Mar 14, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Jersey Devils right wing Jordin Tootoo (20) skates into Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) in the first period at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
” Oh no you don’t Mr. Tootoo… you are NOT going into MY trapezoid.. not in MY house ! ” – Mike Smith, Arizona Coyotes Goalie
The Arizona Coyotes played well early, outshooting the N.J. Devils 13-6 in the first period… BUT (and this is a big BUT) they couldn’t come up big when the opportunities presented themselves. Is that the story of this dismal season, or what? Mike Smith has been playing better hockey overall of late, but his teammates have not provided him much offense to support his efforts.
Much like a baseball team not scoring for a pitcher keeping them in the game, if your offense is not doing their job, the results are usually not pretty. Such was the case this Saturday night at Gila River Arena, where the Coyotes continued their losing ways by dropping a 4-1 decision to New Jersey. Since game 42 of this season, the Yotes have only managed 14 points in 27 games, and have a .362 Pts% over the season. When you give up 3.33 goals a game and only score 2.10, it’s a long trip down to the rink to play a game.
Tonight, the only mistake Mike Smith might have made is give up too many rebounds, which the Devils pounced on leading to their success. The Coyotes young defense was not able to box out players coming in to collect those rebounds and turn on the red light. It’s been the story of the season. Frankly, of late Mike Smith is losing his cool when opposing players either crash his crease or leave him out to dry, and I can’t say I blame him.
I don’t think this team is “tanking”, as many have suggested to be the best route to a Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel sweepstakes in the NHL Entry Draft this summer. I don’t think Coach Dave Tippett would allow such behavior, as he is accustomed to winning more than losing if you look at his career as an NHL coach. It can perhaps be attributed to the team being young, especially the defense, and Mike Smith having a completely lousy year.
Live Feed class=inline-text id=inline-text-8Looking back at the Blackhawks' trades involving Andrew Ladd /
Will it all become a distant memory once this season mercifully ends, and the promise of next year develops? I certainly hope so. Losing is a culture that tends to grow like a cancer, and it needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. Has GM Don Maloney done his part in getting that moving? I think so.
He has some draft picks, which are always an excellent asset to possess going in the off season, and some good prospects like Andrew Duclair (acquired in the Yandle trade), Max Domi (tearing up the OHL), Christain Dvorak (also tearing up the OHL, and a teammate of Domi on the London Knights).
Add in prospects like Henrik Samuelsson, Lucas Lessio, Philip Samuelsson (Henrik’s brother) all playing in the AHL for the Coyotes’ Portland, Maine affiliate , and you begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel… or at least it’s in view.
Next: Is Mike Smith Worth the Wait?
Mar 14, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes right wing B.J. Crombeen (44) and New Jersey Devils right wing Jordin Tootoo (20) fight as goalie Mike Smith (41), NHL linesman Shane Heyer (55) and linesman Mark Shewchyk (92) look on in the first period at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
” Listen Tootoo.. when my goalie says stay out of his trapezoid, he means it!” – B.J. Crombeen, Arizona Coyotes Right Wing (and enforcer)
Actually, Jordin Tootoo had a respectable game recording a goal and an assist. He riled Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith by crashing into him in the trapezoid behind the net. B.J. Crombeen, defending his teammate and doing his job as the team enforcer, engaged Tootoo in some fisticuffs after he attempted to bulldoze his way throughMike Smith. He collected a roughing penalty, as well as a fighting major for his efforts.
I suspect Mike Smith’s patience level is decreasing with each loss. He does have a fiery edge to him at times, and always likes to roam out of his net to retrieve loose pucks like he’s a defenseman. Sometimes he will run into some interference back there, and this time he had enough.
During the previous game against the Blackhawks Smitty lost his cookies when a Hawks player was pushed into his blue painted crease, and he pummeled away in retaliation. His head was down, and he didn’t see that the Hawk’s player was pushed into his crease, and it cost him a roughing penalty.
I can only surmise that the Coyotes will continue to go with the premise that Mike Smith is their guy in between the pipes, but it’s beginning to appear that they made a vital mistake on his contract. I myself am of the belief that Smith had one incredible season, which before that time he showed no indication that he had that in him.
The Coyotes went along with the idea that he brought them to the promise land, and gifted him a hefty contract amounting to insane money totaling $5.67 M a year for six years.
Will his lack of performance mean the team will consider dumping his contract much like they decided to do with Mike Ribeiro? I doubt they afford that. Even with new majority owner Andrew Barroway, throwing away that much money with nothing in return is financial suicide.
Then again, you can’t trade Smith… not now when his worth is falling faster than a comet in the western sky. If the team is “married” to Smith, it may not turn out too delightful for either the team or Mike Smith. There are a couple of goalie prospects the team may entertain taking a closer look at, like Mark Visentin, and Louie Domingue who may be able to step in to replace Smith.
One only needs to look at the numbers to see something needs to change…
The Coyotes’ team goals-against average from 2011-2014:
2011-12 2.37 (5th)
2012 (lockout season) 2.60 (15th)
2013-14 2.73 (18th)
2014-15 3.33 (28th)
I don’t have the solution for what to do about Mike Smith. I think the team learned a valuable lesson that you need to see constant, excellent performance (not just one season) to reward a mega-contract as they did. When the Arizona Coyotes traded Devan Dubnyk away to Minnesota it was more out of respect to Mike Smith, and giving him the chance to redeem himself — so far that hasn’t been the case.
Dubnyk has merely gone on to get the Wild back in the playoff hunt with an astounding 19-5-1 record, including a .937 SV%, and a 1.69 GAA, something Mike Smith can only dream about. All in all, next season should be more exciting than a James Bond movie, and bring your popcorn — this could be good!
