Arizona Coyotes waive forward Liam Kirk to terminate contract

Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Coyotes have placed forward Liam Kirk on unconditional waivers for the purposes of mutual contract termination, PHNX Sports’ Craig Morgan reported Wednesday morning.

Kirk, 23, split the 2022–23 season between three teams. After appearing in one game with the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners and 15 with the ECHL’s Atlanta Gladiators, Kirk headed to Finland to finish the season with Jukurit Mikkeli in the Liiga.

The Coyotes originally selected Kirk in the seventh round (No. 189 overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft. Kirk became the first player born and trained in England to be drafted into the NHL.

Per source, the Coyotes have placed F Liam Kirk on unconditional waivers. It was a good story while it lasted but Kirk's time in AZ is over.

— Craig Morgan (@CraigSMorgan) September 6, 2023

After a strong showing with Team Great Britain at the 2021 IIHF World Championship, Kirk signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Coyotes in June 2021.

Kirk started the 2021–22 season with the Roadrunners, collecting two goals and three points in eight games before suffering a season-ending knee injury. After being unable to lock down an AHL role in 2022–23, Kirk briefly played in the ECHL before being loaned to the Liiga.

Despite finding success with Jukurit, collecting seven goals and 19 points in 25 games, Kirk’s standing in the Coyotes organization had become tenuous and he had been surpassed by multiple younger prospects with higher pedigree. If he clears unconditional waivers, Kirk will be eligible to sign a contract with any team.

The Coyotes drafted Kirk in 2018 after he put up 16 points in 52 games with the EIHL’s Sheffield Steelers. He came over to North America immediately after and scored 47 goals and 97 points in 110 games over two OHL seasons with the Peterborough Petes.

Kirk was the ninth player (of nine) the Coyotes selected in the 2018 NHL Draft. Four members of that draft class have suited up in the NHL: Barrett Hayton, Kevin Bahl, Jan Jenik, and Ivan Prosvetov.