If Radim Vrbata is trying to play himself out of Arizona, he's doing a damn good job.
With another goal and an assist in the Coyotes' 5-2 loss to the Dallas Stars, Vrbata extended his point streak to a career-high eight games. He has three goals and six assists on the run, and is now up to 14 goals and an impressive 44 points on the season.
Vrbata's name will be all over the rumor mill over the next few days, as the March 1 NHL trade deadline nears. He's on an expiring $1-million contract, though he does have playoff-related bonuses that could total an additional $1.25 million (he'll earn $250,000 for making the playoffs and that same amount for every playoff series win).
One of the top scorers on the market, Vrbata has eight goals and 10 assists in 42 career postseason games.
Meanwhile, Vrbata's teammate Martin Hanzal, another player expected to be traded by the Coyotes over the next few days, scored his 16th of the season Friday. He's also been hot this month - it was his sixth goal in 10 games in February.
A career Coyote, Hanzal and the club haven't talked contract, and with the 30-year-old also approaching unrestricted free agency, it's all but a certainty he's traded by general manager John Chayka.
The team that acquires Hanzal will be on the hook for the remainder of his $3.1-million salary, unless the Coyotes decide to retain a portion of that.
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