Details Of Arbitration Filing Of Coyotes & Jack McBain Revealed

The Arizona Coyotes' team is nearly set, but they have to first deal with arbitration for one forward, Jack McBain. The team comes in where McBain probably should be at $1.2 million AAV for two years while the depth forward files at $2.25 million for one year.

Arbitration filings for Arizona and JackMcBain — team: 2x$1.2M, player: one year at $2.25M.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 28, 2023

McBain completed his first full season in the NHL last season and played a role in the bottom-six, more so on the third line with the 13:59 of ice time per game he got. The Coyotes added a fair bit of talent that will slot in above McBain this season, so they are less so judging his contract on what he did do and more on where he will play this season. He was a solid contributor, scoring 12 goals and 26 points while delivering over 300 hits in 82 games, but those numbers might fall in a fourth line role.

He projects to be the fourth line center this season for the Coyotes and while he does bring an element of physicality, can kill penalties, and the team has cap space, he isn't worth what he's asking. Since the team and player are over $1 million apart, he will likely be rewarded with a contract around a one-year, $1.75 million AAV.

It will be tough for McBain to move up now that the center depth includes Barrett Hayton, Logan Cooley, Travis Boyd, and Nick Bjugstad.