Rumor: Flames and Coyotes set to make a deal

According to a report from the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch, the Arizona Coyotes are willing to trade “pretty much every player on their roster.” Coyotes GM John Chayka isn’t likely to move core pieces like Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Clayton Keller, Max Domi or Derek Stepan, but the team’s veterans and depth players are all in play. 

In the same report, Garrioch mentions that the Calgary Flames are desperately seeking a forward for their bottom-nine. Could there be a match here? Center Brad Richardson has all the makings of a perfect rental player. The hard-nosed veteran is on an expiring deal and hits unrestricted free-agency this summer. Ditto for defenseman Luke Schenn. If the Flames are really looking for a solution though, could they pry a more versatile forward like Tobias Rieder or Anthony Duclair out of the desert? 

Both Rieder and Duclair are set to become restricted free-agents this summer, but it’s clear that a change of scenery would benefit them at this point in their respective careers.

Whatever ends up happening in Arizona this season, it’s clear that something has to change. Between the disastrous start to this season, the nightmarish way the organization handled Shane Doan’s retirement and the constant rumors of relocation, it’s a franchise that could use an entire overhaul… again.