Arizona Coyotes: Roster Changes Not Significant Enough

By William Grigsby |

Arizona Coyotes Haven’t Really Made Strives To Improve Their Roster This Off-season

For some reason I’m getting this feeling in my gut (the worst place) that the moves made by the Arizona Coyotes this off-season — thus far are not going to do it. I mean last off-season I watched in literal disgust how free agent after free agent was gobbled up by some other team. Maybe it was about money, not sure, but what is the excuse this off-season?

So far the Arizona Coyotes have signed three former players (Vermette, Michalek, Gordon), and added Brad Richardson, Nicklaus Grossmann, Steve Downie (really questionable), and then a real puzzling signing of John (the GIANT) Scott. Hardly anything to get a team who failed miserably last season out of the doldrums.

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While I must admit, I am looking forward to seeing the young prospects play, the team has let free agent after free agent, or possible trade candidate get away from them. Is it just me, or would a Bryan Bickell, Patrick Sharp (traded to Dallas) or Johnny Oduya (signed as a free agent by… Dallas again?) help this team advance? What it does tell me is the Dallas Stars are improving their team, and spending the money to put a competitive team out there.

Re-signing Vermette was a good step, but he was a #3 center for the Blackhawks and will be a top line center for the Arizona Coyotes. Adding Michalek, a good defender who blocks shots like a goalie worked out well, since they received the 30th overall pick for him from Chicago, and used that pick to select Nicholas Merkley.

The problem I have with both these signings is Vermette will turn 33 July 20th, and Michalek will be 33 two days before Christmas. They both signed a two-year deal, and I just feel they could have gotten a couple younger guys to go along with their rebuild. A guy like Brandon Saad (22 years old) would have made the statement that the team wants to improve and invest in their future. Even a guy like T.J. Oshie (29 years old) would have been better.

Boyd Gordon being added for Lauri Korpikoski has been the only really quality deal so far. Nicklaus Grossmann is questionable. Besides his size, the jury is still out as to whether he’s going to add much to a weak defense. Same thing with Brad Richardson, who will be a third line player at best. He may be good for 30 points or so. The team has not addressed it’s vital needs: OFFENSE, DEFENSE, GOALTENDING.

Speaking of goaltending — there were some other alternatives for backup goalies, and the choice made may not be that great. Really, I’m still upset they let Dubnyk go. Look how he has done. But, they made their bed with the deal they gave Mike Smith, and now they can only hope that he has improved adequately enough to make the team finish better than 29th.

The addition of Downie has me scratching my head. He was the MOST UNDISCIPLINED player in the NHL last season, getting 238 PIM in 72 games, meaning he averaged 3.3 penalty minutes a game. Since he only averaged 12.26 minutes a game, that means he was in the penalty box 25% of the time he played! NOT GOOD for the Arizona Coyotes, with the poor penalty killing numbers they had last season.

All in all, unless some other deals, signings are done this team may finish 26th-29th.. or 30th. OUCH that hurts to write that, but think about it — Edmonton will be better with McDavid (the second coming of Crosby/Gretzky) and Buffalo will be better with Kane, O’Reilly, and Jack (I can shoot a puck THROUGH the net) Eichel.

I’m telling you now, if this team finishes that poorly again, the Arizona Coyotes fans may be asking them to re-locate. COMEON Maloney — DO SOMETHING!

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