Howlin' Hockey
Fansided

Arizona Coyotes need to switch things up with their lines

By Jim Lynch

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 11: Taylor Hall #91 of the Arizona Coyotes skates with the puck against Kasperi Kapanen #24 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 11, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Coyotes 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 11: Taylor Hall #91 of the Arizona Coyotes skates with the puck against Kasperi Kapanen #24 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 11, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Coyotes 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

I am all for the Arizona Coyotes giving every line a big opportunity to succeed. I just hope that the Coyotes are going to give all of their players a decent showing.

The Coyotes have not been the best team in the last few weeks, and they have struggled to score goals when they need them the most.

We know that the Arizona Coyotes are not going to find scoring on the power play. Scoring at 5 on 5 is going to be vital for us to win games during the next 20 plus batch of games. In order to get that done, we need to be rolling all four lines.

The Coyotes have three relatively dominant lines in the offensive zone when they are at their best. The best line the past five games has been Taylor Hall, Christian Dvorak, and Conor Garland. Together that line has a combined 10 points going into last night’s game during their past five games.

More from Howlin' Hockey

That offensive line also has been playing the most time, with minutes all above 17:30 per game, with Hall leading the pack with 20:49 per game. I am not going to argue with that, that offensive line has been dominant and should be leading the pack. I just think a different line should be number two.

Right now the with the second most amount of ice time has been Phil Kessel, Derek Stepan, and Lauson Crouse. While I know that these three players have been playing relatively well, I think that a different unit needs to be number two in order for this team to have a bright future.

I want to see Nick Schmaltz, Clayton Keller, and Vinnie Hinostroza more in the top 6 on five on five. According to dailyfaceoff.com the Coyotes line with Nick Schmaltz at center is only playing about 12-14 minutes per game. Now I know with Barrett Hayton returning this line is going to be thrown off a little, but that is ok, I still think hey should be given more time.

Schmaltz and Keller had no goals in their last five games going into last night’s matchup. Maybe putting Hayton with the two young guns of the future we can get more offensive production, and isn’t that what it is all about?

Right now the Coyotes Schmaltz line is being given fourth line ice time. I know we are spending more and more time on the PK and these guys do not go out there in those situations, but you can not expect to see Schmaltz and Keller produce when they are not getting 15 minutes plus ice time a night like Stepan and Kessel!

I know last night we saw Nick Schmaltz with Clayton Keller and Phil Kessel, but I think we need to switch things up and starting leaning more heavily on our young guys.

Home/Coyotes News