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Arizona Coyotes Compared To Two Other Lottery Teams

By William Grigsby

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 Arizona Coyotes Comparison To Oilers, Sabres For This Season, And What The Future Might Hold

When you review the season, which ends in 4 games for these three bottom dwelling teams, you get the picture on why they failed to produce this season. I thought it would be interesting to break down some stats to show this.

 Edmonton Oilers

Record: 23-42-13 − 59 Points (28th) – Sixth in Pacific Division, 13th in Western Conference

Home record: 14-21-3 (28th) Road record: 9-21-10 (27th)

Goals for: 188 (2.41) (26th) Goals against: 268 (3.44) (30th) Goal Differential: −80 (28th)

Power Play Pct.: 17.98 (19th) PPG: 41 (tied for 20th) PK%: 77.36 (28th) PPGA: 48 (21st)

Shootout record: 5-7 (tied for 16th) 

Shutouts: 2 (tied for 25th) Times shutout: 6 (tied for 18th)

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The Oilers have had some excellent draft choices for the past three seasons, and yet have not been able to move up in the standings, or make the playoffs. They haven’t been able to qualify for the post season since the ’05-’06 season when they finished with 95 points. It seems quite puzzling as to why this team is loaded with talent offensively, but their defense is so below par. They need to draft a good D-man like Noah Hanifin to improve their defensive numbers, and perhaps acquire a goalie like Antti Niemi, who is a free agent after this season.

Here’s a profile of Noah Hanifin: He had a very good US Top Prospects game although he didn’t stand out as much as Jack Eichel and Jeremy Bracco. Noah is that NHL-sized defenseman with an elite skating ability and all the physical and mental tools that NHL teams are looking for in a defenseman these days.
Profile from: Eldon MacDonald of The Hockey Writers – updated Oct. 19th

Could he help any of the lottery three? Without a doubt — he is steady, and will more than likely be ready to jump to the NHL.

Arizona Coyotes

Record: 23-47-8 − 54 Points (29th) – Last in both the Pacific Division and Western Conference

Home record: 10-24-5 (30th) Road record: 13-23-3 (26th)

Goals for: 162 (2.08) (29th) Goals against: 259 (3.32) (28th) Goal Differential: −97 (29th)

Power Play Pct.: 22.09 (7th) PPG: 44 (tied for 17th) PK%: 77.48 (27th) PPGA: 59 (tied for 28th)

Shootout record: 5-5 (15th)

Shutouts: 1 (tied for 30th) Times shutout: 10 (29th)

The Arizona Coyotes have now missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, but unlike the repeated mediocrity of the Oilers, and Sabres they have had some playoff successes before this time. This season was an anomaly for them, and they should not wallow in the depths of the league standings for long.

They made some player moves losing Antione Vermette, Keith Yandle, and Zbynek Michalek. They added some youth in acquiring Klas Dahlbeck, and John Moore to solidify their defense. Then adding Anthony Duclair will certainly improve their weak offense. I don’t predict they are going to not need to improve further.

They could use another good backup goalie to challenge Mike Smith, or replace him if he doesn’t improve drastically next season. As far as the NHL Entry Draft goes, if they pick second they will more than likely chose Jack Eichel, adding to their offense some more. Of the three lottery teams at the bottom of the standings, they seem to have the most upside to them. Arizona fans should be excited to end this dreadful season, and look forward to bigger and better things next year.

Buffalo Sabres

Record: 22-48-8 − 52 Points (30th) – Last in Atlantic Division and last in Eastern Conference

Home record: 13-21-5 (29th) Road record: 9-27-3 (30th)

Goals for: 155 (1.99) (30th) Goals against: 262 (30th) Goal Differential: −107 (30th)

Power Play Pct.: 13.36 (30th) PPG: 29 (30th) PK%: 75.20 (30th) PPGA: 63 (30th)

Shootout record: 8-5 (tied for 5th)

Shutouts: 1 (tied for 28th) Times shutout: 12 (30th) 

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Looking back at the Blackhawks' trades involving Andrew Ladd
Looking back at the Blackhawks' trades involving Andrew Ladd /

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    • As you can see the Sabres came in last for the most part in every statistical category. What all three teams lack is scoring ability, and a way to shut down their opponent’s offense. The Sabres had no answers for either this season. With the prospects of the best chance of landing Connor McDavid, the Sabres have got to be overwhelmed with the possibilities this young forward can bring to their franchise. McDavid has all the tools, and the Sabres know it. He can add so much to this team, and I’m sure he is anxious to show the NHL what he’s got. If McDavid can’t improve this team, I’m not sure who could. Next season you won’t see the Sabres bringing up the bottom of the stats, not with a McDavid in their lineup.

    All in all these three teams should improve. Will any of them make the playoffs? Not sure.. but with the prospects the Coyotes have landed, and additional draft picks they’ve accumulated through trades, they stand the best possibility of reaching the post season — if not next season, then the following year.

    If Edmonton can manage to finally see some results from all the young draft picks of the past few years, they could propel themselves out of their post season slump as well.

    Buffalo can’t rely on McDavid being the savior of their fate alone. He’s one player, one OUTSTANDING player, but he will need support from the rest of the team for them to move forward in the standings.

    I personally can’t wait to see how it all turns out. Three teams wanting to accomplish more than they have this season, and the draft picks who may very well assist them in getting there.  Stay tuned NHL fans of these three teams, the ride may be very exciting!

    Next: Arizona Coyotes With Connor McDavid In The Lineup

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