Arizona Coyotes Have Uphill Climb To Respectability

By William Grigsby |

As the excitement for the new 2015-16 season begins, the Arizona Coyotes must take a reality check

Many “experts” are predicting that this version of the Arizona Coyotes’ team will not be much better than last season. They are saying perhaps in the 70-75 point range, which would be an improvement from the disappointing 56 points attained last year, when the team underachieved in record levels.

But not good enough to get to the post-season, or even near the level of play required to be a playoff team.

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Sure, there is plenty of excitement about Max Domi and Anthony Duclair’s possible contributions, but in reality this team cannot compete in the ever tough Western Conference. Then, add in the fact that the Edmonton Oilers will be better, and in the East the Buffalo Sabres will be much better as well. Where does that leave the Arizona Coyotes as far as where they may finish in the NHL standings? Many say dead last.

Sep 29, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes center Max Domi (16) carries the puck during the first period against the San Jose Sharks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

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And if you listened to Head Coach Dave Tippett after last season’s fiasco, he is not going to be able to sustain another season like that. He could be gone, and so could GM Don Maloney.

If they do finish dead last, the Coyotes will have a better shot at drafting their own impact player in home grown Auston Matthews. I’m not saying that they will tank on purpose to get there, but look at what they did to improve this team. They brought back three former players in Vermette, Michalek, and Gordon to give appearances that they are truly trying to improve.

Then, they brought in the talentless (oh I forgot he is BIG) John Scott, who is taking up a roster spot… for what? I would have cut Scott or Chipchura, and given Plachta a roster spot. They need SCORING, and yet they kept both of these tough guys…one will do.

In my opinion, they are not going full board with the youth movement by only adding two young prospects in Domi and Duclair. It was a rerun when they sent Dylan Strome back to his junior Erie Otter team in the OHL on Sunday. He needs more development, needs to build his strength up, blah, blah, blah. We heard that with Max Domi, and each player is different. I think Strome showed remarkable maturity for his age, and should have been given a shot to play in the NHL.

He is young, and so are some other players who are playing this season, like the number one pick Connor McDavid, and the second overall pick, Jack Eichel. So, the conjecture becomes, are they holding back on Strome because they want a chance to draft Matthews? If tanking was their intention to attract either McDavid or Eichel, the plan failed, as they were outdone in luck by the Oilers.

It’s hard to judge this team’s intentions when they have so much money to spend under the cap, and the ownership group brags that they want a winner here, yet they fail to spend any money to acquire good players.

The sad part is they will lose a good team in HC Tippett and GM Don Maloney, who have done wonders with duct tape and paper clips to keep this team together.

Not only does this team face adversity on the ice, they face it off the ice as well. By the New Year if they don’t have a new lease agreement at least discussed with the controversial City of Glendale, then they will need to find a new home to play hockey. The ownership group is already miffed that the city is seeking another company to manage Gila River arena.

If the city continues on this path, they will not only have a building without events to pay for it, but they will have plenty of Arizona Coyotes fans very distraught with them.

And the way they have been playing of late, with all the obstacles, they could very well could be leaving Arizona for greener pastures elsewhere.

It would be a bummer, I’d miss NHL hockey here… I really would.

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