Opportunity knocks: A look at 31 NHL teams’ troublesome contracts that the Coyotes may target in their quest for more assets

When Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong addressed local media after the NHL Draft Lottery on Tuesday, he restated a plan that he has recited all year. The Coyotes will be in the market for other team’s troublesome contracts again this summer. The hope is to acquire more draft assets and perhaps some promising prospects along with those contracts.

If you thought that the Coyotes were going to try to take a step forward next season and compete for a playoff spot, you really need to get out of the back row and start paying attention.

“We’re always looking to acquire more picks with our cap space,” he said. “We’ve put it out there from probably last year at this time and we’re gonna continue to move forward with that process.

“The only way you win a championship is to rebuild through the draft.”

With 27 players under contract for 2022-23 — and pending the likely signing of a handful of free agents such as Lawson Crouse, Christian Fischer, Barrett Hayton and maybe Anton Strålman — the Coyotes have a shade over $49.3 million committed to salaries next season, per capfriendly.com. The cap next season is expected to be $82.5 million. 

Expect the Coyotes to be much closer to the cap floor than the ceiling, with the logical reasoning that there is no sense in spending a lot of money on a team that you don’t expect to make the playoffs. With that in mind, other teams’ troublesome contracts that don’t carry as much cash payout as they do cap hit may be more attractive to Armstrong. That was the case last season when he went shopping.

Even with the need to fill out a lot of roster spots, the Coyotes should have plenty of space to acquire some contracts just as they did last summer when they brought aboard Shayne Gostisbehere, Anton Strålman, Andrew Ladd, Loui Eriksson, Jay Beagle and Antoine Roussel. It should be noted that in addition to limited cash payout, all of those contracts carried term of no longer than two years.

The Coyotes may not have as many prized assets as they did last season when they turned Darcy Kuemper, Christian Dvorak, Conor Garland and Oliver Ekman-Larsson into three first-round picks, but Jakob Chychrun could bring back a hefty haul if the Coyotes are able to trade him at the NHL Draft, and there are very few untouchables on the current roster if Armstrong gets the right offer.

The Chychrun saga will reach some sort of resolution this summer, but for now, let’s focus on those troublesome contracts on other teams’ payrolls. There was a time earlier this season when it looked like such opportunities might not be available to Armstrong, but multiple NHL sources believe that Armstrong will have ample opportunity to further stock his draft-pick and prospect pools this summer.

I reached out to beat writers in all 31 of the NHL’s other markets to get a sense of which players those teams might be looking to move, and whether they’d be willing to include futures along with those contracts. Here is a team-by-team rundown.

Anaheim Ducks

F Jakob Silfverberg
Contract: Two more years at an average annual value (AAV) of $5.25M (cash outlay is same)
Protection: Modified no-trade clause (NTC) in which he submits a 12-team no-trade list
Stats: Silfverberg, 31, has just 13 goals and 37 points over the past two injury-riddled seasons.
Comment: Silfverberg is well thought of in the organization, but things may be different under new GM Pat Verbeek, who is not wed to prior relationships.

Boston Bruins

F Nick Foligno
Contract: One more year at an AAV of $3.8 million (actual cash is same but carries a signing bonus of $1 million that could be due before a trade)
Protection: M-NTC (16 teams)
Stats: Foligno, 34, has nine goals and 33 points over the past two seasons with Columbus, Toronto and Boston.
Comment: The Bruins would trade futures to shed Foligno’s contract. Jake DeBrusk is also available but the Bruins want market value for him.

Buffalo Sabres (none)

Calgary Flames

C Sean Monahan
Contract: One more year at an AAV of $6.375 million ($6 million cash outlay)
Protection: M-NTC (10 teams)
Stats: Monahan, 27, has 18 goals and 53 points over the past two seasons and is currently on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) after hip surgery.
Comment: See below Milan Lucic.

F Milan Lucic
Contract: One more year at $5.25 million ($4 million in cash outlay, but with a $3 million signing bonus)
Protection: M-NTC (10 teams) and no-move clause (NMC)
Stats: Lucic, 33, has 20 goals and 44 points over his past two seasons.
Comment: Lucic matters to team chemistry and has played well within his limitations as a slow skater in a lightning-fast game, but if GM Brad Treliving could wave a magic wand and make both Lucic’s and Monahan’s contracts go away, he would be in outstanding shape to re-sign the key players he’ll need to re-sign including Johnny Gaudreau (UFA), Matthew Tkachuk (RFA with arbitration rights), Andrew Mangiapane (RFA with arbitration rights) and Oliver Kylington (RFA with arbitration rights).

