5 offseason moves the Coyotes need to execute
By Nick McAdam
![GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 22: Oliver Ekman-Larsson #23 of the Arizona Coyotes skates with the puck during the NHL game against the New York Islanders at Gila River Arena on January 22, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Islanders 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 22: Oliver Ekman-Larsson #23 of the Arizona Coyotes skates with the puck during the NHL game against the New York Islanders at Gila River Arena on January 22, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Islanders 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/3934f2c6e692ab5ec2b54011b29f11061cfdc499da38e9d13d4bb0a183146c0f.jpg)
1. Add more to center
This is going to be difficult to do, but Arizona will at least have to give it a glimpse. Derek Stepan and Dylan Strome are locks for the position at the moment, but something says there needs to be more talent there to supplement the scoring wingers.
Laurent Dauphin would be a great option on a lower line, but this revolves more around the top end of the group. Whether the Coyotes try to go big in free agency, or try to produce a trade, something more than Stepan and Strome as the top centers needs to happen.
The prospect pool for centers within the Coyotes’ organization is rather bleak, and chances are that they don’t make much of a weak center class in this year’s draft.
Center is probably one of the dullest positions in the team right now. Chayka could try to counteract this by adding more lower depth to center and keeping Stepan and Strome at the top, but that might only last for a year or two.
Arizona needs a franchise center, and a clear one at that. There can’t be any confusion at this position with long-term projects. Arizona needs to identify who the ideal top center is, and how they are going to get it.
It might not happen this summer, but at the very least, the Coyotes can try to start a plan of locking a player down in the near future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1hNof7pMbE
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