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Arizona Coyotes: Where Will They Finish In The McEichel Sweepstakes?

By William Grigsby

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The Arizona Coyotes could finish as high as second in the pre-lottery draft order

If recent weeks are any indication, there are three teams pulling ahead of the pack… not at the top of the standings, but at the best shot at Connor McDavid in the NHL 2015 Entry Draft:

  1. Buffalo Sabres:

They have 39 points over the first three quarters of the season.

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I predict they will finish with 50 points, accumulating just 11 points in their final 22 games. This team has collected points at a .33 % ratio, and giving them 11 points in their last 22 games is very benevolent of me.

If Evander Kane was healthy, it could be possible for them to improve slightly over time — but particularly with him out and a number of assets shipped out, they won’t finish higher than the Arizona Coyotes or the Carolina Hurricanes. This gives them the largest likelihood of winning the lottery for the first overall pick — giving them a guaranteed shot at either Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel. This — with the addition of Evander Kane — could quite possibly pull the Sabres out of the basement in the NHL standings next season. What a difference one or two quality players can make.

2. Arizona Coyotes:

With 47 points now, I predict the Coyotes will finish with 59 points — beating the lowest point output since the team moved to Arizona in 1995.

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Looking back at the Blackhawks' trades involving Andrew Ladd
Looking back at the Blackhawks' trades involving Andrew Ladd /

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    • Getting just 12 points in their last 23 games is about all one can expect — in addition to the loss of Mikkel Boedker on offense, injuries to Martin Hanzal and Zbynek Michalek have hurt the team’s defensive security. Goalie Mike Smith has improved as the season has gone on, but not enough to give hope of finishing any higher in the standings.

    With the team in a transition year, GM Don Maloney has been able to evaluate his younger players — and who he may be able to trade in deals before the deadline. My personal feeling is that Antoine Vermette, Zbynek Michalek, Dave Moss, and Martin Erat are all going to be missing from the roster of the team next season.

    Finishing second in the standings may not be too bad, though — because at best, they’ll get Jack Eichel — but worst case, they’ll have a shot at either defenseman Noah Hanifin or forward Mitchell Marner. The Coyotes defense needs improvement, but all the offensive upside in the current draft could compensate for the goals allowed until the blue line matures — just think Dallas Stars. The offense should improve already with the addition of Max Domi next season — and possibly Henrik Samuelsson — so adding Eichel could be a nice touch.

    Of course, the Hanzal/Domi/Samuelsson line in pre-season seemed to click as it was — so if they end up with Hanifin, that wouldn’t be the worst thing, either.

    3. Carolina Hurricanes:

    They have 49 points as of 2/24/15, and I predict they will finish with 61 points — collecting, at best, 12 points in their last 24 games.

    With a tough closing schedule (including games versus playoff bound teams: Canadians, Islanders, Penguins, Blackhawks (2), Rangers, Capitals (2), and the Red Wings (2)) the Hurricanes will feel the hurricane force of losses at their doorstep.

    With their third place finish though, they have a high shot at the first overall pick, based on the lottery percentages — and even if they stay where they are, they’ll get a shot at a pretty good prospect by the name of Noah Hannifin.

    The Hurricanes really need an offensive player due to their meager 29th out of 30 teams offense rating, so they could take Marner with a third overall pick instead. Their defense isn’t nearly as bad as their record would indicate, coming in 14th overall — but it’s no secret that most NHL gm’s draft the most talented player when their name gets called to choose their selection at the NHL Entry Draft. If Hanifin looks like their best bet, that’s who they’ll take.

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