Why The Phoenix Coyotes Should Not Trade Keith Yandle
I, and many others, have written articles over the last month regarding which team is rumored to or which players should be traded to acquire Keith Yandle from the Phoenix Coyotes. I wrote two articles (here and here) last week on who I would accept in a trade for Yandle if I was in the shoes of Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney. I realized as I analyzed rumored trades and trade partners, that I was saying “no” far more often than I was saying “yes.” I pondered potential trades for another week and have come to the conclusion that the Coyotes should not trade Yandle.
Obviously, if Maloney was offered Steven Stamkos for Yandle you do the deal, but I do not like any of the deals that have been floating about the internet recently. There have been so called “insiders” (occasionally with more than one “r”) that have suggested that the Red Wings are the favorites to land Yandle. Others have written about how badly Philadelphia needs Yandle. Teams such as St. Louis, Boston and San Jose were also thrown into the Yandle sweepstakes. One thing is clear to me; none of those teams have offered enough for Yandle. Remember, Yandle is a 25 year old defenseman that has played every game over the last three seasons averaging 11 goals, 36 assists and a +11 rating. Yandle is the Coyotes alternate captain and the favorite to be the new Captain Coyote if Shane Doan signs elsewhere. Yandle is also the power play quarterback for the Yotes averaging 18 power play points per season over the last three years.
Yandle is durable, energetic, a leader and a two-time all-star. Yandle should only be traded if a team blows Maloney away. David Krejci is not enough, Valtteri Filppula is not enough; neither is Matt Read or Chris Stewart. The Coyotes are better with Yandle than they are with any of those players listed above.
Yandle should remain a Phoenix Coyote. Defense wins championships and ours may just be number one.
Buy Phoenix Coyotes Tickets | Buy Phoenix Coyotes ApparelLeave a Rant
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!
