Howlin' Hockey
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Arizona Coyotes’ Youth Continues Developing Despite Team’s Struggles

By Alex Temes

Dec 19, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes left wing Christian Dvorak (18) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the first period against the Calgary Flames at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes left wing Christian Dvorak (18) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the first period against the Calgary Flames at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Arizona Coyotes have been playing better hockey lately and while that uptick in place won’t help the team’s case in looking for relevance in the standings, their core group of prospects have begun to take big steps forward.

Over the last ten games, the Arizona Coyotes have won four and lost six.

And while that record doesn’t scream improvement on a team which sits next to bottom in the standings, the growth is beginning to show in a big way. That growth starts with the youth.

In those same ten games, the Coyotes have scored 67 total points, whether they be even strength, power play or otherwise. Of those 67 points, 17 have come from rookie players, or about 25.4% of all points scored.

Moreover, a majority of those points were goals.

And while the Coyotes have not won much in those last ten games, the rookies have not only been present, but impactful. Jakob Chychrun has 4 points over those 10 games. Lawson Crouse and Brendan Perlini have the same amount.

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Just a touch below those three, Christian Dvorak has three points, two of which against his hometown Chicago Blackhawks. Rounding out the rookie scoring over the past ten is recent demotion Christian Fischer.

Fischer, who broke into the league with two goals in two straight games, showed flashes of brilliance during his stint with he NHL squad. Fischer was a spark plug for the team during their brief winning streak over the Panthers, Lightning and Canucks. And while Fischer was demoted, which was probably for the best, he made an impact.

But the most important part of all of this is how the team has rallied around the youth in such a trying time for the organization. Year in and year out, the Arizona Coyotes are at odds with the world of hockey and politics.

So far, this season has been no different.

Arizona State University recently pulled out of an agreement for a new stadium in Tempe and new rumors of relocation are swirling (however unreliable those sources are).

The team is once again sitting at the bottom of the NHL fish tank and many veterans like Shane Doan and Martin Hanzal appear to be halfway out the door.

Yet in all of this uncertainty, Arizona Coyotes fans can certainly take solace in the youth movement and trust that the process is finally beginning to work.

Next: Arizona Coyotes Prospect Kyle Wood Shining In First Season With Roadrunners

Top prospects like Crouse, Dvorak and Perlini are getting valuable minutes in the top league in the world and succeeding.

Christian Fischer jumped up to that league and shined. There is a future for hockey in Arizona, both with the team and the sport.

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