Arizona Coyotes trade goaltender Mike Smith to Calgary Flames
Jun 17, 2017, 11:06 AM | Updated: 12:22 pm
Arizona Coyotes' Mike Smith, left, makes a save on a shot from Minnesota Wild's Zach Parise (11) as Coyotes' Connor Murphy (5) looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 8, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Arizona Coyotes have traded veteran goaltender Mike Smith to the Calgary Flames.
Multiple reports indicated Saturday that Smith will head to the Flames before the teams confirmed the deal via Twitter. Per Arizona Sports’ own Craig Morgan, the Coyotes will receive a conditional draft pick, Boston University defenseman Brandon Hickey and goaltender Chad Johnson, who played for Arizona once before.
Coyotes get a 3rd round pick that becomes a 2nd if Flames make the playoffs, Brandon Hickey and rights to Chad Johnson.
— Craig Morgan (@craigsmorgan) June 17, 2017
Smith has been with the Coyotes franchise since 2011 and is coming off his age-34 season, in which the 11-year NHL veteran posted a .914 save percentage and a 2.92 goals against average. He played for the Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning before arriving in the desert.
“On behalf of the entire organization, I’d like to thank Mike for everything he’s done for our franchise on and off the ice the past six seasons,” Arizona general manager John Chayka said in a team statement. “He’s the consummate professional and we wish him all the best in the future.”
Hickey was named team captain for the 2017-18 season at Boston University after putting up 15 points and a plus-7 rating in his junior season last year. He was selected in the third round (64th overall) by the Flames in the 2014 NHL Draft.
Johnson, meanwhile, played four games for the Coyotes in the 2012-13 season. He’s spent parts of seven seasons in the NHL with the Rangers, Coyotes, Bruins, Islanders, Sabres and Flames. In 137 career games, he holds a .911 save percentage.
Smith’s departure to Calgary marks the second trade in as many days for the Coyotes, who acquired center Nick Cousins and goaltender Merrick Madsen on Friday night. Both deals come in before the noon “roster freeze” that starts Saturday ahead of next week’s NHL expansion draft.
Chayka is left with last year’s backup to Smith, Louis Domingue, as well as goaltending prospects like Marek Langhamer, Adin Hill, Justin Peters and the aforementioned Madsen.
Domingue has had ample playing time as a backup, playing 70 games total over the past two seasons. In that stretch, the 25-year-old has put up a .910 save percentage with two shutouts.
Still, Morgan reported that the Coyotes could be looking externally to find a starting goaltender.
The Coyotes may not be done on the goalie front; still working on finding a starter.
— Craig Morgan (@craigsmorgan) June 17, 2017
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