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Reasons for hope in the Arizona Coyotes going into 2019-20

By Jim Lynch

EDMONTON, AB - FEBRUARY 19: Derek Stepan #21 of the Arizona Coyotes celebrates after a goal during the game against the Edmonton Oilers on February 19, 2019 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB - FEBRUARY 19: Derek Stepan #21 of the Arizona Coyotes celebrates after a goal during the game against the Edmonton Oilers on February 19, 2019 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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It’s been 7 seasons since the Coyotes have been to the playoffs. 7 long years, the league has changed a lot since then, Vegas did not have a hockey team, Shane Doan was still in the NHL, and the Coyotes weren’t the Arizona Coyotes. They were the Phoenix Coyotes.

Things change fast in the NHL, in what feels like a blink of an eye, the Coyotes have gone from 1st in the Pacific and conference final appearance, to 6 straight years without a playoff game.

Something seems different this year though, maybe it’s the introduction of a two-time Stanley Cup Champion in Phil Kessel, or the growth of young players like Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, Christian Dvorak, and Christian Fischer. Maybe it has something to do with the mere 4 points that separated the Coyotes from the playoffs and the golf course last season. This team is hungry, and they have the potential to really be something. It all starts now.

Coyotes fans, you have nowhere to go but up. Let‘s face it the last few years haven’t been the most fun. But this team has the pieces to succeed this year. It all starts with the coaching staff. Arizona Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet is entering his third season with the team, and has improved them every season. His first year the ‘Yotes went 29-41-12, then in 2018-19 the team went 39-35-8 let’s hope that showcases an upward trend for the Coyotes.

The Coyotes were in the mix of the playoffs last season. Until they finished the year 3-5-2 that is. I believe that the young players in Arizona’s roster just got too psyched out to go out and play. Realizing they were playing for a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and not just another game with a record under 500, psyched out the young team.

This season is all about growing your future core group to succeed in the long-term, and maybe along the way the Coyotes will sneak into the playoffs. Just think, it was not that long ago that the Carolina Hurricanes, a young team with new ownership and little past success, went on a storm surge and made it all the way to the conference finals. Maybe it is Arizona’s time.

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