Florida Panthers forward Lawson Crouse (67) looks for a tip in attempt as Dallas Stars goaltender Jack Campbell (1) defends the net during the second period of an NHL preseason hockey game, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, in Sunrise, Fla.
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In a deal with the Panthers Thursday morning, the Coyotes acquired Dave Bolland and Lawson Crouse – the No. 11 overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft – in exchange for a 2017 third-round pick (the better of Arizona/Detroit) and a 2018 second rounder. If he does not, the pick becomes a third-round selection. Indeed, Crouse is a high upside prospect who will help build the future of the Arizona Coyotes. If Crouse doesn’t play in Arizona this season, the conditional pick will also be a third-rounder.
With Bolland, Datsyuk and Chris Pronger all on the team’s cap, the Coyotes are paying more than $17 million for just no-play contracts.
Bolland would have cost the Panthers $5.5 million per season and being able to dump that contract on Arizona frees up more salary cap space for Florida.
The 19-year-old is a bit of a polarizing prospect because his production rates have not matched his lofty draft position.
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According to General Fanager, this now leaves the Coyotes a little over $2 million under the cap ceiling. That might seem silly, but with a plethora of youngsters on entry level deals, now’s the time to take on salary for additional assets. He scored the Cup-clinching goal in Game 6 in Boston in 2013, but he has never fully recovered from a major ankle injury in his first season in Toronto (2013-14). It wouldn’t be surprising if he makes the Coyotes roster out of training camp. They added $36.6 million over that span, which includes Datsyuk’s and Bolland’s cap hits. The Bolland contract was panned when it was signed and has only proven to work out even worse for the Panthers.
