How the Coyotes stack up with other Pacific Division teams

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The Arizona Coyotes are currently a member of the Pacific Division. I say currently because in just a few years they will be moving to the central division when Seattle becomes the 32nd team in the NHL.

In order to make the playoffs, you need to do well in your own division. It is that simple. Right now the Coyotes now have a 2-1-1 record against their own division. They beat the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Edmonton Oilers. However, they fell to the Calgary Flames and Anaheim Ducks in the first game of the season.

The games against your own division is where I believe you grow the most as a team. You play these teams more than anyone else, and honestly, there is a lot more hockey to come against the Pacific Division teams.

The Coyotes have been led by Conor Garland and Derek Stepan when facing off against the pacific division teams so far this year. The two both have 2 goals and an assist against their rivals. Now when it comes to the crease Darcy Kuemper has owned it for the Coyotes against the Pacific teams. Kuemper has played in 3 out of the 4 games against Division rivals, and he has only given up 5 goals.

The Pacific has been really competitive so far this season, a lot more than we initially predicted in our first division preview. One thing still does remain the same. The Pacific Division is up for grabs.

I think we can break up the Pacific Division into 3 tiers: Gold, Silver, and Bronze. When you read our list keep in mind it is still early. Things can change later in the year, we are just analyzing where the teams are at this very moment.

With that in mind let’s jump in!

LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Michael Caput #26 of the Arizona Coyotes falls to the ice after winning a face-off against Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings during the third period of the preseason game at STAPLES Center on September 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Bronze:

LA Kings, San Jose Sharks

The “Bronze” teams in the Pacific only feature two teams in my opinion. I think we all knew the LA Kings would struggle this season after finishing last year with a 31-42-9 record. The biggest shock, in my opinion, is the San Jose Sharks record so far this season.

I think all the hockey the Sharks have played in the playoffs over the last few years has finally caught up to them. With a core that seems to be aging more and more every day, and so many key players traded away this offseason the Sharks have regressed this season.

The biggest talking point every time the LA Kings play is what did Drew Doughty say now? Everyone knows the Kings are going through a rebuild, so when the ‘Yotes do play them they better win. The Coyotes need to just go out and play hockey against the Kings, they can’t let any little fights or digs at the team get under their skin.

The Kings and Sharks are finally facing the repercussions of so many years in the playoffs, and it is about time.

CALGARY, AB – NOVEMBER 05: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Calgary Flames celebrates after scoring the overtime winning goal against the Arizona Coyotes with Mikael Backlund #11 and Rasmus Andersson #4 of the Calgary Flames on November 5, 2019 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Brett Holmes/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Silver:

Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks

Edmonton has been great so far this season, but they are a team built on just one true line. Draisaitl and McDavid have led this team, and when the playoffs come around you need to be rolling 4 lines.

Anaheim is another team that I think just is not there yet. Although they have played great so far this season, they have lost a lot of key players to trades over the last few years. I think they are just a little too young right now, next year or maybe the year after could bring the Ducks back to the playoffs.

Calgary is another team I believe is still in the silver tier. Young players like Tkachuk and Gaudreau have led the team so far this year, but they have not proven themselves in the playoffs. After the year they had last year losing to Colorado I don’t see them moving out of the silver until they win a playoff series.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 10: Paul Stastny #26 of the Vegas Golden Knights sets up in front of goaltender Darcy Kuemper #35 of the Arizona Coyotes during the second period of the NHL game at Gila River Arena on October 10, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

The Gold:

Vancouver Canucks, Arizona Coyotes, Vegas Golden Knights

Maybe this is just wishful thinking, but I have the Arizona Coyotes in the gold tier within the division. The Coyotes have been great all season, and have competed within the Pacific teams despite having 2 games in hand.

Arizona has been led by players like Nick Schmaltz, Christian Dvorak, and Michael Grabner. Their goaltending has been superb and the team seems to have found a groove. Similar to the other teams in the gold tier.

Vancouver is another young team with players like Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson, and Brock Boeser all putting up points for the Canucks. I could see the Vancouver Canucks and Arizona Coyotes meet in the second round of the playoffs, that is unless the Knights have something to say about it.

The Vegas Golden Knights is the team to beat in the Pacific Division. In my opinion, they are built like a super team, with players like Max Pacioretty, Mark Stone, Paul Stastny, Cody Glass, and Reilly Smith. I believe they are built for the playoffs, so even if they do not have the best regular-season record it won’t matter.

Vegas is built to out-power you and beat you in those best of 7 series, they will squeeze their way into the playoffs, and when they do watch out.

With all this in mind, I hope you see how wide open the Pacific Division is. Arizona has a chance to make the playoffs for the first time in a long time, it is going to take a lot of work to get there though.

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