Carolina Hurricanes (none)

Chicago Blackhawks

C Jonathan Toews
Contract: One more year at an AAV of $10.5 million ($6.9 million cash outlay with a $4 million signing bonus)
Protection: NMC
Stats: Toews, 34, had 12 goals and 37 points this past season.
Comment: A shade of his former self, Toews will be almost impossible to move due to his cap hit and his NMC. The Blackhawks will likely need to ride out the final year of his (and maybe Patrick Kane’s) salary.

F Tyler Johnson
Contract: Two more years at an AAV of $5 million ($8.5 million cash outlay).
Protection: Full NTC (20 teams). 
Stats: Johnson, 31, has 11 goals and 29 points over his past two seasons.
Comment: Given the impending rebuild of the Blackhawks, it’s unlikely that the Hawks will be parting with any picks or prospects of any substance. They’re desperately short on both, and, if anything, would be doing the same thing that the Coyotes are doing.

Colorado Avalanche

D Erik Johnson
Contract: One more year at an AAV of $6 million (same cash outlay)
Protection: M-NTC (19 teams), NMC
Stats: Johnson, 34, had a decent season with eight goals and 25 points.
Comment: The Avs have a number of free agents to re-sign including Nazem Kadri, André Burakovsky, Valeri Nichuskin and Josh Manson. Shedding Johnson would help.

F J.T. Compher
Contract: One more year at an AAV of $3.5 million (same cash outlay)
Protection: None
Stats: Compher, 27, had 18 goals and 33 points this season.
Comment: Compher’s contract isn’t bad, but if the Avalanche need to clear room to re-sign players, he feels like a possibility to move. 

Columbus Blue Jackets 

None, but they are hoping to re-sign RFA Patrik Laine, so maybe in a couple of years (sarcasm font).

Dallas Stars

C Radek Faksa
Contract: Three more years at an AAV of $3.25 million ($10.75 million cash outlay)
Protection: M-NTC (five teams)
Stats: Faksa, 28, had 11 goals and 33 points over the past two seasons.
Comment: See below Khudobin.

G Anton Khudobin
Contract: One more year at an AAV of $3.33 million ($3.75 million cash outlay)
Protection: None for 2022-23
Stats: Khudobin, 36, only played nine games this season due to a hip injury.
Comment: The Stars have quite a few bad contracts but most of them can’t be moved because of NMCs. Faksa and Khudobin are two that can be moved.

Detroit Red Wings (none)

Edmonton Oilers

F Zack Kassian
Contract: Two more years at an AAV of $3.2 million (cash outlay of $5.8 million)
Protection: None
Stats: Kassian, 31, has eight goals and 24 points over the past two injury-riddled seasons.
Comment: The Oilers need to clear money and want to get rid of him. Defenseman Tyson Barrie could be another, but he’s still a useful player, although Evan Bouchard carries a similar skill set. 

Florida Panthers

G Sergei Bobrovsky
Contract: Four more years at an AAV of $10 million ($34.5 million cash outlay)
Protection: M-NTC (16 teams), NMC
Stats: Bobrovsky, 33, has been decidedly average in Florida.
Comment: Bobrovsky’s remaining contract is probably too steep.

F Patric Hörnqvist
Contract: One more year at an AAV of $5.3 million (cash outlay is same)
Protection: M-NTC (eight teams)
Stats: Hörnqvist, 35, had 11 goals and 28 points this season.
Comment: Despite his playoff experience, he may have to go. The cap-strapped Panthers will need that cash.

Los Angeles Kings (none)

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Minnesota Wild

D Matt Dumba
Contract: One more year at an AAV of $6 million ($5.2 million cash outlay)
Protection: M-NTC (10 teams)
Stats: Dumba, 27, had seven goals and 27 points this season and logged the second-highest average ice time (23:06) on the team.
Comment: This is an unlikely deal because the Wild do not want to move futures.

Montréal Canadiens

D Shea Weber
Contract: Four more years at an AAV of $7.857 million (but only $6 million in total cash outlay)
Protection: None
Stats: Weber, 36, did not play this season and won’t likely play again due to multiple injuries. He is currently on LTIR.
Comment: Multiple sources said that the Coyotes had a deal in place to acquire Weber before Winnipeg came with a deal that brought Bryan Little to Arizona. Jonathan Drouin was another one of the names mentioned in that deal. Weber’s cap hit is severe but the cash outlay is attractive. The complicating factor here is whether the Canadiens, now in rebuild mode, are willing to spend futures in order to offload salary.

G Carey Price
Contract: Four more years at an AAV of $10.5 million ($31.25 million cash outlay)
Protection: NMC
Stats: Price, 34, missed most of this season while enrolled in the league’s substance abuse program.
Comment: Price’s contract is prohibitive. The Canadiens are likely stuck with it unless they retain salary and offer other enticements, which don’t make much sense for a rebuilding team. 

