Arizona Coyotes: Getting Tougher To Push Around

By William Grigsby |

Adding Downie, Scott, Richardson Should Make Arizona Coyotes A Tough Opponent

When I first noticed that the Arizona Coyotes had added Steve Downie as a free agent acquisition, I was a bit puzzled. I mean he led the ENTIRE NHL in penalty minutes last season with 238. Now, I don’t know about you, but last season the team was horrible in the penalty kill, ranking near the bottom of the league with a 76.7% kill rate.

So, adding Downie was strange… unless management is tired of seeing the smaller forwards being pushed around. With Paul Bissionnette gone, and B.J. Crombeen not being offered a contract from last season, it would just leave Kyle Chipchura alone as the tough guy on the team. Chipchura can hold his own, but Downie will aid in that department now.

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Add in that both Downie and Chipchura will be able to add to the offense, and not just be out there to goon it up… so to speak. It then becomes a bit clearer… but not much.

Then, when the Arizona Coyotes signed John (the giant) Scott to a one-year contract, I was completely stymied as to the team’s motive. This guy does NOT add to the offense, but I don’t know too many sane NHL players who would challenge him to fisticuffs. I mean he’s the size of a middle linebacker in the NFL.

He will more than likely be used to play against the more physical teams like the L.A. Kings (who got bigger with the addition of Lucic), and the Anahiem Ducks (who are just plain big anyway). He may only play as much, or less than Crombeen did last season, (eight minutes a game, 53 games) which means he won’t be on the ice much.

Still, in my opinion that roster spot could be used more wisely by the never-ending list of young prospects. I mean, comeon fans tell me you would rather see a John Scott meandering on the ice looking for a victim to fight with, or watch a developing young player like Brendan Perlini, or Christian Dvorak show us what they’ve got?

Then, finally the Arizona Coyotes added Brad Richardson who must have impressed GM Don Maloney. He got inked to a three-year free agent contract, and the team wasn’t handing out multi-year contracts much at all this long hot summer.

He is more of a player who uses his physical attributes to win puck battles, which was a definite shortcoming last season. His additional talent as a penalty killer will make up for the loss of Lauri Korpikoski, who was part of that unit until he was swapped for Boyd Gordon.

Speaking of Boyd Gordon, this was an excellent addition to the Arizona Coyotes arsenal. He wins face-offs in the 57% ratio, and that will only help the team with their poor puck possession numbers of last season. He also is an prolific shot blocker, with him and Michalek helping Smitty play net, the fewer shots getting towards the net, the better.

What all of this will mean when the season begins is still difficult to surmise. Will they be tougher, and be able to protect their younger, smaller forwards like Max Domi? Probably. Will that result in more wins? Not especially.

NOW, OTHER TEAMS PLAYING THE ARIZONA COYOTES WILL NEED TO REALIZE THEY WON’T BE PUSHED AROUND ANYMORE…AND IF THEY TRY IT MR. DOWNIE, OR MR. SCOTT WILL TRY TO CHANGE THEIR OPINION ON THAT. I REALLY WOULDN’T ADVISE THAT.

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