Fansided

One free agent every NHL team should sign this offseason

By C.L. Kohuss

NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 18: Patrick Maroon #17 of the New Jersey Devils heads out to play against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center on April 18, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 18: Patrick Maroon #17 of the New Jersey Devils heads out to play against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center on April 18, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 29: John Carlson #74 of the Washington Capitals skates with the puck in the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 29, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 29: John Carlson #74 of the Washington Capitals skates with the puck in the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 29, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Arizona Coyotes: John Carlson, Defenseman

The Arizona Coyotes are in a much different spot financially than the Ducks. Really, Arizona could sign anyone it wants to. With an estimated $28 million in cap space, the Yotes shouldn’t worry too much about a star like Carlson commanding $8 million to $10 million a season. That’s doable. They have to pay former first rounder Max Domi, as he’s a restricted free agent, but he isn’t going to take up a large chunk of salary.

Domi had a solid year, though it wasn’t great as he only netted nine goals. His 45 points still make him part of a young group that looks to rebuild and find the postseason in 2019. That’s the other aspect of this in that Arizona is a solid mess right now. Good luck trying to lure the best available players to a club that continuously drowns in home attendance and can’t seem to make the playoffs pretty much ever.

But let’s look beyond that. Paired with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, defenseman John Carlson would immediately gives this team a bomb on the blue line. Not only will it help a defense that surrendered over three goals a game, but the scoring punch alone (Carlson had 68 points this season) would start to push this team up the standings. Couple that with the fact that Arizona has pick number five in the draft and will probably find themselves another talented forward (possibly Brady Tkachuk?). It’s time to look at the d-corps. Of course, the Coyotes could always go defenseman first round. But why not go for a proven commodity while making your forward lines better through the draft?

While it’s a stretch that Carlson actually heads to a team in as dire straights as Arizona, the Coyotes should make the offer if they are serious about improving every area of their game.

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