Arizona Coyotes: 3 Stars of 2014
The Arizona Coyotes Three Stars: 2014
As the Howlin’ Hockey staff sits back and thinks on the year that’s coming to a close, we realize that there’s a lot to be proud of.
As a site, we’ve gone from almost nothing to — well, close to something — in 2014. We’ve learned how to give you your game previews, analyze special teams, and even incorporate some #fancystats about the desert dogs. We’ve grown from a one-person team (which consisted of me, unfortunately) to a six person staff dedicated to covering games and keeping the fans informed. We still have room to grow, but 2014 has been a great year for us.
As a team, the Arizona Coyotes may not be winning very much — and as such, it may seem hard to be quite that optimistic about the team we cover, as well.
We think there’s plenty for the team to be proud of, so I’d like to personally highlight the top three sources of pride for every Arizona Coyotes fan — just to remind you why you begged for those Coyotes flannel pajama pants.
First Star: Devan Dubnyk
It’s hard to deny — Devan Dubnyk has been a shining spot on a pretty dark start to the 2014-2015 season. He’s had games where he’s struggled, without a doubt, but overall the team has seen this former Edmonton netminder deliver the kind of consistency that they just haven’t seen out of the team’s starter in quite a while now.
Beyond his stellar play, though, Dubnyk has been one of the most consistently positive figures on a team that’s having trouble staying upbeat. He stands behind his starter, even though he’s quickly becoming the fan favored netminder, and he doesn’t point fingers at anyone but himself — and whether that’s just an outward appearance or truly the way he is, public appearances are everything in professional sports.
He’s eighth in the league in adjusted SV% for goalies who have appeared in more than ten games, heading into the holiday break with an impressive 93.14 AdSV%:
It’s been a hard season for Arizona, but Dubnyk has done his best to change that. Hard to ignore that kind of hard work.
Second Star: Rookie Power
That awkward moment where I sit there frantically trying to figure out if Tobias Rieder deserves the second star or Brandon Gormley — so I’m giving it to them both.
There’s been a bit of an effort issue on the Arizona Coyotes this season, but Rieder and Gormley have given fans a taste of what the youth movement will bring to Gila River Arena next season. From Gormley’s goal and assist in his first game back to Rieder’s two short-handed goals in :58 seconds against Edmonton, these two have played with high energy and — I hate to say it — compete level all season.
The only thing that could make this more exciting would be if Gormley had been on the ice more after that first career goal he scored. It’s kind of hard to get pumped about a player who sat out half of 2014 with an injury… expect this blue-liner to thrill us even more in 2015.
Third Star: Max Domi
But… he’s not even on the team.
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Editor In Leaf
When the Arizona Coyotes reassigned Max Domi to the London Knights for his final year of junior eligibility, it became a given that this year wasn’t about making the playoffs or winning the Stanley Cup. Instead, this season became all about watching the future develop into a team full of come-ups — and Domi has failed to disappoint in this regard.
Averaging over 2 PPG in the OHL this season, Domi is expected to thrill at the IIHF World Junior Championships this season — which starts today. He’s been one of the top performers for Team Canada so far, and it looks like they’re looking to keep him a part of the deadly trio that has been dominating so far.
With Connor McDavid and Curtis Lazar leading the top line on offense, Domi should flank Sabres prospect Sam Reinhart with Rangers prospect Anthony Duclair on what might be the most powerful second line in hockey. Combine that with his secret offensive partner in crime hiding in London — and yes, I’m talking about Christian Dvorak — and the Coyotes have a lot to be excited about in the coming year.
Honorable Mention:
David Schlemko: It’s hard to get placed on waivers, but it’s even harder to fluctuate between the AHL and the pro team without harboring any kind of resentment. Instead of holding a grudge, though, Schlemko has stepped up to become one of the most consistent performers on the Coyotes bottom lines. Whether this helps him get moved or simply turns him into a more valuable team assett, it’s clear — David Schlemko has Coyotes work ethic.
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