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What happened to Vinnie Hinostroza and how can the Coyotes get him on track

By Jim Lynch

RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 10: Arizona Coyotes Right Wing Vinnie Hinostroza (13) looks to shoot the puck during a game between the Arizona Coyotes and the Carolina Hurricanes on January 10, 2019 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 10: Arizona Coyotes Right Wing Vinnie Hinostroza (13) looks to shoot the puck during a game between the Arizona Coyotes and the Carolina Hurricanes on January 10, 2019 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Vinnie Hinostroza is one season removed from putting up 37 points and scoring 16 goals for the Arizona Coyotes, this season he has not found the back of the net nearly at the same rate why?

Vinnie Hinostroza was traded to Arizona by the Chicago Blackhawks in the summer of 2018 along with Jordan Oesterle. The two players quickly became acquainted to the Coyotes and managed to help the team get back on track.

Last season Hinostroza averaged nearly 2 minutes more ice time per game than he is now. He went from being a top 9 guy to being a fourth-line winger, and honestly, that is one of the biggest reasons his numbers have fallen.

Hinostroza played the most amount of minutes at even strength last season, and he was a regular every night. Hinostroza spent a few seasons in Chicago and he learned from players like Patrick Kane. He and Nick Schmaltz at the time spent a lot of time before and after practice with Kane. That is one of the big reasons I like watching Schmaltz this season, you could see some of the details he picked up from Kane and the same is true for Hinostroza.

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I think one way to really increase Hinostroza’s scoring this season would just be to play him with more talented players. Right now his linemates are Michael Grabner and Brad Richardson, he is not playing with anyone that really can keep up to his offensive abilities. If they could even slot him up one line and have him play along with players like Lawson Crouse he made himself and his linemates better.

I know some people might pass over this and say the Coyotes are doing just fine without Hinostroza producing this season, and while although that might be true having 4 really good lines only makes your unit better. Hinostroza does not belong in a bottom unit checking line.

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