Coyotes Change Directions on Darcy Kuemper Trade

According to Elliotte Friedman, with the vast number of goaltenders now available on the market, there’s talk that the Arizona Coyotes have reexamined the marketplace for goaltender Darcy Kuemper and potentially shifted gears. He may no longer be someone the Coyotes are actively trying to move.

Related: Five Teams Interested In Coyotes G Darcy Kuemper

As days pass, more and more viable netminders become available and during his latest 31 Thoughts article, Friedman noted, “The sheer volume of free-agent goalies is affecting the trade market at the position.” He added that teams are beginning to think it’s not worth giving up an asset when they can simply sign someone. He cites the Pittsburgh Penguins as an example as they’re having a hard time moving Matt Murray. As such, Friedman adds:

it’s not a total surprise that word seeped out Arizona’s preference is to keep Darcy Kuemper. I wouldn’t put that in stone because anything can happen, but the winds are blowing in a different direction.

The end result could be the Coyotes shifting focus and trying to move Raanta in a trade realizing the return is marginal at best.

Why Raanta Over Kuemper?

Part of the reason the Coyotes were apparently trying to move Kuemper was to free up cap space and get a good return off a goalie who was hot during the 2020 NHL playoffs. But, if the return isn’t there, Arizona can move similar cap space by instead trading Antti Raanta, who makes only $250K less per season.

If that return isn’t there now because opposing GMs figure they can simply grab a quality goaltender in free agency, there’s no reason to give up a goalie [Kuemper] who played so well.

Who knows? Maybe the fact that the Coyotes have let it slip that they’re not keen to move Kuemper if a first-round pick isn’t part of any package coming the other way might get other GMs to step up their game if they figure Kuemper is, in fact, the goalie they want.

Next: Oilers Working Out Options on Three Potential Trade Targets