The fans of the professional hockey team located in Arizona/Phoenix/Glendale/The Unrelenting and Unforgiving Wastelands of the Desert, haven't had much to cheer about in the past couple seasons.
In fact, ownership and funding issues and a seemingly consistent changing of hands coupled with postseason-less seasons have caused more groans and jeers than chants and cheers.
They've missed the playoffs two years running and the currently 10-16-3 Coyotes and general manager Don Maloney may be on the verge of giving their fans just one more thing to groan about.
Longtime blueline mainstay Keith Yandle has been rumored to be available in trade for some time now -- along with everyone else on the roster -- and a couple of Pacific Division teams in California are showing interest in potentially making a deal to acquire his services.
First, what is Yandle's, still only 28, potential trade value?
TSN NHL Insider Darren Dreger, while appearing on Montreal's TSN 690 as transcribed by NicholsOnHockey.com, posited that the price would be extremely high for the offensively talented blueliner.
"Name it. He's got one year left on his contract, I think at a 5.2 cap hit, so there's some wiggle room in that sense too... he's a player that probably is going to earn more once his contract expires and you're right, the asking price is going to be high. And if you're the Arizona Coyotes -- it needs to be high."
Maloney and the Coyotes are facing a fairly bare AHL cupboard at the moment, so as much as it may pain them, and fans of the team, to move the beloved Yandle, the potential return in terms of picks and prospects may be too enticing to ignore.
As for teams that are inquiring about the possession pushing Yandle, it sounds like there is significant interest from out west.
"I am hearing both the Sharks and Ducks with "Serious" interest in Keith Yandle.... It sounds like the Sharks want to make this happen before the coming Trade freeze, while the Ducks (and possibly Detroit) would look to Yandle more at the Deadline," writes Eklund of Hockeybuzz.com.
The Ducks (19-6-5) currently sit atop the Pacific. They've got a bevy of young, homegrown defensive talent, but no one that would make trading for Yandle unnecessary.
The Sharks (16-11-4) record a lot of shots -- they're 5th in the league in shots per game -- but they're only 14th in goals per game. Adding a player with Yandle's offensive acumen could potentially help turn more of those chances into conversions.