Nashville Predators (none)

New Jersey Devils

F Tomas Tatar
Contract: One more year at an AAV of $4.5 million ($5.25 million cash outlay with a $2 million signing bonus) 
Protection: None
Stats: Tatar, 31, had 15 goals and 30 points this season.
Comment: The Devils have a ton of cap space and a lot of needs but if they were looking to create some space, Tatar would be the guy. 

New York Islanders

F Josh Bailey
Contract: Two more years at an AAV of $5 million ($7 million cash outlay)
Protection: None
Stats: Bailey, 32, had 14 goals and 44 points this season.
Comment: If the Islanders hope to regain their magic from previous seasons under a new coach, moving Bailey’s contract could help with an offseason acquisition.

New York Rangers

D Patrik Nemeth
Contract: Two more years at an AAV of $2.5 million ($5 million cash outlay)
Protection: M-NTC (eight teams)
Stats: Nemeth, 30, had two goals and seven points this season and logged third-pair minutes.
Comment: The Rangers would love to unload Nemeth with a huge cap crunch coming for them. Mika Zibanejad’s contract extension kicks in and there are free agents to re-sign.

Ottawa Senators

D Nikita Zaitsev
Contract: Two more years at an AAV of $4.5 million (cash outlay is same, but annual signing bonuses of $2 million)
Protection: M-NTC (10 teams)
Stats: Zaitzev, 30, had two goals and 11 points this season, logging 18:59 of average ice time.
Comment: The Senators aren’t particularly cap-strapped but they aren’t a team that wants to spend to the cap either. If they want to make some progress next season with a young, offensive lineup, moving Zaitsev could free up money for other moves.

F Colin White
Contract: Three more years at an AAV of $4.5 million (cash outlay of 15.75 million)
Protection: None
Stats: White, 25, has regressed since a 41-point season in 2018-19. He had just 17 goals and 41 points over the next two seasons and this season was cut short due to major shoulder surgery. 
Comment: White’s contract may be a bit too long and rich for the Coyotes’ taste.

Philadelphia Flyers

F James van Riemsdyk
Contract: One more year at an AAV of $7 million ($5 million cash outlay with a $1 million signing bonus).
Protection: None
Stats: JVR, 33, had 24 goals and 38 points this season, but was a defensive liability.
Comment: Remember when the Coyotes dallied with signing him in 2018 before his price got too rich, the Flyers swooped in and the Coyotes turned to Michael Grabner? It would be weird if he ended up in Arizona after all, but why would the Flyers give up futures? They need to rebuild.

Pittsburgh Penguins

D John Marino
Contract: Five more years at $4.4 million ($24.65 million cash outlay)
Protection: M-NTC beginning in 2024-25 (eight teams)
Stats: Marino, 24, had a goal and 25 points this season.
Comment: Marino’s game has plateaued but he is still young with room to improve and the length and term of his contract make him an unlikely acquisition.

D Marcus Pettersson
Contract: Three more years at an AAV of $4.025 million (cash outlay is same)
Protection: M-NTC beginning in 2023-24 (eight teams)
Stats: Pettersson, 26, had two goals and 19 points this season.
Comment: Like Marino, Pettersson has plateaued, and Pettersson is two years older.

F Jason Zucker
Contract: One year left at an AAV of $5.5 million ($5.2 million cash outlay)
Protection: M-NTC (10 teams)
Stats: Zucker, 30, had eight goals and 17 points in 41 games this season.
Comment: Zucker fits the profile in many ways. He’s an experienced leader a terrific human being.

San Jose Sharks

D Marc-Édouard Vlasic
Contract: Four more years at an AAV of $7 million (cash outlay of $27 million with $6.75 in signing bonuses)
Protection: NMC in 2023, M-NTC thereafter (three teams)
Stats: Vlasic’s defensive game has slipped dramatically to the point where the 35-year-old, once heralded for that aspect, is considered one of the NHL’s worst contracts.
Comment: This is a pipe dream for the Sharks. Vlasic’s term and dollar make him nearly immovable, and he has an NMC that he almost certainly won’t waive.

F Kevin Labanc
Contract: Two more years at an AAV of $4.725 million (cash outlay of $11.75 million)
Protection: None
Stats: Shoulder surgery limited Labanc, 26, to 21 games this season.
Comment: Labanc’s cash outlay is problematic for the Sharks, who may be in for a long lean spell with an aging roster of crippling contracts.

D Radim Simek
Contract: Two more years at an AAV of $2.25 million ($4.1 million cash outlay)
Protection: None 
Stats: Simek, 29, is a journeyman who played 36 games.
Comment: This minor move could help tweak a roster, but that roster needs a major overhaul. 

Seattle Kraken

F Joonas Donskoi
Contract: One more year at an AAV of $3.9 million (cash outlay is same)
Protection: None
Stats: Donskoi, 30, slipped to two goals and 20 points this season.
Comment: It doesn’t make sense for the expansion Kraken to be offloading futures.

