The Arizona Coyotes have been unable to catch a break down the final stretch of the 2015-16. While attempting to give Louis Domingue a much needed night off, AHL call-up Niklas Treutle had a nightmare of a game in his first NHL start.
The Arizona Coyotes started AHL call-up Niklas Treutle in net last night in order to give Louis Domingue some rest.
It didn’t go well.
4:52 into the first period, Treutle was a little too nonchalant when playing the puck and saw new Ducks’ acquisition Jamie McGinn promptly put it in the back of his net.
For the next 35 minutes, the Arizona Coyotes goaltender struggled to hang on and hang in during his first extended test against NHL competition.
His lack of confidence seemed to get the best of him multiple times when playing the puck. His lateral movement seemed a half second too slow all night long. He wasn’t quite ready for the big show.
Puck Prose
After the game, Dave Tippett implied as much to the media. “We had no choice. I’ll take the responsibility. We put a young player in a position he’s not ready for.”
Treutle himself sounded dejected afterwards. “It was a rough start. 3 plays into the game and you’re down 2-0… I just tried to stay focused. Too bad it didn’t work.”
It’s hard not to feel bad for the kid. The results were less than impressive and that’s a real gut punch to take on what likely started out as the biggest day of his life.
The reports on Mike Smith‘s return date are still nebulous. The Arizona Coyotes need him back in the lineup, though. Domingue can’t keep going every night forever and Treutle is clearly in over his head right now.
For the purposes of the draft, it could be argued that the Coyotes are in prime position by sticking with the tandem they have in order to bottom out. They are just 4 points away from being tied for the second lowest points in the league.
Still, it’d be nice to get a win after seven straight losses.
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Arizona Coyotes Talk
Max Domi stood up for his team’s star player after the Coyotes were pushed around all night on home ice. After a night of liberties being taken by the Ducks with no response, it was the rookie and one of the smallest players on the team who stepped up. That’s not exactly how you draw it up and it should never have come to that. The veterans definitely dropped the ball. Domi may face a suspension for instigating in the final five minutes of the contest as well.
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Cat Silverman of Today’s Slapshot explores the aftermath of the Mikkel Boedker trade. Hidden within the excellent piece is a little tidbit about Max Domi and Boedker. “The Danish winger struggles to drive his own play, lagging in possession and hurting teammate possession through nearly every season he’s played in the NHL. This year alone, the perfect example is fellow former first round pick Max Domi; with Boedker over 370 minutes, Domi is a 42% CF, while without him over 377 minutes he’s a 50% CF.”
Enough said. He didn’t deserve $6M per year. He doesn’t even deserve $5M per year for what he does on the ice. Let another team sign that bad contract and buy him out two years later.
Sarah Hall of Along The Boards explores the Coyotes’ moves at the trade deadline and how they might impact the team going forward. She gave the Yotes deadline a “B” and believes that Boedker’s departure “may be a good deal for the team.” I’m inclined to agree.
Brendan Porter of Five For Howling introduces Arizona Coyotes fans to Alex Tanguay. Tanguay is “just one year removed from a 22 goal, 33 assist season with the Avs” and is shooting “8.2% this season, which is less than half of his career average 18.6% rate.” That explains a good part of his precipitous decline. He’s also a much more solid all around player than Boedker…even though he’s a full decade older.
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