What do you think Coyotes fans? Would you like to see former players such as Vermette brought back into the organisation in some way? Let us know your thoughts in the comment below!