Report: Coyotes have ‘serious interest’ in Rangers center Derek Stepan

The Arizona Coyotes have added strength down the middle in the draft and now they are looking to do it in the trade market as well, according to one report.

ARI, BTW, is one of multiple teams with serious interest in NYR C Derek Stepan.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 17, 2017

The 26-year-old Stepan signed a six-year, $39 million extension in the summer of 2015. Stepan has had at least 50 points in the last four seasons, notching up 17 goals and 38 assists last season for the New York Rangers.

Arizona traded their first-line center Martin Hanzal to the Minnesota Wild in February. Beyond Hanzal, the only two players to take at least 1,000 faceoffs for the team were Jordan Martinook and Christian Dvorak.

As Arizona Sports’ Craig Morgan wrote in April, it’s a position the team needs to upgrade. While Dvorak progressed nicely in his rookie year, Brad Richardson missed most of the season with a leg injury and how good 2015’s No. 3 overall pick Dylan Strome can be is still an unknown.

Morgan speculated a few names that the Coyotes could possibly attempt to acquire, including Stepan, Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux and Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar.

A deal for Stepan could get complicated, however, as McKenzie noted earlier in the week.

Worth noting, Stepan has full NTC (for next two seasons) that kicks in on July 1. No NTC until then. Final 2 yrs of deal is modified NTC.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 14, 2017

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