The Arizona Coyotes and GM Don Maloney find themselves in an interesting position 30-some games into the 2015-16 NHL season. They're performing much better than expected, thanks in large part to Max Domi's explosive exploits and 25 points in 32 games and Anthony Duclair's rapid development and 19 points, good enough for fourth among NHL rookies. As for Tuesday, Domi is second.
But the Coyotes are also a deeply flawed team, especially defensively and beyond their top line. They're also without starting netminder Mike Smith for the next eight or nine weeks. In short, a postseason berth isn't impossible, but it's extremely unlikely this season. As such, Maloney's efforts in the coming months and in the lead up to the NHL trade deadline will be intriguing to say the least. Does he sell? Does he pursue a goaltending trade to help shore up the position between now and Smith's return? And what of Shane Doan, the captain and emotional leader of the franchise?
Decisions, decisions.
And while the NHL's annual roster freeze will keep us from any immediate answers, we can at least parse through some recent reports to get a better handle on what Maloney is thinking moving forward this year.
ESPN's Craig Custance reported Tuesday that Maloney remains interested in acquiring a goalie and that he and the team "have had trade discussions with other teams about finding a short-term replacement." Unfortunately, it sounds like the options currently available - Jonathan Bernier, Dustin Tokarski - aren't viewed as upgrades on Anders Lindback. Lindback has bounced around quite a bit during his NHL career already and he's got a career 2.86 goals against average. Not great, but the alternatives - Bernier was recently sent down to the AHL and Tokarski was pulled from the Canadiens' game Monday after allowing three goals on 14 shots - really aren't much better.
But barring a cheap trade for a goaltender, all eyes remain on Maloney as a seller and as Custance writes, he's likely to move as many of his unrestricted free agents as possible.
Mikkel Boedker is an elite talent who just hasn't been able to put it together at the NHL level on a consistent basis. He's shown flashes and could be the kind of player who draws a fairly hefty trade offer from a team convinced they can finally get the best out of him. Thus far this season, Boedker has 11 goals and 12 assists and looks to be well on his way to posting a career season.
There's bound to be at least one NHL coach convinced he can coax that out of Boedker and a GM who thinks he can get the Dutch winger re-signed.
Doan isn't likely to be dealt unless a top contender comes calling - he means too much to the franchise and probably won't want to make a big move with his family settled in Arizona.
Interestingly, per Custance, it's actually Martin Hanzal who has drawn the most interest from other NHL teams. He has a year left on his deal and while he hasn't produced like a top center, he's proven capable of playing across from some of the top pivots in the West.
"All four [other] players on the ice become more productive when he's on," an unnamed scout told Custance.
His cap hit is $3.1 million for next season, but Hanzal's still just 28 and could prove to be an invaluable pick up for the right team ahead of the deadline.
Of course Maloney, ever the bearer of bad news, said Tuesday that he thinks it's going to be a while before he - or any other GM for that matter - puts together a deal of note.
Don Maloney: "I really don't see a lot (of deals coming in the NHL) until we get a little bit closer to the trade deadline." #Coyotes 1050
— Chris Nichols (@NicholsOnHockey) December 22, 2015
