Arizona Coyotes: Six Questions After Rough Start In Desert
Alex Goligoski is signed for four more seasons at a hefty price tag. His Coyotes debut has, however, been rather lackluster. Reason for concern, or nothing to see here?
Alex Temes:
I have a tendency to be highly critical of defenseman, and I already have been of Alex Goligoski.
But I think it’s too early to judge Goli’s contract.
Sure, his debut has been underwhelming, but he does fill that top-4 puck moving defenseman role that Arizona has needed.
I think if he gets a solid defensive partner who can cover his back when he jumps up into a offensive play (maybe Luke Schenn), Goligoski’s reviews will become increasingly positive.
Jason Harrison:
There was basically no other outcome for Goligoski than to be questioned by Coyotes faithful.
After all, this is the same fan base that was happy to see Keith Yandle go.
The difference between the two is mostly negligible.
Goligoski is perhaps a little more responsible in his own end, while Yandle puts up higher point totals overall.
They play a similar game which is offensively gifted though not particularly flashy. Defensively it can be an adventure from time to time, but you have to take the good with the bad.
Alex Goligoski is going to have turnovers. The way he plays it’d be hard to avoid them, but like his predecessor Yandle.
With that said, it has been a particularly rough go for him here at the start of the season.
Given his age, odds are the back end of his five-year contract might be painful for Arizona. I don’t think it’s anything they need to be concerned about just yet, though.
Jonathan King:
Goligoski is a good blue-liner, but he is having a rough go of it.
New team, new part of the country, new baby, and he just bought a new house.
That’s a lot of new.
Playing well is about being comfortable, and it may take a while for him, his family, and his play to get settled.
I think he deserves a pass for a while, and mid-way through the season we can get a better look at how things are going.