Arizona Coyotes: Pacific Standings Fan Poll Results

The Results Of The Arizona Coyotes Pacific Division Standings Fan Poll Show No Surprises

With 91 votes tabulated, you the fans have voted by a 26% margin that your Arizona Coyotes will finish 7th… dead last AGAIN in the Pacific Division.

Here’s the full results:

7th – 26%, 24 votes
5th – 20%, 18 votes
3rd – 16%, 15 votes
6th – 15%, 14 votes
1st – 10%, 9 votes
4th – 9%, 8 votes
2nd – 3%, 3 votes

What’s telling to me with these results, is the simple fact that the Arizona Coyotes have NOT done enough to keep up with the stiff competition of the Western Conference, and more specifically the Pacific Division.

With 41% of you predicting that the team will either finish 6th or 7th, it tells me that you agree with this assessment. Yet, there are some (20%) who think the team will do as well as 5th. I don’t see it. I don’t agree with the voters who predicted with a pretty good margin of 29% that the Arizona Coyotes will finish 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. REALLY? Ahead of the Ducks (no way…), the L.A. Kings, or the Calgary Flames?

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I could see it if the team had actually gone after some better free agents, or made some monumental trades of the Yandle for Duclair caliber, BUT… they didn’t, at least not YET. Of course, as we speak free agents, and other good players are probably talking to other teams about their status and NOT the Arizona Coyotes. Why is that?

Well… some of it can be attributed to the city of Glendale assuring free agents won’t even consider coming here, with the arena lease juggernaut staring them in the face. What many of us forget is — NHL hockey players are people too, who have families, establish roots in the community, and take moving as part of the job. When they move, they want as any of us would desire — a warm and fuzzy feeling (as much as possible) that they can get settled, and not be forced to move over and over again.

Sure, they make tons of money, but the rigors of NHL life can take it’s toll. Look at what it did to Mike Ribeiro. His personal family life almost ruined his professional career, and pretty much was hidden from the Coyotes management until it was too late. The fact that he was able to turn that around is quite amazing, really. Well, he may not be out of trouble completely, still facing charges from his former nanny.

It’s my opinion that the Arizona Coyotes know they dropped the ball (puck… whatever) in this situation by not vetting him adequately enough, and boy is it costing them. Are they a bit conservative when they bring in a new player now? YOU BETCHA !

Why do think when they brought back three former Coyote players, Vermette, Michalek, Gordon? THEY KNOW WHAT THEY’RE GETTING. These are quality people who know the Tippett system, and hopefully can pull the team into that 25% of the fans polled, who believe they will finish 5th or 6th.

It probably won’t get them a playoff spot, since last season the Flames had to finish 3rd to make it to the post-season. A 4th place finish may get them there, but it is going to be tough.

The ONLY way I see the Arizona Coyotes even getting close to a playoff spot this upcoming season is IF the young guns — Domi, Duclair, Perlini/Dvorak can magically improve their destiny — and that’s quite a bit to expect.

THUS, unfortunately 7th place has been reserved for the Arizona Coyotes again this next season.

Believe me, I hope I’m wrong….NO WHITEOUT REALLY MAKES ME SAD…

Next: Arizona Coyotes: Young Guns Could Be Next Toews/Kane

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