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Arizona Coyotes: What It Will Take To Make Playoffs

By William Grigsby

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As The New Season Approaches, How The Arizona Coyotes Can Make Playoffs

I know, everyone reading this will probably wonder if I’ve been out in the desert sun excessively, and lost all my faculties for logical thinking. I am not saying that the Arizona Coyotes WILL make the playoffs this season (unless they sign someone awesome like Cody Franson, that is…), I am merely going to review what it has taken over the past several seasons for a team to qualify in the tough Pacific division, and the tougher Western Conference.

Here’s how hard it has been to qualify the past several full seasons:

  • 2011-12 – L.A. Kings made it with 95 points (before the wild card system was implemented)
  • 2013-14 – Dallas Stars made it with 91 points
  • 2014-15 – Calgary Flames made it with 97 points

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If you average the required point total (for argument’s sake) over those three seasons it comes to an average 94.3 points to get to the post season. The competition is certainly tough, and the Arizona Coyotes may find it too tough.

Now, in two to three seasons when the young guns prospects start to really play to their potential, and get accustomed to NHL caliber play, they may jump into that elite group who don’t go home in April.

Does the current roster dictate even a sparse chance of a White-out taking place next spring? I respectfully, and remorsefully think NOT. I mean the stranger things have happened.

A prime example is how the Calgary Flames jumped from 13th in the Western Conference in the 2013-14 season with only 77 points, to a wild card finish last season with 97 points. It can happen…IF the roster changes made allow it to happen.

Jumping 20 points for the Arizona Coyotes won’t do much to even be close to a playoff spot, since last season’s point total was only 56 points. I don’t see how they will even get close to 94 points… now if they had been able to draft McDavid or Eichel, I may have a different opinion. No discredit to Dylan Strome, but you’re no McDavid or Eichel.

I’ve already expressed my displeasure with the roster changes made by the Arizona Coyotes this off-season. It doesn’t seem that enough has been done to make this team a playoff-bound team. The only thing I can see now which might change that (and it’s definitely not a guarantee) would be if the Arizona Coyotes won the Cody Franson sweepstakes.

At this point, it doesn’t appear they even stand a chance. Everything I’ve been reading has the Boston Bruins all over getting Franson to try to make up for losing Dougie Hamilton to the Flames. His addition allows the Flames to be instant playoff contenders again this upcoming season.

I will predict that the Arizona Coyotes will finish with about 69-75 points, which will be a step in the right direction.

Unfortunately, it will NOT be adequate to qualify for the playoffs. Maybe next year guys… well, more like the following year.

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