According to Allan Walsh, the agent of recently bought out free agent Antoine Vermette, the veteran forward has received multiple offers from NHL clubs and will be choosing his next team by Monday.
Antoine Vermette has received 5 offers from NHL teams and will be making a decision on the various offers by Monday.
— Allan Walsh🏒 (@walsha) August 13, 2016
Vermette was released by the Arizona Coyotes in a transaction that came as a surprise to the hockey world. It wasn’t too long ago that the Coyotes traded Vermette to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a 1st round draft pick, just to re-sign him in the subsequent offseason. Newly appointed general manager John Chayka, noted for his knowledge of analytics, clearly saw the team heading in a different direction, a direction that didn’t require Vermette’s skill set.
Antoine Vermette will likely come at a bargain rate and fill a bottom-six role for whichever club he signs with. While Vermette’s effectiveness has gone down in recent years, there’s no denying that he can bring leadership, and experience to a locker room that could use the help.
What’s really surprising, however, is the fact that the Arizona Coyotes are a young team who essentially fit the bill perfectly for what Vermette can bring in terms of a mentorship role; the issue was the cap hit that his mentorship role came at.
