The Arizona Coyotes are close to getting back one of their best defenders. Niklas Hjalmarsson has been practicing with the team.
I really think Niklas Hjalmarsson could return to help this team sooner rather than later. Hjalmarsson, who has been out after playing 4 games this season, would provide a huge spark for this team.
Hjalmarsson has not played hockey since October, and yet Arizona finds themselves in the playoffs. No one should argue that Hjalmarsson is the Coyotes best defender, and yet here we are. Having played so well without Hjalmarsson is an achievement in itself. Getting him back is a gift that the team should love.
Practicing with the team is the first step, even if it is in a non-contact jersey.
Darcy Kuemper was on the ice prior to the #Yotes morning skate and Niklas Hjalmarsson participated in a non-contact jersey.
— Alex Kinkopf (@AEKinkopf) January 4, 2020
Rick Tocchet: "[Kuemper] looked really good, he’s progressing, he’s doing really well. Hammer too, both of those guys are doing really well for us."
Hjalmarsson’s return would definitely impact the team in many ways. I would expect the penalty kill to improve, and the defensive pairings would definitely get revamped.
Right now the defensive pairings are as followed:
Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Jason Demers
Jakob Chychrun – Alex Goligoski
Hjalmarsson’s return would change up the pairings in many ways. Although Demers has played well in the top unit I feel like he would bump down to the third defensive pairing. then when you include Jordan Oesterle who is currently out of the lineup according to daily line combinations, you get a very nice group of defenders.
So the way I think I would set up the defensive pairings it would be Ekman-Larsson and Hjalmarrson in the top pairing, then I would keep the second pairing the same. Chychrun and Goligoski have been playing great all season, and it shouldn’t be messed with. For the third pairing, you would have primarily have Jason Demers and Jordan Oesterle, with Ilya Lyubushkin rotating in for Oesterle occasionally.
Any way Arizona deals with the addition of Hjalmarsson will be well received. Hjalmarsson is one of the best defensive defensemen in the NHL, and getting him back is only going to improve this team! Get ready Arizona!