Keith Yandle: D-man IS Now a N.Y. Ranger

Keith Yandle is now a N.Y. Ranger, let’s review his career here in Arizona, and see how he is doing in New York

It was last Monday, the last day of the NHL trade deadline, and the Arizona Coyotes had already traded Antione Vermette, and everyone expected that, even Vermette. By all accounts Zbynek Michalek was next.

THEN…. ? ? ? @#$%&**

The strangest thing happened, which made me think my yearly eye exam needed to be re-scheduled. Was my cell phone acting crazy again? NOPE.. the news was that Arizona Coyotes D-man Keith Yandle was finally traded to the N.Y. Rangers! I mean he had been the topic of trade rumors for at least three seasons, without anything coming to fruition. As it turned out the Rangers wanted Yandle, and made an offer to GM Don Maloney that he couldn’t refuse.

Here’s how it went down:

Now a N.Y. Ranger

Since the trade on March 2, 2015 Yandle has played in three games for this new team, and has no points and 2 PIM. He also added to his +/- total of −32 when he joined the Rangers by adding another −1 to his not too great numbers. He is on a better team now… way better — and ought to improve those numbers, along with accumulating some more points. OR… perhaps he may even continue to learn how to play better defense and help the team that way. In any case he is headed to the playoffs, which he hasn’t been a part of since the ’11-’12 season with the Coyotes. His teammates have noticed how valuable he is and will be on the power play. His offensive skills, including his adept passing abilities has got to help the Rangers when the playoffs start.

Yandles’ History

When you evaluate Keith Yandle’s career with the Arizona Coyotes you must go back to when it started. He was originally drafted by the Coyotes back in 2005 as a fourth round, 105th overall pick. He started out with the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL. He excelled there with 25 G, 59 A, 15 PPG in sixty-six games.

That impressed the Coyotes brass enough to promote him to the AHL San Antonio Rampage for the 2006-07 season. He played in 69 games with 6 G, 27 A, 3 PPG. The following season Yandle played only 30 games in the AHL scoring 1 G, 14 A before being called up for good with the parent Coyotes team. During the ’07-’08 season he recorded 5 G, 7 A in 43 games, and showed his potential of being a power play quarterback by coming up with 4 PPG.

Yandle progressed admirably from that point on, to include being first in scoring on the team the last three seasons, and missed being first in the ’10-’11 season by one point to Captain Shane Doan.

Does he possess offensive skills? Of course. Is he a defensive liability at times.. yes. But, he spent his entire career with the Coyotes, and I think it only proper to thank him for his exciting style of play and good luck with his new team. I still think it looks strange seeing Yands in the Ranger blue, but it is what it is.

What will the future hold?

Will the Coyotes miss Yandle? You bet. Will the team better because of it? I think so. They have the pieces in place to build this team from the ground up, the way good teams have, like the Red Wings have. To be successful you must draft good players, be patient and develop them to build a winner. GM Don Maloney thinks he can do it. It will be fun watching young players like Max Domi, and Anthony Duclair become NHL players. This season was tough to swallow as a fan, but stay tuned desert dwellers… it should be better next year.

Next: Arizona Coyotes deal Keith Yandle to Rangers for Duclair, Draft picks

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