Coyotes Rumors: Arizona Receiving Trade Offers on Kerfoot & Bjugstad

The Arizona Coyotes will once again be in sell mode as they look to drafting and developing their way to a future Stanley Cup Playoff berth. While there's so much uncertainty surrounding the future of the franchise in Arizona, GM Bill Armstrong is looking to make some deals for draft picks and do what they can with what they're given.

While the 'Yotes have a number of pending free agents drawing interest from other teams including defenseman Matt Dumba, it sounds like trade talks are heating up on some players with term left on their deals including Alexander Kerfoot and Nick Bjugstad. Elliotte Friedman via 32 Thoughts had this to say recently on the Coyotes trade deadline plans:

GM Bill Armstrong collects draft picks like Thanos collects Infinity Stones. They have 25 the next two years, with 78 spots taken on their 90-player reserve list. Again, a lot of focus on the UFAs, but watch Nick Bjugstad and Alexander Kerfoot. Teams crave centres, and particular credit is due Bjugstad, who re-invented himself after being a 2022 playoff scratch in Minnesota. I thought about Matt Dumba and Toronto, since the Maple Leafs gave him a look before committing to John Klingberg, but there was pushback on that idea. Dumba likes big stages, though. There’s at least one team that took a run at Nick Schmaltz last year. Who knows how the arena situation will play out, but the Coyotes need to be aware of who might be unhappy with the uncertainty, and how that affects what to do.

Kerfoot is in his first season in the desert and has recorded 10 goals and 35 points in 61 games. He signed a two-year $7 million deal with the Coyotes last summer and owns a 10-team modified no-trade clause.

Bjugstad comes in much cheaper at $2.1 million through next season and does not own any trade protection. The 6-foot-6 versatile forward has scored 13 times and has 31 points through his first 61 games this season. Both players have some playoff experience and versatility to play all over the lineup which should help the Coyotes chances of cashing in on both forwards.