Finding the experience in the Arizona Coyotes locker room

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The Arizona Coyotes are one of the youngest NHL teams in the NHL. With a majority of the starting roster under the age of 25. With so many players that have developed within the organization sometimes that takes away from the experience on the ice.

Not every team is chasing a Stanley Cup every year. The Coyotes have not been to the playoffs since 2012, a good portion of the Coyotes roster was not even drafted in 2012.

However a core group of players have experience they can share to the younger players. The Coyotes have a combined 7 Stanley Cup championships in their locker room. 7 different experiences that can help lead the ‘Yotes to success this year.

Let’s take a look at the group of players in Arizona’s locker room that have done it all in the NHL.

Phil Kessel (Pittsburgh 2016, 2017)

PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 10: Arizona Coyotes Goalie Darcy Kuemper (35) makes a glove save on Pittsburgh Penguins Right Wing Phil Kessel (81) during the first period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Arizona Coyotes on November 10, 2018, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. The Penguins shutout the Coyotes 4-0. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Phil Kessel might be the stand out player in Arizona’s locker room. He has won the Stanley Cup twice in back to back season with the Penguins. Check out all 10 of his Stanley Cup playoff goals below.

It’s not like winning the Cups is the only thing Kessel has accomplished in the playoffs. He played in 15 playoff games with Boston at the age of 20 and 21. He understands what the young players in Arizona are going through in this stage of their career.

Kessel has also lead a team to the playoffs, being a leader in Toronto when the team made it to the playoffs in 2013. Kessel has probably the most experience as a forward in Arizona, on the defense the Coyotes have one player to look to.

Niklas Hjalmarsson (Chicago 2010, 2013, 2015)

TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 20: Connor Brown #28 of the Toronto Maple Leafs battles with the puck with Niklas Hjalmarsson #4 of the Arizona Coyotes during the third period at the Scotiabank Arena on January 20, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Niklas Hjalmarsson is a defenseman any coach would love to have. He has done it all in his NHL career, winning 3 Stanley Cups and playing in 128 playoff games over the course of his career. Hjalmarsson has played in big games, like the 2013 game 7 against Detroit where he almost won the series for Chicago.

It is always good to have a Stanley Cup winner in your locker room, but not for the ring they have in their house at home. Stanley Cup winners bring experience and different moments in history that can help spark hope in the locker room.

Hjalmarsson has won a series after being down 3-1 in the series. Hjalmarsson has faced adversity after thinking he scored a big goal, to then need to go out and keep playing, not glooming on the past. Hjalmarsson has made it all the way to a game 7 in the conference finals only to lose and end the year without the Stanley Cup.

Bringing experiences to the locker room helps showcase what is possible in the NHL, and the Coyotes are better off for it.

Brad Richardson (LA 2012)

GLENDALE, AZ – JANUARY 04: Brad Richardson #15 of the Arizona Coyotes skates up ice against the New Jersey Devils at Gila River Arena on January 4, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Brad Richardson is another example of a forward with Stanley Cup experience. Richardson won a Stanley Cup with the LA Kings in 2012. He averaged 8:35 minutes of ice time across the playoffs in 2012. But that still did not keep him from making a difference on the ice, like when he scored a goal during round one against the Canucks.

Richardson brings more than just a Stanley Cup to the locker room as well. The Kings that season won the Cup as an 8 seeded team in the playoffs, something that is almost impossible to do in the modern-day NHL.

The Kings were an example of a team that just snuck into the playoffs and then took advantage of the opportunity. This past season showed that a wild card team can make it in the playoffs. The Coyotes will need the help of players like Richardson to make it happen.

Alex Goligoski (Pittsburgh 2009)

GLENDALE, AZ – JANUARY 04: Alex Goligoski #33 of the Arizona Coyotes skates back into his own zone while defending the puck against the New Jersey Devils at Gila River Arena on January 4, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images) /

At the age of 23 Alex Goligoski won a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009. Goligoski only played in 2 playoff games during 2009. However he brings a different side of experience to the room.

Alex Goligoski is now 34 years old. It has been 11 years since he played in the Stanley Cup playoffs and won the Stanley Cup. Since then he has played in 32 playoff games, and has not made it to the Final.

Goligoski is an example of how fleeting the opportunity it is to win a Stanley Cup. You do not get unlimited opportunities to win, so Goligoski can help spark the Coyotes.

Derek Stepan (97 NHL playoff games)

GLENDALE, AZ – APRIL 07: Derek Stepan #21 of the Arizona Coyotes advances the puck up ice ahead of Andy Welinski #73 of the Anaheim Ducks during the third period at Gila River Arena on April 7, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Derek Stepan has never won a Stanley Cup in the NHL, however he has played in 97 playoff games.

NHL Playoffs career statistics
		Scoring		Goals	Shots	Ice Time
Season	Age	Tm	Lg	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM	EV	PP	SH	GW	S	S%	TSA	TOI	ATOI	FOW	FOL	FO%	BLK	HIT	TK	GV
2010-11	20	NYR	NHL	5	0	0	0	-5	2	0	0	0	0	4	0.0	11	102	20:30	12	18	40.0	3	3	4	2
2011-12	21	NYR	NHL	20	1	8	9	-2	4	0	1	0	0	38	2.6	69	382	19:07	103	131	44.0	11	40	7	5
2012-13	22	NYR	NHL	12	4	1	5	4	2	4	0	0	2	32	12.5	66	270	22:30	118	127	48.2	8	12	10	5
2013-14	23	NYR	NHL	24	5	10	15	-1	2	3	2	0	0	50	10.0	103	475	19:47	215	295	42.2	18	20	14	14
2014-15	24	NYR	NHL	19	5	7	12	-1	10	3	2	0	1	48	10.4	80	371	19:31	130	184	41.4	11	8	11	18
2015-16	25	NYR	NHL	5	2	0	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	20	10.0	25	86	17:11	43	44	49.4	8	4	4	2
2016-17	26	NYR	NHL	12	2	4	6	-3	4	1	0	1	0	33	6.1	55	252	20:59	91	126	41.9	10	14	9	15
Career		7 yrs	NHL	97	19	30	49	-8	24	12	6	1	3	225	8.4	409	1938	19:59	712	925	43.5	69	101	59	61

Provided by Hockey-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/2/2019.

Stepan is an example to the young Coyotes team that sometimes you can work as hard as you possibly can and still miss out on “Lord Stanley”. Stepan averaged 19:59 minutes of ice time per game over the course of his 7 years in the playoffs.

More from Howlin' Hockey

If there is one thing that Stepan can help give to the Coyotes it would be hunger. Hunger in fear of missing out on a championship, and hope that the Arizona Coyotes can provide it for him.

It is a long season in the NHL. The NHL season is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. and leaders like Derek Stepan, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Phil Kessel, Alex Goligoski, and Brad Richarson are going to be called on a lot within the locker room.

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