Filling No. 1 center void could be tough for Arizona Coyotes

The title has transferred ownership over the years, moving from Jeremy Roenick to Daymond Langkow and on to Mike Ribeiro – for just a season – and then Antoine Vermette.

Martin Hanzal was the latest to hold the distinction as the Coyotes’ No. 1 center, sitting at the top of the team’s depth chart until he was included in a trade with the Wild before the deadline last month that fetched a collection of draft picks and a minor-leaguer.

Addressing Hanzal’s absence looms as one of the organization’s most intriguing decisions of the offseason and while they have opportunities with the draft, trade market and free-agent pool in addition to looking internally, the Coyotes may very well discover few options exist to solidify the position.

“You look at it right now,” coach Dave Tippett said, “(and) you’d have to say it’s a work in progress.”

No generational talents in draft

Many of the top prospects in the 2017 draft class are centers with Nolan Patrick headlining the group as the projected No. 1 pick.

“He’s an exceptionally smart player,” said Craig Button, TSN’s Director of Scouting and a former general manager of the Calgary Flames. “He can skate. He can make plays. He can shoot the puck.”

Nico Hischier is the second-best player in the draft, in Button’s eyes, and reminds Button of Detroit’s Henrik Zetterberg. Gabriel Vilardi seems to always be around the puck and while he isn’t the most fluid skater, Button said, he can create scoring chances.

Elias Pettersson has strong pucks skills, Cody Glass makes plays and Michael Rasmussen is a goal scorer.

While it’s possible one or two of those centers play in the NHL next season, Button said, none are talents like Toronto’s Auston Matthews and Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, and they aren’t expected to make an impact in their debuts like those two have.

“I don’t see anyone close to that,” Button said.

Limited trade options

Without any immediate difference makers in the draft, and since they’re holding a pair of first-rounders after acquiring Minnesota’s in the Hanzal trade, trading a pick may be a decision the Coyotes consider.

Currently, they’re positioned to have the second-best odds of winning the draft lottery and if that order prevails, they would land the No. 2 pick – a selection that may interest other teams looking to make a swap.

“There might be an option to use that second pick to trade it for an outright player, a more mature center in terms of teams that are up against the salary cap or a situation like that,” Button said.

The Avalanche’s Matt Duchene has been speculated as trade bait. His production has dipped this season, but the 26-year-old still has loads of potential and is only one season removed from scoring 30 goals. Through his first seven full seasons, he’s buried at least 20 five times.

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One pro scout mentioned the Oilers’ Ryan Nugent-Hopkins as another possible trade target, and it makes sense why with Edmonton maybe needing to move out a forward to re-sign McDavid. Nugent-Hopkins, the No. 1 pick from 2011, has scored more than 20 only once in his career, but has playmaking ability and a two-way awareness.

Other players not appearing to be on the trade block may emerge as movable pieces with high picks or prized prospects the potential asking price. Still, these transaction are rare with only a handful of the NHL’s current top point-producing middle men – like Dallas’ Tyler Seguin, Nashville’s Ryan Johansen and Anaheim’s Ryan Kesler – having been traded.

“People lock them up, and they don’t want to give them up,” the scout said.

Shallow free-agent pool

Dipping into free agency is another possibility, and the most appealing center is a familiar name with Hanzal situated as the top target even though his offensive totals aren’t reflective of a No. 1, despite satisfying that role for the Coyotes.

With the Wild, he’s a No. 3 and that or a No. 2 spot is probably where he’d slot on a contending team. But his size, faceoff prowess and matchup style are no doubt coveted skills.

“I just don’t see there being more out there past him,” the scout said. “There’s certainly nobody that’s going to change the dynamics of your team out there.”

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A few other high-profile centers are on the brink of unrestricted free agency – like the Sharks’ Joe Thornton and Predators captain Mike Fisher – but it seems likely they’d re-up with their current teams.

Brian Boyle, who was flipped from the Lightning to the Maple Leafs before the trade deadline, is poised to hit the market; the 32-year-old has scored 20 goals just once in his career and hasn’t racked up more than 25 points since 2011-12. The Penguins’ Nick Bonino is also on an expiring contract but is three seasons removed from his best production (22 goals and 49 points).

Other pending free agents include former Coyotes Sam Gagner and Daniel Winnik and the Oilers’ David Desharnais.

“There’s just not a lot out there for centermen,” the scout said.

Pipeline has depth candidates

Arizona does have prospects in the pipeline who may be ready for NHL duty, but expecting No. 1 center contributions is likely a stretch at this point.

Dylan Strome lasted just seven games this season before getting returned to junior and although he’s dominated the Ontario Hockey League upon his return, translating that skill to the pro ranks clearly isn’t always easy.

Clayton Keller was drafted as a center, but Tippett envisions him more as a winger. In the minors, Ryan MacInnis continues to grow his game and Tyler Gaudet has limited NHL experience. Laurent Dauphin is close to being an NHL regular, Tippett said, but he plays a depth role.

Christian Dvorak has made strong strides this season. Brad Richardson is also under contract, and Jordan Martinook (a pending restricted free agent) has shown he can slide over from wing.

But none appear legit candidates to fill the void left by Hanzal nor do they seem ready to rank as a consensus No. 1 in the league.

Timing, asset value and alternatives were identified as factors in the Hanzal trade with the Wild by General Manager John Chayka, who said, “At this point in time, it was better for the future of the organization to get some picks, look to kind of continue to grow that.”

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Asked if the price to keep Hanzal was a reason why the team didn’t retain him, Chayka said, “It’s all part of the puzzle,” before explaining, “That’s not to say it was unrealistic or unfair. He’s a 6-foot-6 center. That’s a rare commodity.”

Chayka gave a similar response when asked if Hanzal’s injury history played a role, saying, “It’s all a part of it.” And in regards to what Hanzal’s analytics might have suggested, Chayka said, “He’s a great player. That’s not the debate whatsoever.”

Who the Coyotes find to permanently take Hanzal’s spot remains to be seen, and it certainly looks like it could be a challenge to acquire somebody who fits the bill as a viable No. 1 for next season judging by the possibilities available to the team.

But securing that player is a necessary step to completing the team’s rebuild and emerging as a Stanley Cup contender.

“That has to get done,” Tippett said. “That’s something that has to be in place.”

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602-444-8276. Follow her at twitter.com/azc_mclellan.

Monday’s game

Avalanche at Coyotes

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Gila River Arena.

TV/radio: Fox Sports Arizona/KMVP-FM (98.7).

Avalanche update: The Avalanche are coming off a 4-2 loss to the Senators Saturday at home. Before then, Colorado had won two straight to snap a four-game losing skid. With just 19 wins, the Avalanche sit in last place in the NHL and trail the Coyotes by 15 points for 29th. Center Nathan MacKinnon leads the team in points with 44, while center Matt Duchene has a team-best 16 goals. MacKinnon had scored in consecutive games before going pointless against the Senators. With Semyon Varlamov undergoing season-ending surgery to fix a nagging groin issue, Calvin Pickard (12-22-2 with a .908 save percentage and 2.92 goals-against average) has taken the bulk of the starts.