Chayka appears to take a parting shot at Strome and Perlini.

The Chicago Blackhawks an the Arizona Coyotes linked up for yet another trade between the two organizations and this time around it was a pretty big one. By the time all the dust had settled 3 former 1st round draft choices had been moved in the deal and the conversation quickly shifted to who fans thought had come away with the better deal between the two sides. 

For those of you who missed the news the Coyotes sent 2 players to Chicago, forwards Dylan Strome and Brendan Perlini, and in exchange they received forward Nick Schmaltz from the Chicago Blackhawks. There has not been much of a consensus when it comes to determining who wins this trade but all three players involved have a pretty good pedigree behind them.

Strome, is a former 1st round pick (3rd overall) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, played in 20 games for the Coyotes this season recording 3 goals and 3 assists for a total of 6 points and a plus minus rating of -10. Perlini is a  22 year old winger who is also a former 1st round pick (12th overall) and he has appeared in 22 games for the Yotes this season recording 2 goals and 4 assists for a total of 6 points and a plus minus rating of -4.

Scmaltz on the other hand has 23 games with the Blackhawks this season and the 22 year old former 1st round pick (20th overall) in 2014 has 2 goals and 9 assists for a total of 11 points and a plus minus rating of -4.

Now you could simply look at the numbers in this trade and suggest that the Blackhawks have won the trade because they got two players out of this deal but that would be naive. Although there is no consensus on the winner it does seem like there is universal agreement regarding the fact that Schmaltz in the best player in this deal and on Monday Coyotes general manager John Chayka made it clear that he thinks so as well.

According to a report from Coyotes insider Craig Morgan of The Athletic, Chayka stated today that there is a difference between patience and hope when discussing the trade. Chayka then added that hope was not a way to build your organization. Chayka may never admit as much but this comes off like a clear shot at two players who never really lived up to the high expectations the Coyotes had of them. In the case of Strome in particular I think it's safe to suggest that, for the Coyotes at least, he turned out to be a bust for a player once selected 3rd overall in the draft.

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