Stars Trade Alex Goligoski to Coyotes

The Dallas Stars have traded the rights of defenseman Alex Goligoski to the Arizona Coyotes for a 2016 fifth round draft pick (#128).

In 82 games played last season, Goligoski had five goals, 32 assists, 37 points and was a plus 21. He averaged 23:50 of ice time per game and added a game-winning goal. In 13 postseason games, he had four goals, three assists, seven points, was a minus six and averaged 23:14 of ice time per game. In his six seasons with the Stars, the defenseman played 385 games, scored 32 goals, had 155 assists, and 187 points. He averaged 23:41 of ice time per game while wearing a Stars uniform.

Golisgoski is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Coyotes will have nine days of exclusive negotiating rights to try and convice the defenseman to sign with them. NHL teams can start negotiating with free agents from June 25-30 before the players officially hit the open market on July 1.

If Arizona can manage to sign the defenseman, he will bring a veteran presence to the blue line. He can also log a ton of minutes and has the potential to be on the top defensive pair for the Coyotes. Goligoski can play the point on one of the power play units and he can kill penalties. He had five power play points for the Stars last season including one goal and four assists. The defenseman even added a shorthanded assist last season.

Golisgoski is a mobile, puck-moving defenseman, who can jump into the play in the offensive zone. He has decent hockey sense and can be physical when needed. He has his moments of making the bad turnover, but what NHL defenseman doesn’t? Goligoski can add the element of moving the puck effectively and effeciently out of the defensive zone, which is lacking on the blueline for the Coyotes.

In 10 NHL seasons, he has played 562 games, scored 55 goals, has 222 assists, 277 total points, is a +68, and has averaged 22:37 of ice time per game.