Predicting the Arizona Coyotes 1st Line After Phil Kessel Trade

One of the biggest moves of the 2019 NHL offseason was the trade that sent Phil Kessel to the Arizona Coyotes. Although they had to deal Alex Galchenyuk and a few other assets in the deal, the Coyotes loaded up by adding Kessel to their lineup.

With Kessel now in rotation in Arizona, he'll undoubtedly be on the team's first line. The Coyotes are loaded with young talent alongside a few NHL veterans including Kessel. With their newest star ready to take over, here's what you should expect the Coyotes' first line to look like next season.

The Coyotes and head coach Rick Tocchet will undoubtedly go with Phil Kessel on the right wing of their first line. Alongside him, you should expect to see a fellow veteran and another former Metropolitan Division star.

29 year-old Derek Stepan will probably be Arizona's starting center, adding another righty to go with Kessel. Although the Coyotes also acquired Carl Soderberg this offseason, he'll likely fall somewhere in the second or third line.

In terms of left wingers, the Coyotes aren't exactly stacked. However, they do have a solid option in 6-foot-4, 22 year-old Lawson Crouse. Crouse manning the left side of the first line will give the Yotes the size and strength that are somewhat lacking in Kessel and Stepan.

If the Coyotes choose to move fellow young star Clayton Keller to the left side, they could have a seriously stacked first line. Any variation of Crouse-Stepan-Kessel or Keller-Stepan-Kessel on their first line will leave them in good shape.

With the start of the 2019-20 NHL season just a few months away, the Coyotes are likely putting plenty of thought into their starting offensive line. Whoever lines up with Kessel on the first unit will definitley see a boost in their own scoring.