Trade Grades: Sean Durzi To Arizona
Sean Durzi has been sent packing to the desert, but who won the trade? Was Durzi really expendable to the point where it was worth dealing him for a second round pick? Let’s hand out those trade grades! Make sure to comment on whether you agree or disagree.
Coyotes Acquire Sean Durzi
I love this deal for Arizona. Durzi, 24, has one year left on his contract carrying an AAV of $1.7 million. The Yotes also controls Durzi’s rights through the 2025-26 campaign. To acquire someone like this for a second round pick should be considered a win.
This team has to improve or they’re going to lose their team. Those are the stakes Arizona is faced with right now. They have to generate some semblance of fan interest this year. The Coyotes have so many picks that they almost have to deal some off. They literally have so many picks they can’t even use all of them or else they won’t have spots to play them in the minors. Arizona still has three 2024 second round picks even after giving on up in this deal.
Sean Durzi, traded to ARI, is a youngish offensive defenceman and powerplay specialist. Played 2nd pair minutes this year, didn't go as well. #Yotes pic.twitter.com/ksCievc0Sn
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 24, 2023
Durzi is now the highest paid defenseman on the team (which is just hilarious) and immediately takes over the top powerplay spot. Durzi racked up nine goals and 29 assists in 72 games for the Kings a season ago. That was while being deployed in the secondary powerplay role. He’s a really good puck mover and should thrive leading the Arizona unit this upcoming year. The offensive part of Durzi’s game is all there and may explode with an even bigger role.
Grade: A
Kings Acquire 2024 Montreal Second Round Pick
I don’t really understand what the Kings are doing. This is now the second right-shot defenseman the Kings have given up this offseason. I understand that they were super deep in this area but I don’t quite get it. Aren’t the Kings trying to win? Was Durzi’s cheap cap hit really that punitive towards building the next winner? Wasn’t the whole point of the Walker trade to get Durzi back to playing on his correct side?
The Kings now have two holes on their blue-line that they will have to fill. There are some candidates in the farm system to take over but it’s still a risk for a team in win now mode. The Canadiens should also be improved by this time next year so that second round pick probably won’t be at the tippy top. It feels like an okay return but nailing second round picks is no guarantee and you already had a good young player that felt ready to take off.
Grade: C-
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