Arizona Coyotes’ Biggest Questions Entering 2016-17 Season
Where will the Coyotes finish in the Pacific Division? Did they improve enough to make a real run at the playoffs?
Jonathan King:
How the Coyotes finish the season will be up to the rookies showing up and no sophomore slump for Max Domi and Anthony Duclair. And of course, goaltending.
This team is designed much like Team North America, with youth, speed, and skill. Just like that team barely missed advancing in the World Cup, the margin of error in the Pacific Division for the Coyotes is also razor thin. Making the playoffs means beating some powerhouse teams, and that comes down to unbelievable goaltending, staying healthy, and some lucky bounces.
With all of that, if the team can play as good on the road as it knows it can do at home, the playoffs can happen.
Caitlyn Pence:
I definitely predict the Coyotes making playoffs this season.
We have stronger lines, not as many “holes” as the past seasons. We have star quality players and a good coaching staff and GM to make the decisions necessary.
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Our puck possession looks to grow this season and with stronger defense, hopefully that means less short-handed goals against us. Staying healthy will also play a huge part in success, with Michael Stone, Martin Hanzal, and Mike Smith back I see a huge difference.
I predict them finishing third or fourth in the division. With Quick out for the Kings, that definitely helps when facing the Kings and helps other teams beat them, pushing the Arizona Coyotes above them.
Drew Walters:
I think they finish fourth.
The Canucks are stuck in a strange place where they are trying to be a playoff team but need to rebuild. The Ducks fired one of the best coaches in the league and replaced him with Randy Carlyle, one of the worst. They also lost a lot of their forward depth, replacing it with Antoine Vermette and Jared Boll…
The Oilers traded both Taylor Hall and Nail Yakupov for peanuts and STILL don’t have a solid defense. The Coyotes strengthened their defense with Goligoski and Chychrun and their offense with Strome, Dvorak, and Vrbata.
They will finish above these three teams and grab one of the wild card spots.