Arizona Coyotes: 2014-2015 Season Player Reviews-Forwards

By William Grigsby |

A Season In Review: Rating The Arizona Coyotes Individual Players – Forwards

Part 1 of 2 Ok, so as a team the Arizona Coyotes did not meet expectations. I know it’s a team sport, and team play is integral to team success, but I’m going to give my evaluation of the players performance individually. My rating system will be from A – F … you know like your school report card.

There was no doubt that the Arizona Coyotes offense was one of the weakest in the NHL last season. Let’s see how I rate these players:

NOTE: THIS IS JUST THE FORWARDS – D-MEN/GOALIES WILL FOLLOW IN ANOTHER POST

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Mark Arcobello – (B+) Mark came in here claimed off of waivers, playing on his fourth team of the season, and added an element to the offense, which was pretty depleted — SCORING. His nine goals, seven assists in 27 games, with a 15.3 shot percentage says the Arizona Coyotes should retain him next season. He knows how to score, and may not have size, but makes up for it in speed and tenacity.
Mikkel Boedker – (B+) Mikkel was having an excellent season when he was struck down by a season-ending injury, requiring surgery to remove his spleen. He registered 14 goals, 14 assists in 45 games, and seemed to be showing why he has a bright future with the team. This after an excellent ’13-’14 season where he collected 19 goals and 32 assists, playing all 82 games. The Arizona Coyotes need to re-sign him, and I think they will. He showed in the beginning of this past season he can score in bunches, and that is a valuable trait.
Kyle Chipchura – ( C ) Kyle went from being placed on waivers, to becoming an alternate captain this past season. I have always liked his grit and determination. Guys like him who dig the puck out of the corners may not show up in the scoring sheet too much, but their contribution is priceless. His leadership in the dressing room is what got him the “A” on his sweater.
B.J. Crombeen – ( D) Not a big fan of B.J., due to his playing without emotional intelligence. There were too many games I watched him play where he was trying to throw his weight around, and instead should have been concentrating on helping his team win. I do not see him wearing a Coyotes uniform next season. Every team needs a tough guy, but the days of “gooning” are pretty much over in the NHL. So are B.J.’s playing days with the Coyotes.
Craig Cunningham – (C+) Craig was claimed off of waivers after the trade deadline depleted the Coyotes’ roster. He performed well in the 19 games he appeared with one goal, and 3 assists. He may be smaller than Tye McGinn, but I like his hustle more, and believe he will be a good fourth line player for the team next season. There will be plenty of competition for jobs at camp, so he will need to earn his spot.

Shane Doan – (B-) Shane’s numbers are dropping, but his courage, determination, and leadership have never been doubted. He IS the Arizona Coyotes, and even though it was a less than fortunate season, Doan was in the thick of it every game he played. I have heard rumors (the Jets, really?) he may want to move on, and not be part of the “retooling” going on with the team. I seriously doubt that he will be anywhere but in a Coyotes uniform, with the capital “C” on the front of it. He epitomizes what a leader should be, and his contribution going forward will be vital. The young players around him need to absorb what he does, and emulate his effort. Captain Coyote is like a priceless jewel.
Martin Erat – (D) Erat just didn’t play well enough to earn his $4.5M salary. 9 goals, 23 assists in 79 games just doesn’t cut it. I’m pretty certain he will not be back next season. With the influx of young prospects like Max Domi, Anthony Duclair, and perhaps the #3 draft pick, there just aren’t enough roster spots for a marginal player like him. I was never in favor of the trade which brought him to Arizona, giving up a good, young prospect like Chris Brown. Erat will be 34 soon, and won’t fit into the youth movement the team is heading towards.
Sam Gagner – (C+) Sam had a very decent second half of the season, after GM Don Maloney acquired his services from Tampa Bay, along with B.J. Crombeen for a sixth round draft pick this summer. He seemed to take a bit of time to adjust to his line-mates, and the style of play Coach Tippett uses, but he managed 15 goals, 26 assists in 81 games. Throw in six power play goals and one game winner, and he had a pretty decent season. I think he was putting too much pressure on himself after the team failed to sign Radim Vrbata and lost Mike Ribiero’s scoring as well. He has potential of scoring 20 goals, and had some good offensive chances this past season… now he needs to cash in on them. He can be a solid second or third line forward.
Martin Hanzal – (C-) Hanzal was plagued by injuries and missed games, hurting the team’s chances. He is a BIG forward, who plays solid defense, and uses his size to screen the opposing goalie. He finally decided that he would have back surgery to resolve the missing game syndrome. Expect Hanzal to make a full recovery, and hopefully do the summer work required to be in top playing shape for next season. I am very excited to have him back, and if Coach Tippett puts Domi, and Henrik Samuelsson on his line good things could happen. Marty is known as a shutdown player, but he also can score, and had a nice hat trick vs Vancouver.
Lauri Korpikoski – (C-) He had an average season, with 6 goals, 15 assists in 69 games. I would not be surprised if his name comes up in trade talks with teams wanting to move up in the draft. If the Arizona Coyotes decide to trade down their third overall pick to acquire an asset like say… Toronto D-man Dion Phaneuf, that might work. Phaneuf fits into a Dave Tippett defensive style, and Korpi is being paid $2.5 M until 2017. Phaneuf’s $49 M seven year contract expiring in 2021 may be prohibitive unless Toronto picks up some salary. He would be a solid D-man to help tutor the young pups on the blue-line.
Tye McGinn – (C-) He was claimed off waivers at the same time as Cunningham was, and was a fourth liner who has just one goal, one assist in 18 games. I’d say he will more than likely not get picked up for next season. Between him and Cunningham, I would choose the latter. McGinn may find another home, but it won’t be in Phoenix, Arizona.
Dave Moss – (D) “Bad Luck Dave”, as I call him just couldn’t get anything to work for him this past season. He had just 4 goals, 8 assists in 60 games, with so many near misses I lost count. He did score two goals in one game near the end of the season, but overall I don’t see him staying with the team. He is 33 now, and another who just doesn’t fit into the youth movement plans of the Desert Dogs. He will find a team who wants him, he just needs to pick up a rabbit’s foot, something… to change his luck.
Tobias Rieder – (B+) This young man, whom I’ve nicknamed “Speeder Rieder” has all the tools to become a good NHL forward. Not only did he score 3 of the 4 short-handed goals for the Arizona Coyotes, he showed why youth and speed are GM Don Maloney’s goals for a successful team next season. I can see him on a line with young prospect Anthony Duclair, or Max Domi for that matter, as well. He has a full season of experience under his belt, and next season he should only get better. His 13 goals, 8 assists for 21 points helped his team look forward to better things next season.
Henrik Samuelsson – ( C ) Henrik has some promise, and was called up from Portland for three games without scoring. He performed well with the Pirates with 18 goals and 22 assists in 68 games, including 7 PPG. In the Calder Cup playoffs he collected two more power play goals and three assists in five games. He’s going to be given a chance to make the roster with the Arizona Coyotes and hopefully will work over the summer to improve his skating. At 6′ 3″, 210 lbs his size will help the team.
Joe Vitale – I coined Joe as “Mr. Hustle” because he does exactly that… HUSTLES. His drive and determination speaks for itself. He only had 3 goals, and 6 assists in 70 games while playing on the fourth line, but Joe contributes in other ways while on the ice. That was why the Arizona Coyotes signed him to a three-year $3.35 M contract.

That about does it, see part 2 for the evaluation of the D-men/goalies

Next: Arizona Coyotes: 2014-2015 Season Player Reviews-D-Men/Goalies

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