The Arizona Coyotes have secured another player who will never skate in the sun.
The Columbus Blue Jackets handed them Jakub Voracek and a sixth-round pick in the 2023 draft for goaltender Jon Gillies.
The 33-year-old Czech is spending the penultimate year of a contract which brings him an average salary of 8.25 million per season. However, if the Jackets sold at such a low price this striker who gave them 62 points last season, it is because a shoulder injury obviously ended his career in the NHL.
Voracek has been limited to 11 games this season. His name was previously on the Jackets’ long-term injured list.
His unfortunate situation is the exact reason the Coyotes were interested in him. He joins a group made up of Shea Weber, Andrew Ladd and Bryan Little, all injured without the possibility of returning to the game. These players have in common to pocket a real salary well below the average recorded on the payroll or even protected by a insurance premium – or both. This maneuver allows the organization to artificially inflate its payroll in order to reach the minimum required by the NHL.
Voracek’s long career, split between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers, saw him amass 806 points in 1,058 games.