Injuries could force Arizona Coyotes to make tactical changes to start season

The Arizona Coyotes are struggling with injuries to a number of key players, potentially forcing the team to make some tactical changes once the season officially starts next week.

As previously reported, Alex Galchenyuk is listed week-to-week with a lower-body injury and is expected to miss the team’s opening game of the season against the Dallas Stars.

But Galchenyuk isn’t the only big name player that the Coyotes are missing, with Christian Dvorak, Jakob Chychrun and Dylan Strome all currently sidelined.

Strome has, however, begun training with the team again and should be ready to line-up for the team against the Stars, and may find himself having to fill the hole left by either Galchenyuk or Dvorak.

Strome is typically utilised as a winger by the Arizona Coyotes, but has played as a centre in juniors and could be the player called upon to take over from Dvorak as the team’s third-liner down the middle.

With Strome also just starting to return from injury, it is unlikely that he would be risked on the second line role, with Ric Trocchet wanting to limit the chances of an injury recurrence as best as possible.

Clayton Keller, however, could find himself pushed back inside to fill the second-line centre role currently vacated by Galchenyuk.

Keller has played centre at all levels but has been used as a winger on Derek Stepan‘s line since breaking into the Coyotes’ lineup, having a stellar rookie campaign that saw the young American score 23 goals and earn 65 total points in 82 games last season.

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Chychrun’s injury is arguably the most manageable for the Coyotes organisation, with the off-season addition of Jordan Oesterle giving the team a dependable depth option.

Oesterle played 55 games for the Chicago Blackhawks last season, the most he has ever played in the NHL, and looks to have carried his solid performances over to his new team.

Oesterle may find himself used as a regular on the Arizona Coyotes’ bottom defensive pairing and is likely to get plenty of ice time while Chychrun works his way back from ACL surgery he underwent in April.

The Coyotes, though, will be disappointed that the 2018/19 season is starting with some many injury concerns already.

The team suffered an eleven game losing streak to start last season, sporting a 0-10-1 record before beating the Philadelphia Flyers on October 30th.

This year, the team is optimistic that is can progress and even potentially push for a playoff spot, having retained largely their top players from last season as well as making important additions such as Galchenyuk and Michael Grabner.

This year’s team should be able to pick up wins far earlier, with two games against the Corey Perry-less Anaheim Ducks, and games against the young, developing Buffalo Sabres and the rebuilding Vancouver Canucks all coming in the first month for the Coyotes.

But having their best players return from injury will be crucial to ensuring they do not slip to another disappointing season start.

Having players play out of position is frustrating for the organisation, but it is a necessity until their injured players are able to return.

What do you think Coyotes fans? Which injured player is the biggest loss to the team? Will they manage to improve on last season’s difficult start? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!