The Arizona Coyotes entered this season looking to avoid a repeat of the poor start that doomed their playoff hopes in 2017-18.
It took them 12 games before they finally got their first victory last season, edging the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 in overtime. Their first regulation win didn’t come until mid-November, downing the Montreal Canadiens 5-4.
Lack of scoring punch played a big role in their downfall. Their 2.51 goals for per game average ranked 30th overall.
During the offseason, general manager John Chayka made several moves to address the issue. He shipped left wing Max Domi to the Montreal Canadiens for former 30-goal forward Alex Galchenyuk, acquiring forward Vinnie Hinostroza from the Chicago Blackhawks and signed speedy free-agent winger Michael Grabner.
Despite Chayka’s efforts, the Coyotes offense is once again sputtering as they stumble from the starting block. Though they managed two wins by Oct. 21, they entered this week mired at the bottom of the Western Conference with only four points in seven games. Their 1.43 goals for per game average ranks last overall.
Injuries are one factor behind the Coyotes’ anemic scoring. Galchenyuk suffered a knee injury during the preseason and has yet to return. Third-year center Christian Dvorak is out indefinitely following surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle. Puck-moving defenseman Jakob Chychrun is still recovering from offseason knee surgery.
They’re also not getting enough production from their active forwards. Grabner, Derek Stepan, and Richard Panik have yet to score. Brendan Perlini, Dylan Strome and Christian Fischer each have one goal. Hinostroza tallied twice and Clayton Keller three times.
Put simply, the Coyotes lack a scorer who can lead the way and generate offensive opportunities. Finding one means signing one of the few remaining unrestricted free agents or making a big trade.
The pickings are slim via free agency. Rick Nash is the best of those still available but he hasn’t decided if he’ll continue his playing career after being hampered by concussions in recent years.
Swinging a major trade won’t be easy. Significant early-season deals are rare and complicated to pull off. There’s also not a lot of scorers potentially available right now.
Chayka could be monitoring the ongoing contract standoff between the Toronto Maple Leafs and restricted free agent William Nylander. The Leafs must re-sign the 22-year-old forward by Dec. 1 or he becomes ineligible to play the remainder of this season.
The longer Nylander remains unsigned the more speculation suggests he could be traded, perhaps for a defenseman. The Coyotes have plenty of depth in that department.
On Oct. 12, Postmedia’s Michael Traikos suggested Chychrun has the skills and potential to perhaps interest the Leafs. Sportsnet’s Luke Fox also proposed Niklas Hjalmarsson and Jason Demers as possible trade chips.
Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Artemi Panarin remains reluctant to sign a contract, sparking rumors of his potential departure next summer via free agency. His offensive skills would bring a big boost to the Coyotes’ lagging offense and they have the depth in promising young players to tempt the Jackets.
So far, the Jackets don’t appear to be shopping Panarin. Such a move might not happen until close to next February’s trade deadline. By that point, acquiring Panarin might not come in time to help the Coyotes. There’s also the risk of his departure via free agency next July.
Chayka has a recent trade history with New York Rangers GM Jeff Gorton, having acquired Stepan and goaltender Antti Raanta from the Blueshirts prior to the 2017 NHL Draft. The Rangers are in the midst of retooling their roster with younger talent and forwards Mats Zuccarello and Kevin Hayes are due for UFA status next summer. Perhaps a deal could be worked out there.
Like the Coyotes, the Detroit Red Wings are off to a lousy start to this season. The Wings are in dire need of experienced blueline depth. Veteran winger Gustav Nyquist will become a UFA next July and probably doesn’t have a future in Detroit. Promising but inconsistent winger Anthony Mantha might be in need of a change of scenery.
The Philadelphia Flyers’ defense corps is having its early-season ups and downs. Chayka might want to look into the availability of power forward and pending UFA Wayne Simmonds.
Chayka could be making inquiries but finding a suitable early-season trade partner could be difficult. He could have no option but to wait for the market to improve. By that point, however, it could be too late.