Howlin' Hockey
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The Pacific Division is up for grabs, and the Arizona Coyotes should take it

By Jim Lynch

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 18: (L-R) Derek Stepan #21, Clayton Keller #9, Oliver Ekman-Larsson #23 and Conor Garland #83 of the Arizona Coyotes celebrate after Keller scored a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period of the NHL game at Gila River Arena on January 18, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 18: (L-R) Derek Stepan #21, Clayton Keller #9, Oliver Ekman-Larsson #23 and Conor Garland #83 of the Arizona Coyotes celebrate after Keller scored a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period of the NHL game at Gila River Arena on January 18, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Last season the Central, Metropolitan, and Atlantic Divisions all required 99 points or more to make the playoffs. The Pacific division on the other hand only required 93. The NHL is almost a league of parity among the NHL teams, however the Pacific Division is in a league of its own.

Out of all the divisions in the NHL the Pacific is the most wide open. The Vegas Golden Knights, and San Jose Sharks might be the two best teams skill wise, but even San Jose took a step back this offseason when they lost their Captain Joe Pavelski.

The NHL season is a marathon NOT a sprint. The Arizona Coyotes can recall what it’s like to not have a strong finish. After fighting their way into the playoff race in March last season a spew of losses costed the Coyotes a chance in the playoffs. This season winning division games is even more important.

The Coyotes need to win their division games. Considering these opponents are the teams they are competing with for a playoff position more so than anywhere else in the league a loss to a division opponent makes things even more difficult to make the playoffs.

Hockey is an interesting sport because you can never truly count anyone out. After Colorado had one of the worst seasons in NHL history in 2017 going 22-56-4 they followed it up the next season making the playoffs in a wild card position. Anything is possible.

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Even still when you look at the teams in the Pacific division you can look at every one of them and see their flaws. Edmonton has McDavid and not much else. Vancouver, similar to the Coyotes, is still trying to develop their young players. Calgary is still trying to recover from getting the wind knocked out of them last year in round one of the playoffs. The Kings are actively pursuing a rebuild of their team. While Anaheim is another team that is struggling to score goals. Outside of those teams the Vegas Golden Knights and the San Jose Sharks are the real deal. We can consider the top 2 positions in the division locked with them.

That still leaves a 3rd playoff spot from the Pacific Division up for grabs, and there is no reason the Coyotes should not take it. With players like Phil Kessel, Derek Stepan, Clayton Keller, and Nick Schmaltz there is no reason why the Coyotes should not be in the playoffs. Coyotes GM John Chayka has assembled a very good deep NHL team both up front and on the backend, let’ s hope they can prove it. As long as the Coyotes continue to get steady goal scoring from their top guys, and experience from the veterans in the locker room, the Arizona Coyotes can take the Pacific Division by storm.

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