{"id":131459,"date":"2022-08-15T10:10:51","date_gmt":"2022-08-15T14:10:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=131459"},"modified":"2022-08-15T10:06:14","modified_gmt":"2022-08-15T14:06:14","slug":"arizona-coyotes-best-and-worst-free-agent-signings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2022\/08\/15\/arizona-coyotes-best-and-worst-free-agent-signings\/","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Coyotes Best and Worst Free Agent Signings"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to Last Word on Hockey\u2019s 2022 summer series, exploring the best and worst free agent signings for each NHL team of the post-lockout, salary cap era. With this past offseason seeing some big splashes (and potential gambles) like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/g\/gaudrjo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Johnny Gaudreau<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/g\/giroucl01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Claude Giroux<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/k\/klingjo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">John Klingberg<\/a>, and others, it\u2019s time to take a look at how teams have boosted and stunted their progress in recent history. Today, we take a look at the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/category\/coyotes\/\" target=\"_self\">Arizona Coyotes<\/a> free agents history.<\/p>\n<h2>Arizona Coyotes Free Agent Hits and Misses<\/h2>\n<h3>Best Signing: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/smithmi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mike Smith<\/a><\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Coyotes Sign Goalie <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/smithmi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mike Smith<\/a> http:\/\/bit.ly\/iHQPS1<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ArizonaCoyotes\/status\/86859953276592128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 1, 2011<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>In early June 2011, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/malondo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Don Maloney<\/a>, Arizona Coyotes general manager at the time traded RFA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/b\/bryzgil01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ilya Bryzgalov<\/a>\u2019s rights to the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/category\/flyers\/\" target=\"_self\">Philadelphia Flyers<\/a>. In doing so Maloney and the Coyotes knew they would be shopping for a new starting netminder over the off-season. On July 1st, the opening day of Free Agency, Arizona signed goaltender Mike Smith to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/nhl\/edmonton-oilers\/mike-smith-2121\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">two-year, $4 million dollar deal.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The contract turned out to be of great value, as Smith would post career highs in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quanthockey.com\/hockey-stats\/en\/profile.php?player=5532\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Games Played (67), Wins (38), Shutouts (8), Goals-Against Average (2.21)<\/a>, and Save Percentage (.930). The Coyotes made it to the Western Conference Finals that season, falling to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/category\/kings\/\" target=\"_self\">Los Angeles Kings<\/a>. Smith shined in playoffs, also posting career-high playoff numbers with nine wins, three SO, a GAA of 1.99 and SV% of .944.<\/p>\n<p>The Yotes\u2019 gambled big on signing an unproven Mike Smith and indeed it paid huge dividends. Surely, this has to go down as the best Arizona Coyotes free agent signings to date.<br \/>\n<a id=\"O5ICNtmuTYB0NlKk7eC4CQ\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/629991218\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'O5ICNtmuTYB0NlKk7eC4CQ',sig:'UscnBe3Vks5ql4w9pdjBgBwylyPIWLDqOeYmmT4g0G8=',w:'594px',h:'414px',items:'629991218',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Best Signing Honourable Mention: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/w\/whitnra01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ray Whitney<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>In 2010, Arizona landed one of the most underrated players in league history. Long-time veteran, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/w\/whitnra01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ray Whitney<\/a>, inked a <a href=\"https:\/\/nhl.nbcsports.com\/2010\/07\/01\/2010-nhl-free-agency-ray-whitney-signs-two-year-contract-with-phoenix-coyotes\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">two-year deal worth $6 million dollars<\/a>. The contract carried a cap hit of three million per season. Whitney previously won a Stanley Cup championship with the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/category\/hurricanes\/\" target=\"_self\">Carolina Hurricanes<\/a>. He also brought with him years of consistent offensive production though he was not the quintessential household name.<\/p>\n<p>Whitney, or \u201c the Wizard\u201d would go on to put up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quanthockey.com\/hockey-stats\/en\/profile.php?player=6277\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">134 points while suiting up for 155 games<\/a> over the course of his two-year deal.