Arizona Coyotes Re-Sign Connor Murphy, Michael Stone

Arizona Coyotes Re-Sign Restricted Free Agent Defenders Connor Murphy and Michael Stone

Announced Thursday, Arizona Coyotes have re-signed a pair of restricted free agent defenders. Connor Murphy signed a six-year $23.1 million dollar deal ($3.85 million dollar cap hit), while Michael Stone inked a one-year $4 million dollar contract.

Murphy, 23, represented Team USA at the World Championships back in May and was by far the most experienced defenseman among a young group at just 181 career NHL games.

"via Sportsnet,“We are extremely pleased to sign Connor to a long-term contract,” Coyotes general manager John Chayka told the team’s website. “At only 23, Connor has established himself as a very good NHL defenceman. He’s a great skater, a fierce competitor and he has an excellent work ethic. We look forward to him taking the next step and having him on our blue line for many years to come.”"

Murphy stepped into a bigger role with the Arizona Coyotes in 2015-16. After averaging only 16:48 of ice-time in 2014-15, Connor established himself as a true top four defender logging north of 20 minutes/game (20:30 TOI/G to be exact). He also saw his point totals more than double from seven points in 2014-15 to 17 this past season.

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At $3.85 million dollars over the next six years, the Arizona Coyotes got an absolute steal with this signing. Imagine how cap friendly this will look two to three years down the road.

Stone, 26, is now set to become an unrestricted free agent in a year from now (summer of 2017).

This is a curious signing, but their might be a logical explanation. After all, Stone is arguably more important than Connor Murphy. He saw similar increases in 2015-16 with his point totals doubling to 36 from 18 the year before. Stone also went from playing 20:52/game in 2014-15 to 22:27 this past season.

Both Connor Murphy and Michael Stone showed growth/development in their overall game in 2015-16. So one might wonder how Murphy receives a six-year deal, and the Yotes allow Stone to sign a one-year contract that makes him a UFA next summer?

This is purely speculation, but based on the $4 million dollar number that Stone received, logic would suggest Michael was asking for much more. That tells us this could be a bridge deal. Perhaps new GM John Chayka wants to see just a little more from Stone before committing big dollars on a long-term deal.

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Another factor could be at work though; with an expansion draft less than a year away, the Arizona Coyotes have a few interesting decisions to make. Most importantly though, they need to find a way to either protect four defenseman or make the selection of one as difficult as possible for Las Vegas.

Let me explain: Technically the Coyotes could protect four defense, four forwards, and one goalie opposed to the traditional seven forwards, three defense, one goalie – but it leaves at least one quality player exposed up front.

So how do you make selecting a defenseman in expansion difficult?

You sign them to a bridge deal that makes them a UFA at the time of the expansion draft with a promise of a big long-term deal.

Now you leave Las Vegas with the ability to draft Stone, but much uncertainty as to whether the two sides could hammer out a deal in time – especially if Stone knows a big contract is waiting for him in the only home he’s known during his NHL career.

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This will be an interesting scenario to watch throughout 2016-17. Do you think the Coyotes are better off signing Stone to an extension, saving four defenseman in expansion (Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Alex Goligoski, Connor Murphy, Michael Stone)? Or, does the strategy of exposing a UFA status player make sense to help protect extra forwards? Let us know what you think.