There are forwards Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, Matias Maccelli, Lawson Crouse, Barrett Hayton as well as goaltender Karel Vejmelka. That’s about it… No matter where the club will evolve in the more or less near future, the Coyotes are only betting on a few players forming the current core of the team.
By analyzing the composition of the club, it is clear that the city that would inherit the Coyotes, obviously in the event of a relocation, would not be so spoiled in the short term. Although very good hopes are coming, including Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley.
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For now, Keller, Schmaltz, Crouse and Vejmelka are the only four active players with a valid contract beyond the 2023-2024 season.
After six full seasons with the Coyotes, Keller, who wears No. 9, remains arguably the main face of the team. Selected in the first round (7e in total) by the club in the 2016 draft, the American striker is also the highest earner for the years to come. He will thus earn an average of $7.15 million per season until 2027-2028.
The 24-year-old Keller is a top player, having tallied 86 points, including 37 goals, in 82 games during the recent campaign. He was obviously the Coyotes’ leading scorer, ahead of Schmaltz, who scored 58 points in just 63 games. In the case of Schmaltz, he has a valid agreement until the end of the 2025-2026 season and eats 5.85 million per year on the payroll.
Guenther and Cooley are coming
Among the young forwards, Maccelli, 22, could have a bright future with the Coyotes, he who is currently a restricted free agent. And there is still hope for Hayton! In the two most recent repechages, the club also opted for Dylan Guenther, ninth overall, in 2021, then Logan Cooley, in third place, last year. The Coyotes also had the 11e first-round choice, in 2022, taking the opportunity to choose Conor Geekie.
On the blue line, three defenders under the age of 25 have a valid contract for the next season and could then obtain the status of free agent with compensation: Juuso Valimaki, JJ Moser and Victor Soderstrom. Among the youngest prospects, Quebecer Maveric Lamoureux, a product of the Voltigeurs de Drummondville, was selected 29e overall in the 2022 draft.
Vejmelka stands in front of the net. Despite appearing in 102 games over two seasons, the 26-year-old Czech goaltender has yet to prove he’s got the makings of a number one player in the National Hockey League.