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Arizona Coyotes Editorial: As a Fan, I’m Frustrated

By William Grigsby

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The Arizona Coyotes have been tough to cheer for.

At their current clip, the Arizona Coyotes are on pace to finish with 64 points this season — their lowest season since 2007, when they finished with just 67 points.

I’ve been reminded that this team is young, and they are — 27, to be exact. Their defense is even younger — the average age on the blue line is a mind-blowing 23.

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    • As a fan, though, I’m frustrated.

    As writer, I must be objective. This team has had spurts of actually competing on a sustainable NHL level — but more times than not this season, they have looked like they’ve come up short. They have had losing streaks of four, five, and even seven games at a time.

    After a poor effort against the Colorado Avalanche on 2-9-15, Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett said that “[the team’s] execution wasn’t at an NHL level tonight, and their work ethic was right behind it, hence you get a game like that. It was real quiet this morning in here. It was real subdued. We were nervous about it, and then we got exactly what we thought was going to happen.”

    He has also stated that this team is young, and they need to take the energy displayed in practice to the game.

    It’s all about maturing as a NHL player. I like Tippett as a coach — but I personally think he works better with veteran players than young players.

    With the “retooling” that GM Dan Maloney has mentioned to take place, the face of the team will change. They want to get younger, faster — and next year, they will probably accomplish that. They are taking hard looks at the players in Portland and seeing who can play at the NHL level — and who can’t. That way, the tough decisions to trade players or keep them will become easier.

    Who’s looked good? There have been quite a few — Tobias Rieder, Lucas Lessio, Connor Murphy, and Andrew Campbell all come to mind. Others like Justin Hodgman, Tyler Gaudet, Philip Samuelsson have had limited play, but have potential. Then, the team made an adept pickup when they claimed center Mark Arcobello off waivers. He has two goals in his first three games as a Coyote — his fourth team this season. Let’s hope this is his last stop for a bit, especially the way he has played thus far.

    So, as a fan, I’m hopeful. It’s hard not to be when you have the likes of Max Domi, Henrik Samuelsson, and Christian Dvorak waiting to display their hockey wares. When you take into account that the Coyotes could even be in the mix for one of the top 3-5 draft choices in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, you start to smile — just a bit. Names like Noah Hanifin and Mitch Marner come to mind, and they bring some pretty positive images. Fans have every reason to believe — in three years or so, this team should be in the playoffs, and perhaps move beyond the first round or two.

    I know I feel better now, but it takes some talking it out with yourself. Will I miss the WHITEOUT this season? ABSOLUTELY.

    Will I go into next season with a renewed effervescence towards the future success of this team? It takes some reminders — but even there, I have to say yes.

    (You should too.)

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