August is a dead month for hockey. Sad, but true. While April-May-June is made up of playoffs, July has free agency, and September has training camp and pre-season, August has…. NCAA UFA’s.
It's the hockey dead zone when everyone acts like Kevin Hayes is Lebron James.
— Gone Puck Wild (@FSGonePuckWild) August 18, 2014
While there’s not a whole lot of news to report, though, August is a great time for geeks. Teams are analyzed within an inch of their lives- I would know, because I’ve been doing it. Have we made enough changes? Should we make more? Are we going to make the playoffs this season? ARE WE EVEN GOING TO WIN ANY GAMES? Guys, it’s so stressful.
“One of the things that is most analyzed during the month of August, therefore, is how season-ready our teams are.”
One of the things that is most analyzed during the month of August, therefore, is how season-ready our teams are. People immediately start searching for holes in scoring, defense, face-off wins, and even in the goal- not necessarily for starters (let’s be honest- if you don’t have a starting netminder yet, you’re in for it this season), but for solid, consistent backups. People then start scrounging the web for UFA’s that their teams should be sending flowers to and inking contracts with. August may not seem like the most exciting time to be a hockey fan, but in reality, it’s one of the most stressful.
As such, it’s time to look at the Arizona Coyotes.