Six players for the Arizona Coyotes to consider offer sheeting

Patrik Laine

This could be one of the least likely targets, but the Winnipeg Jets do have a number of issues to address with their cap next season.

Currently, the Jets have $23 million available but have around six players that could command decent pay upgrades – making it very difficult for them to fit all of them.

Patrik Laine is an absolute stud in the NHL already, but the likes of Kyle Connor, Jacob Trouba, Tyler Myers, Andrew Copp and Brendan Lemieux all need new deals after this season.

Laine will certainly be looking towards the $10 million+ range for a new deal, leaving around $13 million to spread between the remaining five guys.

There is no way the Jets can afford all six players if Laine expects $10 million, or more, so the Coyotes should look to force their hand with an offer sheet in excess of this amount.

It would be amusing to see the Coyotes steal a player for Winnipeg, given the unique history between the organisations.

Laine is likely to be happy remaining in Manitoba, but if the Jets try to underpay him in order to fit the others into the team, he could look at what’s out there in terms of offers and being a star in the desert wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

Laine would instantly become the team’s best goalscoring threat and the Arizona Coyotes could push for the playoffs far more consistently with a player of Laine’s calibre.