This off-season is the most important yet for Liam Kirk.

The British forward is about to enter the last year of his entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes.

Kirk has featured in just twenty-two games for the Arizona organisation, albeit with the caveat that his 2021-22 campaign was cut abruptly short by a knee injury that required surgery.

A healthy scratch in the AHL during the most recent season, Kirk was given just one opportunity to play for Tucson before forcing Arizona’s hand to get much-needed playing time. That resulted in a fifteen-game stint for the Atlanta Gladiators and a following loan move to Jurkuirt of Liiga.

After an impressive stint for Jukurit, the forward dominated at the international level. Kirk led his nation in scoring and secured Great Britain’s promotion back to the top division.

So while Kirk can make use of a full summer to develop and hit the ground running come the time training camp arrives, many things are out of his control.

Namely how Arizona builds its NHL roster and depth for their farm teams in 2023-24.

The NHL Draft takes place on June 28-29 and Arizona owns three picks inside the top thirty-three including the sixth and twelfth overall selections.

Despite the Coyotes’ need for blue-chip help on defence, many mock drafts have the organisation selecting at least two forwards with their top three picks.
However, it’s a long shot that any draft picks are likely to be AHL-eligible for the upcoming campaign.

Arizona’s activity during free agency is going to go a long way in determining whether the Maltby native is going to receive a fair shot next season.

As it stands, on July 1st Arizona will have just seven full-time NHL forwards signed to a contract for 2023-24.

Christian Fischer, Matias Maccelli and Jack McBain are all RFA’s that are likely to be given qualifying offers, whilst Brett Ritchie is a UFA.

If all four players re-sign, Arizona is up to eleven forwards.

Highly rated Conor Geekie could join the NHL ranks or remain in junior but he isn’t eligible for the AHL in 2023-24.

Ryan McGregor and Nathan Smith are restricted free agents but only the latter received NHL playing time last season (four games). The pair of 24-year-olds are strong candidates to be re-signed but probably remain in Tucson for the immediate future.

The more experienced pair of Michael Carcone and Bokondji Imama played a combined fourteen games for Arizona and are UFA’s this summer.

Curtis Douglas, Milos Kelemen, Ben McCartney, Jean-Sébastien Dea and Jan Jeník shall probably remain in Tucson and will likely be joined by some fresh faces,

Josh Doan, Aku Räty and Dylan Guenther are promising prospects for the organisation. Guenther is set to earn an NHL berth, having played 33 games last season, but could join his two fellow rookies in the AHL if Arizona wishes.

The Tucson Roadrunners have just one forward signed to an AHL deal for next season.

Micah Miller penned a two-year deal at the end of the 2022-23 campaign and got in two games on an ATO contract.

Travis Barron, Cameron Hebig, Hudson Elynuik, Reece Vitelli and Tyson Empey are AHL free agents. The latter is the least likely to be re-signed, given his production and assignment to the ECHL last season.

Captain Adam Cracknell, also an AHL free agent, is 37 years old. There is a question mark as to whether he’ll continue his playing career, let alone remain with Tucson.

Kaid Oliver and Odeen Tufto started the year in the ECHL though only the former stayed with Atalanta. Tufto opted to move on to Germany by January.

NHL contracts
Curtis Douglas (C)
Milos Kelemen (LW/RW)
Ben McCartney (LW)
Jean-Sébastien Dea (C/RW)
Jan Jeník (RW/C)

Rookies
Josh Doan (C/RW)
Aku Räty (RW)
Micah Miller (RW/C) AHL deal

RFA
Ryan McGregor (LW/C)
Nathan Smith (C)

UFA
Michael Carcone (W/C)
Bokondji Imama (LW)

AHL Free Agents
Kaid Oliver (C)
Travis Barron (LW)
Cameron Hebig (C/W)
Hudson Elynuik (C/LW)
Tyson Empey (C/LW
Reece Vitelli (C/RW)
Adam Cracknell (RW/C) AHL FA

It is conceivable that Arizona may trade Kirk.

The most likely scenarios are a one-for-one swap with another prospect searching for a fresh start, a seventh-round future pick or even a ‘future considerations’ scenario should the Coyotes wish to free up a contract spot (for reasons undetermined).

Much will rest on Arizona’s plans for the upcoming campaign, including recruitment this summer.

Having been overlooked and somewhat passed over last season, this summer will go some way to sizing up Liam Kirk’s future within the Arizona organisation.

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