As the signings continue to roll in on free-agent frenzy, the Arizona Coyotes dipped their toes into the trade pool, acquiring defenseman Patrik Nemeth from New York Rangers along with a 2025 second-round pick and a 2024 conditional pick in exchange for Ty Emberson.
Nemeth is a serviceable depth defender, scoring just seven points in 63 games with the Rangers last season while logging over 16 minutes per night in ice time. With two years remaining on his contract at a $2.5 million cap hit, Nemeth was making far more than his role required, leading the Rangers to include two draft pick sweeteners in order to offload him onto the Coyotes without retaining any salary.
For the Coyotes, Nemeth gives them a living, breathing body to play for them next season as they gear up for what should be a difficult campaign in the desert. With the Coyotes expected to continue selling off premium assets, Nemeth can at least provide veteran presence and add some experience to a locker room that is getting younger by the day.
As for Emberson, the 22-year-old defender is a decent little prospect to add to the mix in New York, spending all of last season in the AHL with the Tuscon Roadrunners and finishing with four goals and 11 points in 58 games.
It’s not a massive trade by any means. But after the Rangers gave Vincent Trochek a seven-year deal worth over $5 million annually earlier in the day, cap space was at a premium and they just cleared a ton of it.
