Arizona Coyotes : The State of the Pacific Division

The Arizona Coyotes play within the Pacific Division. The Pacific has not been the toughest division in the past few years however things seem to be changing.

We are about two weeks into the regular season, and we do not know who will rule the Pacific Division. Let’s take a look at how the Pacific Division looks after a few weeks.

Edmonton Oilers

Last season Coyotes record against Edmonton (2-0-1)

The Edmonton Oilers are an interesting team. I heard they are seriously considering changing the name of the team to the “Edmonton McDraisatls” as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are the only two players playing on the team.

McDavid already has 17 points on the season through 8 games, and Draisaitle is not too far behind with 16. Outside of those two players James Neal seems to be showing why he is still playing hockey, he has 9 goals so far this season, already surpassing the 7 he scored in Calgary last season through 63 games.

Although Edmonton sits on top of the Pacific Division I do not see them staying there. Arizona has been a team that needed depth scoring earlier this season, and the same is true for Edmonton. I see no reason why Edmonton will stay where they are at in the coming months, but hey I am wrong most of the time.

Vegas Golden Knights

Last season Coyotes record against Vegas (2-0-1)

In my opinion, this is the team to beat in the Pacific Division. I see no reason why the Vegas Golden Knights will not return to the postseason and reek havoc. The most confusing thing about the Golden Knights used to be how they aren’t the Las Vegas Golden Knights, not it is all their cap space drama.
Vegas is a very deep team, with players like Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty to help lead the team offensively, then you factor in a goalie like Marc-Andre Fleury and boom you have a Pacific Division winner.

Of course, I have been wrong before and will be wrong again. Vegas is big and has the skill, that is a playoff-type of the team no matter where they fall in the seeding. I know this is looking way too far ahead and down the road but the Vegas Golden Knights are not the team I want to see Arizona play in the first round.

Calgary Flames

Last season Coyotes record Calgary (1-3-0)

I do not understand the Calgary Flames. Maybe I just don’t watch enough of their hockey games or understand the style of hockey they play but I just don’t get them. They play like they are down and out most of the time, Elias Lindholm is currently injured and I think they are still scrambling after their first-round loss to Colorado.

Let’s be honest the Colorado Avalanche were no wild card team last season. After playing playoff-caliber hockey throughout the second half of the season they squeezed into the playoffs suddenly, and they caught the Calgary Flames off guard as they had not played meaningful hockey in a long time.

Calgary is led by Johnny Gaudreau who currently has 7 points in 8 games. Arizona did not do too well against Calgary last season, and we will have to see how that changes going into the new year.

Vancouver Canucks

Last season Coyotes record against Vancouver (4-0-0)

The Vancouver Canucks are a threat in the Pacific Division. Like the Coyotes, they are young and have speed. J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson lead the offense, and a slew of other players are also factoring in on the score sheet.

However, I think the biggest reason the Coyotes finished 4-0 against Vancouver last season would be how poor Vancouver is defensively compared to Arizona. We know that Vancouver can score lots of goals, but can they play well in a structured defensive environment?

I think that will be the biggest factor to see if Vancouver makes the playoffs, not their goal-scoring ability, rather their play in their own zone.

Los Angeles Kings

Last season Coyotes record against LA (2-2-0)

Los Angeles is 2-5 on the year so far. However, they did beat the Nashville Predators 7-4 one time so not bad. Honestly, does anyone expect anything out of LA this season? I do not. I believe they are nuclear rebuilding like the Rangers did a few years back if it works for them cool.

I think that the Kings need to get all of their players on board for what type of year they are going to have. When you have a player like Drew Doughty running his mouth about how they should be playing better, and having issues with other players in the league it does not bode well for a season that is already doomed to be a lost cause.

Conclusion

If the Coyotes want to make the playoffs it starts with winning games against your own division. Let’s wait and see how the division looks in a few months, but I think the Coyotes have a serious shot.