Trade Deadline Planner: Vermette deal signifies Phoenix going for it

Vermette was nonplussed when LeBron left Ohio, but now he's gone, too

The Phoenix Coyotes today acquired Columbus Blue Jackets center Antoine Vermette in exchange for a second and fifth-round draft pick and a depth goaltender, Curtis McIlhinny. This trade not only solidifies Phoenix, currently seventh in the Western Conference, for a Stanley Cup playoff run, but also is indicative that the Coyotes, once thought to be possible sellers at the trade deadline, have in fact committed to contending instead.

Entering February, Phoenix was not only a franchise in dire financial straits with a questionable future in Arizona, but also on the outside looking in to the playoff picture. Contending teams were reportedly scouting their veteran players, such as RW Shane Doan and LW Ray Whitney in the hopes of acquiring them at the February 27 NHL trade deadline. Instead, behind the strong coaching of Dave Tippett and the terrific goaltending of (the boringly named but excitingly talented) Mike Smith, the Coyotes have gone 8-0-1 this month to vault themselves back into the post-season mix.

Although it is too early to predict that their scorching recent run makes them good enough to defeat an elite team like Detroit, Vancouver or St. Louis in a seven-game playoff series, they have strengthened the squad up the middle with the addition of Vermette, a tremendous defensive center just two years removed from a 65-point season with Columbus. The ‘Yotes’ weakness was clearly at the position prior to the deal, as their top-scoring pivot was Martin Hanzal with just 33 points on the year.

Vermette immediately becomes a likely candidate to fill the center slot on the top line between the woefully underrated stud LW Ray Whitney and RW Radim Vrbata, who have lit it up this year for 54 and 52 points, respectively. Hanzal will, in all probability, slide down to pivot the second line between Lauri Korpikoski and team captain Shane Doan.

It is projectable that Phoenix, among the bottom few teams of playoff contenders with just 157 goals scored, will seek to further improve their scoring at the deadline by acquiring another offensive forward. Due to ownership’s financial constraints, the Coyotes will not be in the market for one of the available big fish, so do not expect to see any Rick Nash, Jeff Carter, or even Mike Ribeiro rumors here. Yet with a very solid blueline and terrific goaltending all year, a few more goals from the second line could make this team a far more dangerous playoff foe.

If the New York Islanders are unable to re-sign LW P.A. Parenteau long-term, they might be willing to deal the impending unrestricted free agent in the right deal. At a bargain basement salary of $1.25 million and with 54 points thus far on the season, Parenteau would be exactly what the doctor ordered for the Coyotes. With the Islanders main need being young, blue-chip defense prospects, it would seem a perfect marriage with Phoenix loaded in precisely that area. In the pipeline, the Coyotes have two of the top ten defense prospects in David Rundblad and Brandon Gormley, and two more highly-regarded young rearguards in Chris Summers and Conor Murphy.

In the event that the Islanders sign or decide not to trade Parenteau, Phoenix could take a close look at Montreal LW Andrei Kostitsyn or Dallas C/W Steve Ott, both signed to non-prohibitive contracts, rumored to be on the trade block, and able to contribute offensively on a team’s second or third lines. What is certain is that Phoenix has committed to doing their best to succeed this season, and Vermette not only signifies that fact but contributes to it.