What Motivates Dustin Wolf? Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk2Mjc3NTk4OTA0NDYwNTky/usatsi_19988474.jpg] The Arizona Coyotes made a last-minute move during the NHL deadline on Friday. They sent defenseman Troy Stecher and forward Nick Ritchie to the Calgary Flames in exchange for defenseman Connor Mackey and forward Brett Ritchie. The 28-year-old Stecher is in the final year of his current contract which carries a cap hit of $1.25 million, while the 27-year-old Ritchie is in the final season of his contract at a cap hit of $2.5 million. Both are set to become UFAs at season's end. Mackey, on the other hand, is in the final year of his deal at a cap hit of $912,500 and is slated to become an RFA this summer. Ritchie, like his brother, is slated to be a UFA when his current deal, carrying an AAV of $750,000, expires at the end of the season. This is the first reported instance of two brothers being traded for each other in NHL history, according to the NHL. Stecher and Ritchie are depth adds to a Flames team that has been floundering of late and clearly needs some sort of shake-up. In 61 games for the Coyotes this season, Stecher has racked up seven assists in roughly 17 minutes of ice time per night, while Ritchie heads to Calgary having chipped in nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points in 58 games while averaging just under 14 minutes of his own. Neither will move the needle in any noticeable way, but Ritchie, in particular, seems to fit the physical mold of a Darryl Sutter type of player. On Arizona's side of things, Mackey appears to be the most meaningful piece coming to town in this deal, having potted two goals and an assist in 10 games thus far. Mackey was a college free agent signing of Calgary's back in after tearing it up for Minnesota State. Despite not spending much time with the NHL club since turning pro, Mackey has performed quite well in the AHL and even earned an AHL all-star game nod in 2021. Ritchie is a journeyman veteran forward who should serve as a warm body for the Coyotes as they play out the remainder of a lost season.
