Arizona Coyotes’ Brandon Gormley’s Make or Break Year
Arizona Coyotes Brandon Gormley’s needs to step up, or lose out
This season for Brandon Gormley will decide if he stays in an Arizona Coyotes uniform, or gets sent down to the AHL, or traded. He does have to clear waivers, so that is to his advantage over another young D-man, Klas Dahlbeck. He signed a one-year two-way contract on August 6th.
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When chosen as the 13th overall pick by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, it was hoped that he would have progressed further by now. There are other defensemen showing more promise — like Connor Murphy and Klas Dahlbeck, so if Gormley wants to remain in the NHL, and more specifically here in Arizona, he needs to step up in training camp and show it.
So far he has only appeared in 32 games for the Coyotes over the 2013-14, and 2015-15 seasons. He did have two goals and two assists last season, including one power play goal, while taking 39 shots on goal.
When I first saw Gormley play, his style of play reminded me of Keith Yandle. He had good stats playing in Portland of the AHL. He has collected 16 goals, 60 assists for 76 points in 149 games. That comes in as 0.51 points per game, which is adequate, but it is still the AHL. He has competition up against his progress in the form of Connor Murphy, and Klas Dahlbeck.
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If Gormley fails to impress management and the coaching staff enough to keep him on the roster, I think he may be trade-bait, or will linger in the AHL for yet another season.
He will be the odd man out, if he doesn’t show something soon. With the Arizona Coyotes bringing back Michalek, and adding Grossmann from the Flyers trade, the defense has a slot open for him to take, if he so desires.
The Yotes have an overflow of forwards in their prospect ‘bank’, but few blue-liners to choose from to fill openings. They did draft a couple of prospects Kyle Capobianco and signed Dakota Mermis as an insurance in case another D-man is needed soon. Unless the team is looking into signing a Cody Franson to a free agent contract, and waiting until his price comes down, the defenseman pool is a bit thin.
With all that being said, Brandon Gormley has GOT to be motivated enough to play well this upcoming season.
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