Coyotes sign Jamie McGinn, add depth to NHL, AHL rosters
Jul 1, 2016, 3:51 PM
Anaheim Ducks left wing Jamie McGinn, front, moves the puck past Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie for a shot in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 9, 2016, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Coyotes’ biggest offseason plans never involved the free-agency period that opened on Friday. They acquired exclusive negotiating rights to highly-sought defenseman Alex Goligoski and signed him before free agency ever began.
They positioned themselves for trades with teams that were in cap purgatory or roster redundancy, and they will remain patient waiting for those opportunities to arise as the summer progresses.
“I don’t think you’re ever looking to build your team through free agency,” general manager John Chayka said. “I think you’re looking to acquire some players that can support your growth and hopefully get you to that next level.”
The Coyotes made a lot of moves on Friday — chief among them the acquisition of 27-year-old left wing Jamie McGinn, who set career-highs in goals (22) and points (39) between Buffalo and Anaheim last season. The other eight players the Coyotes signed, however, were about adding depth.
“We were able to acquire some players that fit the roles and the attributes that we set out to fit in those specific areas of our team,” Chayka said. “Depth was really what we were looking for today.”
McGinn, 27, spent last season with Buffalo and Anaheim, scoring 22 goals and posting 39 points — both career highs. He was originally drafted in the second round (36th overall) in 2006 by San Jose,and has 450 games of NHL experience (91 goals and 167 points). In his last three full seasons, McGinn has 61 goals.
McGinn visited the Coyotes on Wednesday with his girlfriend. When he arrived at Gila River Arena, the team had a big welcome sign waiting for him.
“It was a first-class visit,” he said. “I wanted to feel wanted and appreciated and they did that right from the start.”
Chayka describes McGinn as a physical presence who can get pucks to the net, set screens and create havoc in the crease once the Coyotes’ possession-driving players carry the puck into the offensive zone.
“We wanted to add some weight, some physicality to our lineup. He certainly brings that,” said Chayka, who sees McGinn playing with some of the Coyotes’ younger playmakers. “From an analytical perspective, he’s not exactly a possession driving player but he brings something to the table that we need and therefore he makes our entire group better as a result.”
McGinn had back surgery on Dec. 10, 2014, while he was with Colorado, limiting him to 19 games, and he had some back issues that plagued his pre-pro days, but a devoted regimen of core exercises has made him a durable NHL player. He played in 84 games last season between the Sabres and Ducks — two more than the regular season is long.
“There’s a certain routine that I do every day; I know how to deal with it,” he said. “It’s not something where I’m a 19-year-old and I can just hop on the ice and be ready to go. You have to make sure the body is warm and I take care of it.”
In addition to the McGinn signing, the Coyotes addressed depth needs on their NHL blue line when they re-signed left-handed shooters Kevin Connauton (two years, $2 million) and Klas Dahlbeck (one year, $750,000) after declining to tender both restricted free agents offers by the June 27 deadline.
Dahlbeck, 24, was acquired from Chicago at the 2015 trade deadline along with a first-round pick (forward Nick Merkley) for center Antoine Vermette, who subsequently returned to Arizona after winning a Stanley Cup. Dahlbeck skates well and defends well, but the Coyotes want to see improvement in his puck game. He had two goals and eight points in 71 games last season.
The Coyotes claimed Connauton, 26, off waivers from Columbus in January and he played in 38 games, recording four goals and nine points and showing the versatility to play in a variety of situations on Arizona’s short-handed and young blue line.
Connauton is comfortable on the right side, but he understands the Coyotes like a left-right split in their defensive pairings. He said he never really considered going elsewhere despite some anxious moments after the RFA tender deadline had passed.
“I had a pretty good feeling it would get done, but whenever you’re going through something like this it’s a little nerve-wracking,” he said. “At the end of the day, it was a pretty cool experience to go through it for the first time because when my entry-level deal expired with Dallas they offered me quickly after the season so I never went through a contract negotiation before.
“I feel like they gave me a great opportunity as soon as I got there and I want to continue to build off that opportunity. I’m a guy who can play in all situations and they used me in those situations throughout last season so it was a great experience.”
The Coyotes also made some other depth signings. They added versatile forward Ryan White, 28, on a one-year, one-way $1 million deal. He can play center and wing and could fill a role protecting leads late in games. In 248 NHL games between Montreal and Philadelphia, White has 22 goals and 45 points, but he had 11 goals and 16 points last season with Philadelphia.
They signed goaltender Justin Peters to a two-way ($600,000/$250,000, $300,000 guaranteed) deal with the idea of making him the starter for their AHL affiliate in Tucson next season, with top prospect Adin Hill serving as the backup.
Peters, 29, has appeared in 80 NHL games between Carolina and Washington and will give the Coyotes a third NHL option behind Mike Smith and Louis Domingue — insurance in the event they suffer injuries like those that sidelined Smith and then-backup Anders Lindback last season.
He was 17-8-7 with a 3.04 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage last season with Hershey of the AHL. Peters has an NHL record of 25-37-9 with a 3.08 goals-against average and .901 save percentage.
“Solid character, veteran goaltender with 10 years pro experience,” Coyotes goaltending (prospects) coach Corey Schwab said. “With 80 NHL games played, he brings valuable experience as an NHL backup, adding depth to our organization. Had a tremendous AHL playoff run this season with Hershey, getting to the Calder Cup Finals.”
The team also signed defensemen Jamie McBain, 28, Jarred Tinordi, 24, and forwards Garret Ross, 24, and Chris Mueller, 20, to one-year, two-way contracts and they will likely play in Tucson.
Despite the re-signing of Connauton, Dahlbeck, Tinordi and the addition of McBain, Chayka was blunt when asked if he felt the Coyotes NHL blue line was set for next season.
“I don’t think we’re set,” he said. “Everybody thought there would be more activity at the draft. There’s been a little bit of movement in that sense and now everyone will want to wait and see how the market shakes out.”
The Coyotes would still ideally like to acquire a right-handed, NHL defenseman for their top four. They have plenty of cap room to do so, even when/if they re-sign captain Shane Doan, whom there was little progress on Friday despite some last-minute talks.
“I’d say that’s where more of my focus has been and what I’m looking to do and prioritize as opposed to the free-agency market,” Chayka said of adding via trades. “We’ve been pretty active and will continue to be in hopes of making a move or two to continue to improve our team.”
