Arizona Coyotes acquire Nick Cousins from Philadelphia Flyers

In the lead-up to Saturday's deadline for submitting protection picks ahead of the expansion draft, the Coyotes had yet to settle on what their list would look like in the event their roster options changed.

And that's exactly what happened Friday evening as the team acquired center Nick Cousins along with prospect goalie Merrick Madsen from the Flyers in exchange for prospect forward Brendan Warren and a 2018 fifth-round draft pick.

The plan is for the Coyotes to protect Cousins from the Vegas Golden Knights, although he would meet the exposure requirement if the Coyotes signed him to a contract before a trade/signing freeze kicks in Saturday at noon. Cousins currently isn't under contract for next season and will be a restricted free agent.

As it stands now, the Coyotes have to expose at least two forwards under contract for next season who played 40 or more games last season or 70 or more the past two seasons. Only wingers Tobias Rieder and Jamie McGinn and center Brad Richardson are eligible with McGinn and Richardson appearing most likely to be exposed. 

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Both players hold top-nine roles with the Coyotes; if the team wanted to shield one or both, it could have added player(s) who met the requirements for exposure. But with the Coyotes planning to protect Cousins, he doesn't seem to be acquired for this reason. 

Arizona could make additional moves before the trade/signing moratorium hits. 

The 23-year-old Cousins appeared in 60 games for the Flyers last season, scoring six goals and finishing with 16 points. He spent the previous two seasons splitting time between the NHL and American Hockey League.

Improving the center-ice position is a point of focus for the Coyotes this summer. It looks like Cousins could satisfy a depth role in the bottom-six. He's tallied 12 goals and 27 points 107 career games after getting drafted by Philadelphia in the third round, 68th overall, in 2011.

Cousins, who is eligible for arbitration, is coming off a one-year deal with the Flyers after he accepted their qualifying offer last summer. Qualifying offers for this year's batch of RFAs are due June 25.

"We are very pleased to acquire Nick," Chayka said in a statement released by the team. "He is a tenacious, versatile, two-way center who will add grit and energy to our lineup. We're excited to have him join the Coyotes."

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As for Madsen, he went 28-6-2 with a 2.11 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage in 36 games with Harvard last season. The junior was named a Mike Richter Award finalist (most outstanding goalie in NCAA Division I men's hockey) and a Walter Brown Award semifinalist (best American-born college hockey player in New England). His 28 wins were the most in a single season by a Harvard net minder, and his 16-game win streak was also a program record.

Madsen was drafted by the Flyers in the sixth round, 162nd overall, in 2013.

"Merrick is a big, skilled, athletic goaltender," Chayka said. "We are very excited about him joining our organization and look forward to watching his development."

Warren had been in the Coyotes' pipeline since he was drafted in the third round, 81st overall, in 2015. The 20-year-old winger had three goals and 10 points in 35 games last season with the University of Michigan. 

Protection lists must be submitted by 2 p.m. Saturday.

The Coyotes also have to expose a defenseman under contract who played 40 or more games last season or 70 or more the past two seasons and a goalie under contract or will be a RFA who has received a qualifying offer. 

Teams have the option of protecting seven forwards, three defenseman and one goalie or eight skaters (any combination of forwards and defensemen) and one goalie. 

If they chose the eight-skater format, the Coyotes could end up protecting goalie Mike Smith, defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Alex Goligoski, Connor Murphy and Luke Schenn and forwards Anthony Duclair, Jordan Martinook, Rieder and Cousins.

These decisions would leave McGinn, Richardson, defenseman Kevin Connauton and goalie Louis Domingue exposed.

Reach the reporter at sarah.mclellan@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8276. Follow her at twitter.com/azc_mclellan.