<\/p>\n<p>The Wizard provided excellent veteran leadership to the Coyotes, helping them clinch playoff berths in both seasons. At the culmination of his contract with Arizona, Whitney would go on to sign a lucrative <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhl.com\/stars\/news\/dallas-stars-sign-forward-ray-whitney-to-two-year-contract\/c-636707\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">two-year $9 million contract<\/a>\u00a0with the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/category\/stars\/\" target=\"_self\">Dallas Stars<\/a>. Despite his short stint in the desert, Whitney is one of the best Arizona Coyotes free agent signings of all time.<\/p>\n<h3>Worst Signing: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/r\/ribeimi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mike Ribeiro<\/a><\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Coyotes sign <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/r\/ribeimi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mike Ribeiro<\/a> to 4-year, $22M deal. <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/kt4C13iVnA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/t.co\/kt4C13iVnA<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 theScore (@theScore) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/theScore\/status\/353192778139836416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 5, 2013<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Without a doubt, Mike Ribeiro has to go down as the Coyotes\u2019 worst Free Agent signing in the salary cap era. Arizona brought Ribeiro in on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.capfriendly.com\/players\/mike-ribeiro\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">4 year, $22 Million dollar deal.<\/a> Carrying a steep cap hit of $5.5 Million per year, Ribeiro did not perform to expectations.<\/p>\n<p>The Coyotes thought they had signed a bonafide top-line center, but sadly they were mistaken. Ribeiro had put up impressive numbers with the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/category\/capitals\/\" target=\"_self\">Washington Capitals<\/a> the prior season. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/t\/tippeda01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dave Tippett<\/a> was the head coach of Arizona at the time, he previously coached Ribeiro with the Dallas Stars, giving false optimism of the reunion.<\/p>\n<p>Coming into the Arizona organization with lofty expectations, Ribeiro never lived up to the bill. He put up only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quanthockey.com\/hockey-stats\/en\/profile.php?player=4955\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">47 points in 80 games played<\/a> with Arizona, compared to 49 points in only 48 games played with the Caps the season prior.<\/p>\n<p>Arizona cited <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/arizona-coyotes-use-buyout-on-mike-ribeiro\/?sn-amp\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u201cbehavioural issues\u201d<\/a> and opted to buy out the remainder of Ribeiro\u2019s contract at the end of the season.<br \/>\n<a id=\"efIF4dx4SsB3jvl75Mfi9Q\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/484363421\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'efIF4dx4SsB3jvl75Mfi9Q',sig:'ZyDhIj-k7rSXwmb8UeWlZIqgVOi6Wm6BGJZftCBwMps=',w:'594px',h:'395px',items:'484363421',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Worst Signing Honourable Mention: <span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/g\/grabnmi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Michael Grabner<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Arizona signed Michael Grabner to a 3 year,$10.05 Million dollar contract with an annual cap hit of $3.35 Million. He scored 27 goals in the two previous seasons before coming to Arizona.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately for both, Grabner and the Coyotes, his production would tail off following an eye injury. Grabner was bought out of the final year of his contract. In his two seasons in the desert, he only posted 27 points in 87 games played.<\/p>\n<p>MAIN PHOTO:<br \/>\n<a id=\"Hwlft13pTi5KCibpWuT3WQ\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/143025530\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'Hwlft13pTi5KCibpWuT3WQ',sig:'HlXUztv89gFxMLye-wkp0XsxJ8chF_xtRgZD4uTsn_o=',w:'594px',h:'414px',items:'143025530',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to Last Word on Hockey\u2019s 2022 summer series, exploring the best and worst free agent signings for each NHL team of the post-lockout, salary cap era. With this past offseason seeing some big splashes (and potential gambles) like Johnny Gaudreau, Claude Giroux, John Klingberg, and others, it\u2019s time to take a look at how [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4284,"featured_media":131511,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[21,4547,4548,2143],"tags":[5936,1159,1250,1781,3516],"class_list":["post-131459","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mammoth","category-hockey","category-nhl","category-nhl-all-time-best","tag-arizona-coyotes-analysis","tag-michael-grabner","tag-mike-ribeiro","tag-mike-smith","tag-ray-whitney"],"modified_by":"Connor Lapalme","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131459","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4284"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=131459"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131459\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/131511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=131459"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=131459"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=131459"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}