Arizona Coyotes preparing for upheaval at upcoming NHL trade deadline

There was a bittersweet feeling in the air when Shayne Gostisbehere spoke.  

Just after scoring his 10th goal and 30 point of the season in Sunday’s 6-2 loss to the Nashville Predators, he knew that his days with the team could be numbered. 

“It’s definitely a stressful situation for my family and me,” Gostisbehere said. “You pretty much know your life is going to change in the next five days or so. The hardest part is the unknown, not knowing where you’re going to go. We love it here, so it’s just part of the game.” 

Gostisbehere will become an unrestricted free agent following this season and has revamped his career since joining the Coyotes before last season via trade. That combination makes him a potential target for the NHL trade deadline on Friday, March 3.  

“He’s part of our leadership. He’s in a tough spot right now with the trade deadline,” Coyotes head coach André Tourigny said. “We can feel it in our team right now. They’re professionals, they carry themselves the right way. Let’s get to Friday ASAP.” 

With the ongoing race for the league’s draft lottery and a chance to select a generational talent in Connor Bedard, there’s a great deal of pressure for the bottom six teams vying for the best odds. 

And with that race comes disruption for the team’s rosters. 

Throughout the season, several players have credited the team’s chemistry with aiding successful stretches.  

The 14 consecutive road games created a tight-knit group that has surpassed expectations in areas. Through 59 games, the Coyotes have 20 wins. Last season, the team finished with 25 wins and didn’t earn its 20 win until March 15. 

“It’s great because you hear guys don’t want to leave. It’s great because your guys love it here and they like each other and have a brotherhood,” Tourigny said. “It's hard when you know the reality of the business. It’s just part of it. It’s just the way it is. We don’t feel sorry for ourselves, but it doesn’t make it easy.” 

Besides Gostisbehere, the Coyotes have several potential trade targets, including Jakob Chychrun, who has been held out the last seven games due to trade-related reasons.  

Other names that have been mentioned include Nick Schmaltz, whose no trade clause on his seven-year contract kicks in next season. Schmaltz has been producing at a high level lately, scoring in six of his last eight games. Sunday’s goal marked his third straight contest with a goal.

On the ice, it will be a busy week with the team set to play three games through Friday’s deadline.

“We need to get through it. I think there’s something everybody needs to learn about every year because every team is going through it,” Tourigny said. “If your team is rebuilding like us, it’s a family thing in the sense that maybe you have kids in school, or you have a wife, or whatever. There’s a lot into it. You’re still a human being. You’re a hockey player second. It’s not an easy situation. We’re professionals, we need to live with it.”