Arizona Coyotes’ Antoine Vermette could be on the trading block
Dec 19, 2014, 8:37 PM | Updated: 8:37 pm
It is all too common in the hockey world to define teams as “buyers” or “sellers” based on where they sit in the standings around the New Year. Contenders and pretenders are weeded out and the latter supplies the former with NHL-caliber talent in exchange for young players and/or draft picks.
A quick glance at the standings reveals the Arizona Coyotes (11-16-4) as one of those sellers, as they sit near the bottom of the NHL standings through 31 games. The likelihood of making the postseason at this point is low and attention is reportedly turning to the future.
According to reports by ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun and TSN’s Bob McKenzie, Coyotes center Antoine Vermette is on the trading block.
Vermette is Arizona’s leading point scorer with eight goals and 21 points this season. The 32-year-old is also in the final season of his five-year, $18.75 million contract. He carries a $3.75 million cap hit, very reasonable for a player of his caliber.
According to LeBrun, the Coyotes are seeking a prospect and a roster player in return for Vermette.
Vermette is a versatile two-way center who is one of the better faceoff takers in the NHL, owing a career winning percentage of 55.8. He plays on both the power play and penalty kill and produces more than enough offense to play in any team’s top nine.
The Quebec native has 783 NHL games under his belt, scoring 189 goals and 227 assists.
Arizona acquired the center from the Columbus Blue Jackets in February 2012, in exchange for goaltender Curtis McElhinney and two draft picks.
Vermette has 48 goals and 97 points in 183 games with the Coyotes.
