Arizona Coyotes Defensive Logjam Is A Good Thing

As of now, the Arizona Coyotes have 11 NHL caliber defenseman on the depth chart, but this plethora of players on the blue line isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

During the dog days down the stretch last season in February, the Arizona Coyotes were losing and they were losing a lot.

Louis Domingue could only carry the team so far in the absence of Mike Smith while the offense, including star rookies Max Domi and Anthony Duclair, went into a horrific slump.

But the worst part of that long slide out of the playoff picture was, by far, the defense.

Arizona could not get the puck out of the defensive zone and there was no change they could make to fix their defensive woes. The defense was stagnant and lifeless.

Now fast forward to the present, just under 70 days from the start of the new season and the Yotes have picked up a variety of defensemen. In spite of that, some would say the changes won’t really change anything, particularly because the depth players that struggled last year remain with the team.

Yet others, like me, take a far more optimistic view of the situation.

The Arizona Coyotes now have so much talent at a position that they had no depth in last season that they are set-up for some healthy competition, which may lead to success.

And even though only seven players will actually make the team, looking at each of them objectively could do pessimistic fans some good. Every player has a strong suit, but sometimes that set of skills isn’t outwardly evident.

Let’s take an objective look at Arizona’s defensemen, focusing on what each defenseman brings to the team in a positive manner which will help deliver the Coyotes back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Next: Oliver Ekman-Larsson