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Arizona Coyotes Open to Trading Third Draft Pick

By Diana Driscoll

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The Arizona Coyotes have a lot of problems. But it also has a great bargaining chip that may alleviate some of its issues: the third overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. Would Coyotes general manager Don Maloney consider giving it up?

Well, in recent days Maloney has spoken about the possibility of trading it and, by the looks of the team’s twitter account, it is fielding offers.

Of course, the Coyotes wouldn’t just agree to any trade; it would have to be worthwhile.

"“It would have to be something really, really special, and I don’t know what that means yet,” Maloney said when asked if he’d really consider parting with the pick. “But where we’re at, we have to say, ‘OK, we’re going to listen to everything.’ — Arizona Sports 98.7 FM"

It makes sense. With the talent in this draft, the Coyotes want to get their money’s worth. Whatever the offer, it better be earth-shatteringly fantastic for the team to agree.

In my mind, there is a good case for trading the pick. Arizona will not miss out on the chance of getting Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel; it is pretty much already etched in stone where those two will end up.  Yes, the Coyotes can get Noah Hanifin or Dylan Strome, but that’s just one player. The team has an opportunity to get so much more out of this pick by trading it.

The Coyotes went 24-50-8. Clearly it is in dire need of an all-round rebuild. One young and inexperienced player from the draft will not be sufficient enough to boost the team. But maybe teams like Toronto or Philadelphia would be open to giving up some of its top talent for a stab at either Hanifin or Strome.

"“The idea that we’re going to trade that pick outright for a player to help us next year, I think that’s remote, though you never know. It’s probably more likely we trade down if we don’t take the pick. We’ll see.” — NHL.com"

Well Maloney, trading for a player(s) outright is most likely what I would do. Arizona needs bodies, needs players that are willing to put in the work and who have an insatiable desire to win. It needs fresh blood that has experience at the NHL level and can have an immediate impact on the team’s chemistry and makeup.

The team has sunk pretty low this season. It had a dismal record and poor attendance. It needs something to draw in the crowd and rally fans. A good team or, heck, I’ll even lower the bar and say a better team (than this season’s) could do that. Even if the Yotes take Strome or Hanifin and he makes the team, I don’t know if that would be enough of a draw for people to tune in. I don’t believe that just one player can make a team do a complete 180.

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Trading Keith Yandle this season left a hole in the backend, and the team also struggled to find its offensive game. So many things need to be tweaked and perfected that it makes sense to add numerous pieces to the puzzle; it makes the picture more complete. The Coyotes can do this by trading the pick.

I’m not saying that this offseason the Coyotes can’t pick up extra players or trade people off, but teams are going to come courting the Yotes for this pick. There are teams that want it and need it, and will be willing to give an arm or a leg for it.

Really, I believe, as long as the Coyotes get more out of the trade than it loses, then I say sign on the dotted line. Some draft picks take years to develop and some (the ones the Coyotes may miss out on this year) become available in the near future. So Coyotes take a risk and look to get something for that third pick; the team doesn’t have years to continue in this current state (pun not intended, just a happy accident).

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