Coming into the deadline the Coyotes had a plan. They were looking to build a team that could compete next season, but that would enter into a rebuilding phase following that. They were also interested in picking up some draft picks for this years draft. So the goal was to acquire assets that would help next season, but that would also fit with the rebuilding plan for the following season.
The Coyotes were happy with their forward group moving into next season as they felt they had a strong top-6 (Connolly, Erat, Kozlov(tag), Nolan, Selanne(tag), and Sundin) and a good supporting cast. Many of these players will be leaving for free agency following next season, and thus will open the door for the rebuild.
It was determined that where the coyotes really needed to focus their deadline energy was on their blueline. The defense was looking to be very thin for next season with key players Zubov, Lilja, Martinek, Numminen and Preissing all leaving for free agency. As a result the team really only had two top-4 defensemen remaining (Hamrlik and Poti), and no bottom pairing defensemen remaining for next season. The goal for the deadline was to fill out the defenseman positions so that the team did not need to count on free agency to ice a competitive team next season. The following are the deals the 'Yotes made to follow the plan:
To ATL: Tom Preissing + 350k To PHO: Dan Bertram Basicly just shifting out an un-wanted asset. Getting a mediocre prospect.
To STL: Sergei Zubov + Mathieu Garon + 500k To PHO: Rostislav Klesla + Yann Danis + Mark Parrish This was a tough one, but Klesla is a top-4 D, something we wanted an Danis is younger and having a better season than Garon. Parrish we get to balance the salaries and we'll likely be stuck with him next year. Next year he'll be a bottm 6 forward, but can step into the top 6 as an injury replacement.
To PIT: $4 Million + Johnny Boychuk To PHO: Carl Colaiacovo We won't be going hard after any UFAs so we figured we could spend some cash to pick up a guy who should be able to play top-4 minutes on our defence. He'll be a great addition to our PP as well.
To TOR: Radek Martinek To PHO: Kurtis Foster Martinek was publicly shopped with zero interest. Some crap offers from ATL low-balling us forced our hand and we moved Martinek for a project bottom pairing defenseman. The good news is that Foster is back playing in the NHL and played decent PP minutes in his first game back
To CAL: Radim Vrbata To PHO: Sergei Brylin + Kent Huskins Well, with Parrish in the fold we had no desire to keep Vrbata, another offensive guy who won't rate well enough to play in the top 6 forwards next year. In return we get some salary (Brylin) who'll be gone at season end and we get a rock solid bottom pairing D who can jump into the top 4 as an injury replacement.
To MTL: Eric Belanger To PHO: MON4 + 500k We publicly shopped Belanger for a 3rd rounder with no takers. ATL kept offering like 5th rounders and crap so we figured that getting a 4th + cash was a good deal.
To STL: Tom Poti To PHO: Bruno Gervais + Brian Pothier + Krys Kolanos + LA6 This was a tough one, we didn't really decide to move Poti until a day or two before the deadline. We got a lot of interest in him and figured that if we could get a younger guy in return who could still play in our top 4 (+ other assets) that we'd do it. This makes sense for our plan as Gervais will be a top-4 D for us next year, and will contribute to our rebuild and beyond. Pother has returned fro injury (just playin AHL right now) and may work as a bottom pairing D next year, or a reserve defenseman. Beyond that hard to say with him. Kolanos likely won't make the team until 2 years from now when we are rebuilding, but he'll have a place in the organization then for sure.
To CAL: Teppo Numminen + LA6 To PHO: Christian Backman Final trade, we move an overpaid UFA for a guy who'll play bottom pairing D next year and then will leave for UFA after that. Nothing major here...
So all in all the Coyotes stuck with the plan, they added guys to fill holes for next season and have assets to cary through into their planned rebuild following that season. Their defense went from basicly being only hamrlik and poti to being what you see below. An important point is that the Coyotes do not have to count on UFA at all this year. They may try to add a defensive D-man as they have a lot of offensive guys, but that could happen by free agency or trade, no pressure at all to add in free agency and overpay for somebody. The lineup next season is given below. The prediction ifor next season is for the 'Yotes to finish middle of the pack, making the playoffs in 7th or 8th place in the West.