G Chris Driedger
Contract: Two more years at an AAV of $3.5 million ($8 million cash outlay)
Protection: M-NTC (10 teams)
Stats: Driedger, 27, is a backup goalie who is paid too much money, but had some success in Florida. He appeared in 27 games this season.
Comment: Again, it doesn’t make sense for the expansion Kraken to be offloading futures, but if they’re willing, the Coyotes probably need a goalie.

St. Louis Blues

G Jordan Binnington
Contract: Five more years at an AAV of $6 million ($32 million cash outlay)
Protection: M-NTC (2024-25: 18 teams; 2025-26: 14 teams; 2026-27: 10 teams)
Stats: Binnington, 28, is having a good postseason after a rough regular season.
Comment: With Ville Husso showing promise the Blues might consider moving Binnington’s large contract, but that will be difficult with so much term left, even if Armstrong helped draft him.

D Marco Scandella
Contract: Two more years at an AAV of $3.275 million ($6.85 million cash outlay)
Protection: M-NTC (seven teams)
Stats: Scandella, 32, is basically a third-pair defenseman at this stage of his career.
Comment: Scandella has played better of late, but if the Blues need to free up cap space he could be a target.

Tampa Bay Lightning

D Ryan McDonagh
Contract: Four years years at an AAV of $6.75 million ($24.99 million cash outlay)
Protection: NTC
Stats: McDonagh, 32, still logs significant minutes but this contract will become increasingly problematic.
Comment: It’s unlikely that the Lightning will try to move him.

Toronto Maple Leafs

G Petr Mrázek
Contract: Two more years at an AAV of $3.8 million ($8.6 million cash outlay)
Protection: M-NTC (10 teams)
Stats: Mrázek, 30, was awful this season with a 3.34 goals against average and an .888 save percentage.
Comment: The Leafs desperately need to move him to free up cap space. What’s it worth to them? The Coyotes could use another goalie to help the 2022-23 tank.

Vancouver Canucks

D Tucker Poolman
Contract: Three more years at an AAV of $2.5 million ($8.25 million cash outlay)
Protection: None
Stats: Poolman, 28, is a depth defenseman, who is easily replaced.
Comment: See below Tyler Myers.

F Jason Dickinson
Contract: Two more years at an AAV of $2.65 million ($5.95 million cash outlay)
Protection: None
Stats: Dickinson, 26, is a depth forward who is probably slightly overpaid.
Comment: See below Tyler Myers.

D Tyler Myers
Contract: Two more years at an AAV of $6 million ($11 million cash outlay with a $5 million signing bonus in 2023-24)
Protection: M-NTC (10 teams)
Stats: Myers, 32, logged the third-most average minutes on the team at 21:59 but he is not worth the money.
Comment: While these moves would help new GM Patrik Allvin reshape his roster, it does not appear as if he is willing to part with futures to do so. Good luck with that.

D Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Contract: Five more years at an AAV of $7.26 million ($39.5 million cash outlay, but the Coyotes have retained $990,000 each year for the life of the contract)
Protection: NMC
Stats: Ekman-Larsson, 30, had five goals and 29 points this season.
Comment: We’re just kidding. This is obviously not happening.

Vegas Golden Knights

F Evgenii Dadonov
Contract: One more year at an AAV of $5 million ($6.5 million cash outlay)
Protection: M-NTC (10 teams)
Stats: Dadonov, 33, had 20 goals and 45 points this season.
Comment: The Golden Knights already tried to move Dadonov to Anaheim at the trade deadline but the trade was voided after the sides learned that Dadonov’s no-trade clause “had not been complied with,” according to a league statement. The Coyotes are not on Dadonov’s no-trade list and the Golden Knights, who are in cap hell, are definitely willing to move futures; an insane reality given the dark days that are coming for this prospect-poor franchise a few years down the road.  

Washington Capitals

Carl Hagelin
Contract: One more year at $2.75 million ($1.8 million cash outlay)
Protection: None
Stats: Hagelin, 33, played 53 games this season. He has not been a productive player for a long while.
Comment: It’s unclear what Hagelin’s future holds after a second eye surgery. He is currently on LTIR.

Winnipeg Jets

D Nate Schmidt
Contract: Three more years at an AAV of $5.95 million ($14.8 million cash outlay)
Protection: M-NTC (10 teams)
Stats: Schmidt, 30, was OK with four goals and 32 points this season.
Comment: Moving Schmidt would help the Jets cap wise and open up room for a good young defenseman such as Dylan Samberg or Ville Heinola. Forwards Adam Lowry and Blake Wheeler probably make too much compared to what they offer but they are not likely to be traded. Schmidt’s term and dollar may be a bit too much to swallow.

Top photo: Montréal’s Shea Weber (Getty Images)

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