Arizona Coyotes: An Outlook On The Defense
By Alex Temes
The Arizona Coyotes’ defense is in the spotlight to determine who should stay, who should go, and who the Yotes should go after when the season ends.
The 2016 NHL season is finally winding down for the Arizona Coyotes and the rest of the NHL. The Washington Capitals have clinched a Stanley Cup Playoff spot, with the likes of Florida, Los Angeles, Dallas and St. Louis hot their heals.
As for the Coyotes, they are on the outside looking in. With only 10 games left to play on the schedule and the team 11 points out of the last wild card spot, any push for the playoffs will likely be too little too late.
Playoffs or not, the season will end and the Coyotes will dive into a summer of uncertainty yet again.
However, this time it isn’t with ownership. It doesn’t have anything to do with their arena situation (yet).
It has to do with their on-ice personnel and free agency. Moreover, this free agent period will be further stressed by the threat of an NHL expansion draft as the league is expected to decide on the admission of teams from Las Vegas and/or Quebec City in June.
As the season continues to wind down, the Howlin’ Hockey team will be breaking down the current roster, players in the system, and prospective free agents whom the Arizona Coyotes should consider pursuing given their large and anticipated expanded cap space.
First up on our list of positional analysis is the Coyotes’ defense. Let’s take a look at the current roster:
Next: Current Defensive Roster