When the Coyotes acquired Nick Schmaltz via trade in December, the writing was on the wall for the two clubs to agree on a new contract. But not many people saw a seven-year contract on the horizon.
The Coyotes and Schmaltz, who was set to become a restricted free agent at season’s end, agreed to terms on a seven-year contract, the club announced Saturday. The contract comes with an annual average value of $5.85 million, a league source confirmed.
Given that the Coyotes were forced to part ways with Dylan Strome and Brendan Perlini — the club’s successive first-round picks in 2014 and 2015 — to acquire Schmaltz, it was clear the Coyotes felt comfortable in their ability to re-sign the 23-year-old.