With the Arizona Coyotes still rebuilding, Nick Schmaltz has been the topic of trade speculation. Will they move him before free agency?

Since 2021, the Arizona Coyotes under GM Bill Armstrong have been rebuilding their roster by trading veterans for draft picks, prospects and promising young NHL players.

With the club's future in Arizona now in question after their arena deal was voted down in a public referendum, one wonders if that will have any effect on Armstrong's plans. If they end up relocating in the near future – which isn't expected to happen ahead of next season – there's a chance that Nick Schmaltz won't be with them.

Schmaltz, 27, is a versatile playmaking forward who can skate at center or right wing. Hampered by injuries in recent years, he still netted 59 points in 63 games last season and 58 points in the same number of games this season.

CapFriendly indicates Schmaltz has three seasons remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $5.85 million. He lacks no-trade protection until July 1 when his 10-team no-trade list goes into effect.

The subject of speculation leading up to the March 3 trade deadline, Schmaltz is being floated by some pundits as an off-season trade candidate.

The Athletic's Michael Russo and Eric Duhatschek have Schmaltz sitting 13th on their 30-player off-season trade board. They pointed out the Coyotes could move him due to his backloaded contract. He'll earn $7.5 million in actual salary for next season, $8.45 million in 2024-25 and $8.5 million in the final season.

Nevertheless, Schmaltz could interest clubs willing to carry that actual salary given the affordability of his annual cap hit.

Colorado Hockey Now's Evan Rawal included Schmaltz in his list of Avalanche second-line center trade candidates. Meanwhile, Matthew DeFranks of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch had him as part of his list of trade targets for the Blues.