The Minnesota Wild have traded a 2015 3rd round pick to the Arizona Coyotes for goaltender Devan Dubnyk.
The 28-year old Dubnyk was drafted 14th overall in the 2004 draft by the Oilers. He carries a $800,000 cap hit.
Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic: The 3rd round pick will be a good asset for the Coyotes, by either using it in what is said to be a deep trade, or package it in a trade to acquire some more immediate help.
“Devan was terrific for us,” General Manager Don Maloney said. “He was a good player, played very well. Nothing about him or his play we didn’t like. But we obtained what I would consider is a good draft pick asset that we can use in the future. It allows us to bring up a younger goaltender, which we intend to do to try out and see what we have in our system. There’s two of them – Mike Lee and Louis Domingue.
“And probably most important, at the end of the day, Mike Smith’s our guy. We’re working to get his game back on track. We know how good he can be, and this puts the emphasis on getting Mike back in the net.”
Thoughts from the media:
Sarah McLellan: Fletcher tabled offer Tues. Wanted young asset, chance to look at goalies in pipeline & reaffirm commitment to Mike Smith.”
Sarah McLellan: “Mike Lee will be the backup for now. Louis Domingue will also get a look. He’s currently in St. John’s with Portland.”
Travis Yost: “Pretty good asset management by ARI w/ Dubnyk here. Pick a guy up after downtick, let him play and regress, trade for something useful.”
Nick Cotsonika: “Dubnyk has a .916 save percentage this season in 19 games. Kuemper has a .902 in 28. Backstrom has an .887 in 19.”
Craig Morgan: “G Devan Dubnyk is a UFA at the end of the season. This deal makes sense. He wasn’t going to be back anyway. Moves have commenced.”
Damien Cox: “Last night was last straw for Fletcher. Moving Dubnyk, meanwhile, suggests ARIZ close to packing it in and going for McDavid.”
Anthony Petrielli: “Dubnyk was out of the NHL last year and just got a 3rd rounder after 16 starts. Younger, slightly better, played less Reimer glued to bench.”
Dan Rosen: “Can’t say Dubnyk is for sure an upgrade for the Wild, but he’s a different goalie than they have now, at this point different can’t be bad.”
Gus Katsaros: “Wild’s cage guarded by Dubnyk now. 3rd round pick for a player available on waivers last season. Good move Arizona.”
Daniel Friedman: “Coyotes just traded Devan Dubnyk for Connor McDavid/Jack Eichel/Noah Hanfin. Hell of a move, if you ask me.”