Arizona Coyotes: Can they be a dark horse Stanley Cup contender?
By Jim Lynch
The Arizona Coyotes have a chance. They have not been to the playoffs in 7 seasons and have not won a game yet. Even still the Arizona Coyotes have a chance. On paper this team should make the playoffs. Their young players need to take the next step, and the older players need to lead by example, but if all goes the Coyotes can punch their ticket to the playoffs.
Last season all four wild card teams beat their opponents in the first round, what ensued was one of the oddest Stanley Cup playoffs in league history. Rarely do you see as many upsets as we saw in the 2018-19 season. With that in mind there is no doubt in my mind that the Arizona Coyotes can be dark horse Stanley Cup contenders.
Forget that the Coyotes have only scored once in two games. Obviously that is a big issue on fans and players alike now, but that should be fixed soon enough. The Coyotes boast players like Phil Kessel, Clayton Keller, Derek Stepan, and Vinnie Hinostroza. The puck will find the back of the net in time, and when it does it should keep going there like a metal to a magnet.
I know the Coyotes seemed flawed, a lack of goal scoring is not the path to success. However what strikes me with the Coyotes is that defense wins championships.
The Arizona Coyotes defense features some great defenders. Niklas Hjalmarsson is a work horse defender whom has won the Stanley Cup 3 times. Oliver Ekman-Larsson has led the Coyotes since last September as captain, and is one of the only players that has been with the team since 2012. Outside of these two top defenders in the league the Coyotes also have Jakob Chychrun, a 21-year-old former first round pick, and Jason Demers.
The Coyotes blue line is filled with experience, and the same is true for the ‘Yotes forward group. Phil Kessel has won the cup twice and Derek Stepan has been to the final.
When you combine the success of the veterans in the Arizona locker room with the skill and energy of the young players you get a recipe for success.
A lot of the Coyotes players have never been to the playoffs. Players like Clayton Keller, Jakob Chychrun, Christian Fischer, and Lawson Crouse have never been to the post season. Maybe that will be the time these guys can rise to the occasion and succeed. Just look at the energy and excitement everyone had during the home opener.
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A mixture of veteran leadership with young skilled NHL players is a recipe for success. When you throw in great goaltending, defense, and coaching you get a legitament Stanley Cup contender. Kuemper/Raanta are a reliable goalie tandem. Plus our defense was 6th best in the NHL last season. Oh and the team only missed the playoffs by 4 points last season.
I know we are assuming that the Coyotes will be making the playoffs. With how wide open the Pacific Division is you never know how far the Coyotes can make it. Yes it might be too early to tell, but if they do make it watch out for the run these guys can go on.