Howlin' Hockey
Fansided

Arizona Coyotes: GM Maloney’s Optimism… Just That

By William Grigsby

facebooktwitterreddit

Arizona Coyotes GM Don Maloney Is Optimistic For Improved Team

While it would be futile and pessimistic to have your GM predict that your team won’t do much better than last season, it seems that reality must prevail. I beg to differ with Maloney’s assessment, when he boosts that bringing back Zbynek Michalek “is a core guy for us, you know what you’re getting out of him”. Hate to bring reality back into the conversation, but the Arizona Coyotes were not doing that well before they traded Michalek. Their record up to the time Michalek was traded on March 2, 2015 was 20-36-7. Not especially noteworthy.

"To complete Maloney’s evaluation of these defensive “improvements” of Michalek and Grossmann, here’s his breakdown:"

“Nick Grossmann, we are adding him to our mix; two guys who just give us stability on our blue line. Klas Dahlbeck came in and had a pretty impressive year … as did Connor Murphy. Brandon Gormley comes in and establishes a name for himself. Long story short, I know we are going to be a better team next year.”

While Grossmann is an unknown commodity at this point, we saw Dahlbeck a little and Murphy quite a bit. They are young, and still developing. If Maloney thinks they will bring him to the promise-land known as the NHL Playoffs, he’s mistaken.

More from Coyotes News

Gormley “establishing a name for himself?” He played 27 games with 2-g, 2-a and a +/- of -7. He didn’t do much better in the AHL with 23 games 3-g, 7-a. Maloney stated this season could decide Gormley’s fate with the team. I say trade him now before his worth decreases. Get that puck moving defenseman they are still seeking. Gormley is NOT the one.

I’ve already discussed how the Arizona Coyotes should be going after Cody Franson before someone else snatches him up. If Maloney wants to make a statement that his defense is more stable, Franson is his man. Better hurry though, I’m surprised another team hasn’t already signed him — it’s been rumored that Boston has the inside track on getting him in a Bruins uniform. Too bad too, because he would look exceptional in an Arizona Coyotes uniform… just sayin’.

I don’t think Maloney needs to be reminded that his team had the worst record in the Western Conference and were a disappointing 11-25-5 at Gila River Arena. That was their worst home record since they re-located here in Arizona 19 years ago. They also suffered through three home losing streaks of at least eight games, one of which was right before Michalek was shipped to St. Louis.

Live Feed

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

Puck Prose

  • Three players the Arizona Coyotes should trade this seasonPuck Prose
  • The Bouch bomb is locked and loadedOil On Whyte
  • NHL 24: Predicting the highest rated players at every positionApp Trigger
  • Extending André Tourigny is the right move for the Arizona CoyotesPuck Prose
  • How Tough Will The Central Division Be For The Hawks?Blackhawk Up

    • Maloney’s other delusion is his opinion about Mike Smith’s play going forward.

    "” I think we’ll play better defense in front of Smith, which is important,” Maloney said. “I think we’ll have a better structure in front of Mike so he doesn’t feel like he has to be all-world every night and he can just do his thing. And we still would like to continue to search for a little more puck movement on our blue line.”"

    Even if Mike Smith can improve upon his personal worst season ever as a NHL goaltender, he would need to have a better defense in front of him than what Maloney has gathered. Smith might have to be “all-world” again too many times. And even if he has another terrible season, the Arizona Coyotes are married to him with that outrageous contract he was awarded. That’s another whole article on it’s own.

    Maloney also stated, “We could always use more scoring talent, but those are all things I feel comfortable with … we’re going into training camp exactly with what we have and then let things evolve.”

    "SERIOUSLY?"

    If you feel you could use more scoring talent, what did you do to accomplish that? NOT MUCH…

    And now, you’re going to wait until training camp and then let things “EVOLVE?” What does that mean? You’re stuck with the team you have, and oh well… we’ll just plug along, hoping for miracles from young prospects? If you believe that then you think Don Cherry is a conservative dresser…

    Maloney’s final quote I’ll use….

    "“Our thing going into the season, we’re still growing as a team, but we are entering the season to be a playoff team, and we’ve seen it in the past,” he said. “I look at our roster and say, OK, we may not have the most pure talent as some of the teams in the West, but with a great coach and a great game plan and a stable center ice and a better blue line and solid goaltending, we should be able to compete every night, whether it’s the Chicago Blackhawks, or the Stanley Cup champions or the bottom of the Western Conference.”"

    You can say all you want Don, that you are entering the season to be a playoff team. Results are what counts. I agree that you don’t have the talent level of other teams in the West, and that would be most all of them! YES, you do have a great coach, but as all of us know, the coach can only do so much. If he is not given the players to move the team forward, things will not happen. Let’s see how well Mike Babcock does in Toronto, especially after they traded Phil Kessel.

    Great game plan? What would that include? Try to score more and give up less goals — would be a start, but that’s not a game plan, that’s execution and discipline.

    Stable center ice? Sure the Arizona Coyotes lost Martin Hanzal last season, but much like when Michalek was sent away, the team’s record with Hanzal was not that impressive. Bringing back Vermette will help marginally. Richardson had a whole eight goals in 45 games with the Canucks last year. I agree Boyd Gordon was a good addition at center ice, but he is a defensive/faceoff expert who won’t score much for you. Then with Chipchura and Vitale you have two players who are mostly fourth line guys who aren’t going to light the lamp much at all.

    The Arizona Coyotes had 56 points last season, some 41 points out of a playoff position. Just because GM Maloney feels they are improved, and he expects them to compete for a postseason bid doesn’t mean it will happen… and unfortunately it won’t. He hasn’t added anything that would make me or any other sane hockey fan, believe it is possible. It’s cheerleading, and that won’t win you many hockey games.

    Next: Arizona Coyotes: Roster Changes Not Significant Enough

    Next: Arizona Coyotes: What It Will Take To Make The Playoffs

    More from Howlin' Hockey

    Home/Coyotes News