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Arizona Coyotes: Darcy Kuemper’s return raises a question

By Brendan Cullen

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 25: Goaltender Darcy Kuemper #35 of the Arizona Coyotes is introduced before the NHL game against the Florida Panthers at Gila River Arena on February 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 25: Goaltender Darcy Kuemper #35 of the Arizona Coyotes is introduced before the NHL game against the Florida Panthers at Gila River Arena on February 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Now that Darcy Kuemper is back, a question comes up. What happens with Adin Hill as Darcy Kuemper gets his starting job back, and Antti Raanta moves from 1 A to 1 B in the Arizona Coyotes goalie rotation?

Adin Hill, who had a .918% Save Percentage and a 2.62 Goals Against Average, gets sent back down to Tucson. Now, here’s where it gets a little tricky, Adin Hill is still 23 years old, he’s got size and he’s played well when he’s had a chance. So if you are Arizona Coyotes GM John Chayka, you’re in a pickle now.

Here’s the deal, Adin Hill’s contract expires at the end of the year. Hill is probably going to want a shot to play in the NHL next year. The question then is, if you’re John Chayka, what you do with Adin Hill this summer?

Do you try trading a young goaltender, who is 6’6″ and is young, or do you possibly move gee, I don’t know. This is what I’m thinking. Antti Raanta has one more year left on his contract after this year.

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As I write this article, the Coyotes are out of a playoff spot. They’re not scoring goals, why not move Raanta to a team, and get back into the 1st round. I feel there will be more pressure on the organization to do so if they miss the playoffs. I’ll just speculate here, let’s just say a team like the Carolina Hurricanes wanted to replace Petr Mrazek at the draft for a 1st rounder in a very deep draft. Along with a Ryan Dzingle maybe, just to add a roster player to the deal that can help the Coyotes now.

That would free up a roster spot for Adin Hill, leading to what I still believe would be a decent goalie tandem in Darcy Kuemper and Adin Hill.

And also, I can’t help it but think the Coyotes might want to try to get back into the 1st round anyway. I have heard, that the organization would feel pretty embarrassed to move a very high pick for just Taylor Hall, who has been good, but his production will just be empty-calorie scoring in the eyes of most Arizona Coyotes fans if they miss the playoffs

Also, I believe this season and the recent failures that being this current calendar year of 2020 have proven, the Coyotes aren’t going anywhere without additional scoring punch.

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