Coyotes continue to unload top players, stock up for the future

The rumors had been a souvenir from the 2012 Western Conference finals, a memento that legitimized defenseman Keith Yandle's ascent as an offensive catalyst and also reminded the Coyotes how close they were — and still could be — to finishing the Stanley Cup pursuit that started that spring.

So in the years that followed, what kept Yandle anchored to the team's blue line was the fact a fair return, one characterized as requiring a top-six forward to help offset the hole potentially left by Yandle, was never met.

But the wish list for Yandle changed this season.

With the Coyotes on the brink of missing the playoffs for a third straight season and having to catch up to the standard set in the Western Conference, the need for NHL talent to keep the Coyotes competitive was replaced by the desire for draft picks and prospects with pizazz to see through a roster overhaul that the front office decided was the best remedy.

And the Coyotes further demonstrated their commitment to this process by shipping Yandle, minor-league defenseman Chris Summers and a 2016 fourth-round pick to the Rangers in exchange for prospect Anthony Duclair, defenseman John Moore, a 2016 first-round pick and a 2015 second-round pick.

"There's no ambiguity at all," General Manager Don Maloney said. "We're resetting this team. We're gaining assets that are going to three, four, five years from now put us in a position to win us a Stanley Cup, and this was a big part of it."

Yandle's departure wasn't the only one to help the Coyotes retool. They sent center Antoine Vermette to the Blackhawks Saturday to receive their first-round pick in this year's draft and defenseman Klas Dahlbeck, who will report to the Coyotes and is expected to be at Monday's practice.

More activity is expected to hit before the trade deadline expires at 1 p.m. Arizona time Monday as the Coyotes still haven't dealt impending free agent defenseman Zbynek Michalek.

But the Yandle deal is likely to stand up as the most decorated.

Talks on a potential trade started last week when the Coyotes were in New York but took a serious turn Saturday when Rangers GM Glen Sather tabled a specific offer.

Duclair, who has two years left on his entry-level contract, was the piece that swayed the Coyotes; the 19-year-old winger was taken 80th overall in 2013 and debuted impressive chemistry with Max Domi at the World Junior Championship.

"Anthony is a big, strong skating, talented player," Maloney said.

The Coyotes had conversations with three or four other teams about Yandle, but all wanted to wait until the off-season to consummate a deal. Maloney figured Yandle, who's current contract expires after next season when he's eligible to become a free agent, would have more value if he was able to help a team through two playoff runs, and he also didn't identify any prospects in those organizations that he could likely receive that would top Duclair.

Even so, Maloney could have pictured Yandle, 28, on the Coyotes roster beyond his contract. Yandle has been with the organization since he was drafted 105th overall in 2005, accumulating 65 goals and 311 points in 558 games.

"Keith Yandle's been a terrific player for us," Maloney said. "He's been one of our leaders since he's been here."

The Coyotes are on the hook for half of Yandle's remaining salary — he's making $5.5 million this season and $5.75 million the next — and that was a necessary part of the deal to keep the Rangers under the salary cap.

"There was absolutely zero hesitation," Maloney said of ownership, with whom he also met with Thursday in New York. "In fact, they were pushing me if I liked the deal don't let money be the determining factor."

Moore, a 24-year-old puck-mover who skates well, has six points (one goal) in 38 games. He's a restricted free agent after this season and could arrive in the Valley in time for Monday's practice.

It's possible he's the only established NHLer to be added to the roster before the deadline as Maloney said he's not targeting those types of players.

"The game plan is to acquire the best young assets," said Maloney, reaffirming this course of action as what it takes to improve the Coyotes.

The Coyotes now hold two first-round picks in this year's draft and for 2016. The ones they received from the Rangers are Blackhawks are lottery-protected so that if those teams fail to make the playoffs those years, they can defer the pick to the following year. The second-round pick from the Rangers will also be the latter of the two team currently holds.

The Coyotes could certainly keep these picks and utilize them, especially this summer in what's being hailed a deep draft, but they also aren't opposed to using them to acquire roster-ready players in the future.

"If we hit on half of those and this year's pick is going to be a terrific player, now you can really start to see some light at the end of the tunnel," Maloney said. "This team's going to be legit."

The extra first-rounder this year, although it's expected to be a late selection with the Blackhawks poised to make a serious run at the Cup, was what Maloney was holding out for before dealing Vermette.

Maloney and Vermette's camp weren't close on an extension and with the Coyotes making it clear Vermette would be moved, the interest generated offers from four-to-five teams with two-to-three serious pitches.

Michalek is still an attractive piece as a rental, and his current injury hasn't helped the process, Maloney said, but he'll be healthy soon.

"There's still deals to be talked about," Maloney said. "I think there's still lots of chatter around the league."

The Coyotes plan to stay under the 23-man roster limit after the deadline – they already assigned winger Henrik Samuelsson and defenseman Dylan Reese to the American Hockey League Sunday.

They'll continue to audition youngsters the rest of the season, and that could very well put them in contention for one of the top-two picks at the draft.

If they're able to lasso one of those, Maloney expects that player to be in the NHL next season. Combine that with the other potential in the pipeline, like Domi, Duclair, Brendan Perlini and Christian Dvorak, and the Coyotes are hopeful it takes only a few years until they're back in contention for a playoff spot. But even if it does take longer, the Coyotes have no choice but to tough it out since this tear-down is the trajectory they've embraced to better the franchise.

"We have to build up our base to get to the point where this is the last time we're going through a season like this," Maloney said. "We'll take our lumps and we'll get through it, and then we'll be better for it. It might take us some time but when you have ownership that has a clear idea of where they want to take a team and understand the timeline to get there, now you have a chance to build a lasting winner."

Coming and going

A look at the Coyotes trades on Saturday and Sunday:

The Coyotes traded away:

- Defenseman Keith Yandle (Arizona is retaining half of Yandle's remaining salary. He is earning $5.5 million this season and $5.75 million next season.)

- Center Antoine Vermette

-Defenseman Chris Summers

-A 2016 fourth-round draft pick

The Coyotes received:

-Prospect winger Anthony Duclair

-Defenseman John Moore

-Defenseman Klas Dahlbeck

-A 2015 first-round draft pick (This selection is lottery-protected so that if the Blackhawks miss the playoffs this season, they can defer this pick to the following year.)

-A 2016 first-round draft pick (This selection is lottery-protected so that if the Rangers miss the playoffs next season, they can defer this pick to the following year.)

-A 2015 second-round draft pick (This selection will be the latter of the two the Rangers finish with as they currently hold two second-round picks.)