Arizona Coyotes make several moves before NHL trade deadline

Desert Dogs send goalie Scott Wedgewood to Dallas Stars

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James Mackey

The Arizona Coyotes traded goaltender Scott Wedgewood to Dallas on Sunday

James Mackey, Reporter

After months of trade rumors and speculation circling the NHL, the trade deadline has come and gone.  Many teams have made the moves they see as necessary to make a push towards the playoffs, and perhaps a Stanley Cup run.

The Coyotes kicked off their moves following Sunday’s 4-2 loss to San Jose, by sending goalie Scott Wedgewood to the Dallas Stars in return for a conditional fourth round pick in the 2023 NHL draft, that could become a third round pick if the Stars make the playoffs.

Wedgewood leaves the Coyotes after being claimed off waivers by the club in November when Carter Hutton went down with an injury. Wedgewood holds a .911 save percentage, with a 3.16 goals against average, across a 10-12-2 record in 26 games.

That same day, Arizona also announced the acquisition of the rights to forward Jack McBain, a senior at Boston College, from the Minnesota Wild for a 2022 second round pick the Coyotes acquired from Vancouver ahead of last year’s draft.

McBain was signed to an entry-level contract on Monday and is currently rehabbing an ankle injury. The Coyotes are reportedly hoping  to get him some ice time with the club this season.

Monday’s action for the team kicked off with the announcement of a three-year contract extension for current goalie Karel Vejmelka. He has a 3.35 GAA, a .905 SV%, and a 10-23-1 record in 36 games this season.

The Coyotes remained active on the trade market Monday, by acquiring the rights to center Nathan Smith, a finalist for the Hobey Baker award, given to the top player in NCAA hockey,  and winger Bryan Little from the Winnipeg Jets in return for a 2022 fourth round draft pick.

The Coyotes claimed goaltender Harri Sateri from waivers, after Toronto released him to the wire.  Sateri has been in the KHL this season, and has recorded a .926 SV%, a 2.02 GAA, as well as a 14-16-5 record in 38 games this season.

The Coyotes made two final trades to close out the deadline by sending F Riley Nash to the Tampa Bay Lightning for future considerations. Nash was acquired by the Coyotes off waivers on January 6.

Johan Larsson was also traded on Monday. The deal included sending Larsson to the Washington Capitals for a third round pick in the 2023 NHL draft.