The Coyotes have bought out Zack Kassian and Patrick Nemeth as they are beginning the next phase of their rebuild. What comes next for both team and players?
Zack Kassian
The Zack Kassian buyout saves the Coyotes $1.53 million in cap space and $767,000 in actual dollars while having a dead cap hit of $1.67 million in 2023 and 767k in 2024, but the most important thing this does for the team is opening up the roster spot and a bottom six role. Jan Jenik and Nathan Smith are both going to push hard to make the team in that role, and as the team looks to start promoting and playing their prospects and young players, having that role open will be crucial for them to take that step. The team is looking to get younger and see what they have coming up; this accomplishes both.
As for Kassian, after a rough year where he struggled to get ice time on a poor Coyotes team, there may be a team that wants to add that grit and toughness in a 13th-forward-type role. Zack Kassian was originally traded to the Coyotes along with a 2025 second-round pick a 2024 third-round pick, and moving up three spots in the first round of the 2022 NHL draft for Future Considerations.
Patrick Nemeth
The Patrick Nemeth buyout will save the Coyotes $2.33 million in cap space and 1.167 million in actual cash while having a dead cap hit of 167k in 2023 and $1.17 million in 2024. Again though, the team is looking to get younger, promote their prospects and take some low-risk/high-reward gambles on the trade market/fa. This clears the way for Vladislav Kolyachanok to make the team or, at the very least, compete for a spot along with some other players brought in. As for Nemeth, after a rough start to the year, he came along strong towards the end and showed he has a little left in the tank. Should be able to make a team in their 5/6/7 defenseman role. Patrick Nemeth originally came to the Coyotes along with a 2025 second and 2026 second-rounder for future considerations.
