While Coyotes winger Phil Kessel and defenseman Jakob Chychrun have been the players receiving most of the trade speculation lately, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli puts another name in the mix, reporting that several teams – including the Flyers – have shown interest in winger Lawson Crouse.
The 24-year-old is already in his sixth NHL season and up until this season, he had been more of a role player, providing plenty of energy and physicality but not much in the way of consistent production. That has changed this season as head coach Andre Tourigny has given Crouse a much bigger role – he’s averaging over 18 minutes a night which is more than five minutes higher than his career ATOI heading into the season – and he has made the most of it, potting eight goals and eight assists, numbers that have him at a 20-goal and 40-point pace.
While it’s unlikely that Crouse would have that type of role on a playoff contender, he’d still fit in nicely on a third line for a lot of teams. The postseason is when the physicality picks up and power forwards become even more important so Arizona could be well-positioned to maximize their return here.
Crouse is set to become a restricted free agent with salary arbitration rights this summer and has a qualifying offer that’s a bit higher than his current cap hit ($1.75MM versus a $1.533MM AAV) although teams shouldn’t have any concerns about tendering him. Even though it’s his sixth NHL season, he still is two years away from being eligible for unrestricted free agency since his sophomore campaign saw him play just 11 games which is below the threshold of 40 to accrue a season of service time.
With only a handful of teams currently well out of the playoff picture, it could be a seller’s market as a result leading up to the March 21st trade deadline. That’s great news for those selling teams like the Coyotes who, with Crouse, appear to now have another player generating a lot of interest.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Crouse should be the next captain of the Coyotes. He is like Boone Jenner only tougher. Bad move if he is traded unless it’s for a quality package. Get rid of Chychrun and Schmaltz before Crouse.
I had a feeling a lot of teams would be interested in Crouse. I think he has only scratched the surface on what he can become with more minutes. A 6”4” 220 pound power forward who was a First Rounder of the Panthers.
I agree. I think he’s going to be a late bloomer but if the Coyotes are patient he’ll at the very least increase his trade value. They should keep him though. There’s no reason to trade him, he’s not a pending UFA.
Yes, I have read he is UFA at end of year, something to do about games played
Toronto has Matt Knies(from az). That would be a solid start, maybe a 2nd or 3rd. If a cap dump comes back as well add another prospect. Would like to keep Crouse, no point in trading him unless it’s a overpayment.
Knies would certainly get the Yotes attention. The Yotes should keep Crouse as he can probably be extended at $2M for 3 yrs. A very good value!
Matt Knies is a good prospect.He is a younger version of Lawson Crouse.There is no reason for Coyotes to trade for Knies who may become a player Crouse already is
Knies is from Phoenix and would be a good get for the Yotes if Crouse was gonna go to the Leafs.
Power forwards usually take longer to develop and then break down quicker BUT…really valuable in between those two things.
The Yotes have nothing. Might as well trade Chychrun, trade Crouse, trade Kessel, trade Schmaltz, trade Gostisbehere, trade Keller. All for draft picks.
I rarely advocate this, but…this is the one team that really should tear it down to the studs, then burn the studs, dig up the foundation and pour a new one.
Mm, but look. At the level worst, the team needs to get to the cap floor, and as it stands, they only have SEVEN players signed to NHL contracts for next season. Beyond that, how much good would any player on a roster destined to threaten the 1973 Islanders, 1975 Capitols or 1993 Senators be going forward, marinating in such a disastrous losing atmosphere?
They need to keep Keller, Crouse and Gostisbehere. They might as well resign Kessel, if they can, because he can still at least put top-six points on the board. They might as well resign Dzingel if they can get him for a million again, because he can produce at least enough to justify that for bottom-six production. They have the cap space to overpay Travis Boyd, because SOMEone will offer him a heap of money. I’d make an offer to Vejmelka, because he hasn’t been *terrible* given the team in front of him, but there are a lot of decent journeymen goalies kicking around right now.
And yeah, absolutely trade Chychrun, because some dimwit GM really will give them the sun, moon and stars for him, and while he’s a good defenseman, he’s no preeminent star.
Then relocate. Quebec?
They might as well move