Alex Kerfoot signs two-year deal with Arizona Coyotes

The Arizona Coyotes have once again made a surprising addition in free agency with the signing of forward Alex Kerfoot.

Alex Kerfoot is the newest addition to the Arizona Coyotes franchise, with the 28-year-old forward agreeing to a two-year contract after spells with the Colorado Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Kerfoot’s new contract carries an annual cap hit of $3.5 million, along with a modified No Trade Clause, where the Canadian forward will have to submit a 10-team no-trade list, ensuring that he will likely stick around with the Coyotes and has some control over his future should the team consider alternatives further down the road.

It is unlikely that will come to pass, however, as Kerfoot projects to be a solid addition to the team’s top-six forwards group, where he has shown a strong two-way game with both the Avalanche and Maple Leafs, with particular emphasis on the defensive side of the ice.

Primarily a winger, capable of playing on either side, Kerfoot is a capable step-in through the center of the ice should the team require, boasting 442 regular season appearances in the NHL to date, with 74 goals and 219 total points to his name.

His utility has largely come along the wings over the past two seasons, a move away from the center position he had largely held earlier on in his career, seeing his face-off numbers dwindle as the Maple Leafs opted for alternatives

His two-way game should fit in nicely with the Coyotes, who are looking like a more competitive NHL team after the recent free agent addition of Jason Zucker, with hopes of taking the next step in their rebuilding process beginning to grow again.

With a deep prospect pool expected to start filtering into the line-up over the next 2-3 years, adding experienced veteran players that can make an immediate impact and help the team climb up the standings is a logical move forward for the team.

The decision to undergo a complete rebuild appears to have been the right decision for the Arizona Coyotes, who are looking like they could be a very entertaining team in the near future, especially after surprising everyone with their performances last season.

Alex Kerfoot will have the opportunity to play a top-six role for the team this season and will likely become one of the most recognisable players on the team as it looks to push closer towards the playoffs, with the view of becoming a playoff regular a couple of seasons from now.