If it was 2013, the Coyotes would have a bad club.
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In the ridiculous circus of collective agreement shenanigans to juggle the salary cap, the Coyotes still find themselves with contracts for finished players. The Coyotes have been raising their hands for several years to obtain these contracts in order to respect the salary floor.
And this year, it’s even more amazing.
It’s a formidable team from 10 years ago.
The defense would be led by Shea Weber, who had just been selected twice for the Norris Trophy with Nashville in 2013.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who the Coyotes are still paying, would go on to score 44 points in 2013 in his second full NHL season. At 31, the latter is only a shadow of himself in Vancouver.
Offensively, the Coyotes are paying Bryan Little another $5.2 million this year and next. 10 years ago, Little would make 64 points and become, along with Blake Wheeler, one of the important faces of the Jets’ return to Winnipeg. Injured in one ear, he has not played a single match since 2019.
Photo d’archives, AFP
Bryan Little
The Coyotes are also betting on good old Andrew Ladd. Ten years ago, he had 46 points in 48 games in the shortened season with the Jets. The Coyotes are paying him $5.5 million this year, but he hasn’t played due to a knee injury. He had 12 points in 51 games last year and had shuttled between the Islanders and the American League for the previous four years. It pays well for this performance.
Today, Jakub Voracek joins the team, at $8.2 million for this season and next. He has played 11 games this season at Columbus. He has been suffering from a severe concussion since November, and his return to the game is not yet planned. Ten years ago, Voracek was poised to score 81 points the following season.
Photo d’archives, AFP
Jakub Voracek
And finally, even if he plays with the New York Rangers, it should be noted that the Coyotes are now paying Patrick Kane. 10 years ago, the player would soon reach his peak, with his first seasons of a point per game. The Coyotes pay him $2.6 million.
In short, it would make a bad club all that, in 2013. The rules of the NHL to frame the salary cap can really give an embarrassing spectacle.
*Source CapFriendly
