The Arizona Coyotes made a multitude of moves on the first day of free agency showing they are looking to be more competitive next season.
The Arizona Coyotes were busy on the first day of free agency.
Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong went out and signed six players that could make an impact on the roster come next season.
The day was headlined by the move to bring in left winger Jason Zucker on a one-year contract worth $5.3 million. Zucker had 27 goals, 21 assists and 48 points for the Pittsburgh Penguins this past season. The 31-year-old will help increase the Coyotes goal production in a major way while also making his teammates around him even better.
“Well, he's a top two line guy, someone that could play with Schmaltzy he could play with Kells, he could play with Maccelli, could play with Crouse he can kind of play anywhere and give our coach a lot of different options but listen, at the end of the day we get to score more and he scored 27 goals last year,” Armstrong said. “He's got a chance to come into the desert, work with our skill people kind of continue to grow, his game can continue to evolve and we're hoping he has a massive year for us.”
Another forward Arizona added was center Nick Bjugstad who actually suited up in 59 games for the Coyotes tallying 13 goals, 10 assists before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers one day before the trade deadline on March 2. He signed a two-year $4.2 million contract. Armstrong firmly believes that Bujgstad still has room to grow as a player and there are still aspects of his game that he is yet to unlock.
“I think Nick is a great guy. He's great for a culture. I think he grew a lot. I think when we put him at center his game took off. I think there's more there. I think there's even a higher end for Nick that he has to continue to try and dig deep down to reach for,” Armstrong said.
“It seemed like he got better every single game for us and I still believe watching him play for the Oilers and he started to use his body and continue to bang and just played at a higher level. I still think there's more. I think there's more scoring that he can accomplish for us and I think that with his big frame and how he skates, he will cover a lot of ice and he's so good defensively too. So I do believe there's still more inside and I think he can help us push this team to play meaningful games down the stretch and that's our goal.”
The Coyotes ended the day signing center Alex Kerfoot to a two-year contract at $3.5 million a year. With the Toronto Maple Leafs this past season, the 28-year-old had 10 goals, 22 assists and 32 points. Kerfoot is yet another forward with speed that can help Arizona’s scoring woes while also being able to play different roles in the lineup.
“He’s a good move for us,” Armstrong said. “He's somebody that can come in play left wing, take draws, play the PK, play the PP. He's really a glue guy for us and he was a big signing for us along with Zucker. He provides something different. Sometimes when you have young centerman that can come into the game he can project them and just really he's a guy that you can just count on. As a coach you love this guy because he kind of gives you what you need to help you win.”
Armstrong also signed center Alex Galchenyuk, defenseman Troy Stecher and goaltender Matt Villalta.
Over the past 11 seasons, the Coyotes have only made the playoffs once and they are looking to change that. These free agency moves by Armstrong are a clear statement that Arizona is ready to start competing and looking to fight for a playoff spot next year.
“It provides us with a competitive lineup that has a chance to push to play meaningful games and we've shown signs of it last year and now we've got to build off that and take it to the next level and I think that's what the Kerfoots and the Durzis and the Stechers and the Bjugstads and the Zuckers do for us,” Armstrong said. “They allow the Kellers and the Schmaltzs and the Haytons and the Maccellis and the Crouses to now get better and produce a better quality of hockey for the Coyotes.”
It seems the Coyotes have been rebuilding forever but now the end feels near. It's yet to be seen whether these new additions will elevate Arizona into a playoff caliber team but they are certainly taking steps in the right direction in doing so.
The offseason is also not over just yet and Armstrong will not rest until he feels his team is complete.
“We're still going,” Armstrong said. There's still hope in the desert we land a couple more so we’ll see.”