The Coyotes have given Liam Kirk permission to speak to other teams

The Arizona Coyotes are giving Liam Kirk permission to speak to other NHL clubs, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Kirk, a native of Maltby, England, was drafted by the Coyotes in the seventh round of the 2018 draft from the Sheffield Steelers of the UK’s EIHL. When he was drafted, Kirk became the first player born and trained in England to be drafted to the NHL.

He spent the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons playing for the Peterborough Petes of the OHL, scoring 47 points in 63 games and then 50 points in 47 games.

With the OHL on hiatus in 2021 due to COVID-19, Kirk spent part of his season playing in Sweden’s third league and the other part of his season playing in the EIHL’s Super Series. Kirk’s year was highlighted by a strong performance at the World Hockey Championship, as he led Great Britain with seven goals and nine points in seven games.

The Coyotes have Kirk’s rights until next June, so if he reaches a deal with another NHL club, the Coyotes would have to trade him. If Kirk isn’t in the organization’s plans, it would be reasonable for them to do so in exchange for a sixth- or seventh-round draft pick.