Arizona Coyotes: Missing the Playoffs again would let fans down
The Arizona Coyotes sold us a bill of goods. Not intentionally, mind you, but sadly, a season full of promise will end up like the others did – without a playoff appearance and, most likely, the loss of Taylor Hall.
There may be some loyal Arizona Coyotes’ hockey fans that cling to the notion that their beloved Desert Dogs are still in the hunt for the playoffs. I beg to differ. A roller coaster ride of a season isn’t over yet, true, but the ‘Yotes won’t be celebrating their inclusion in the postseason tournament, so lights out on the “white out.”
Although Coyotes’ supporters have always enjoyed watching their hometown heroes, they knew full well that for the past several years the team has been entertaining, but not necessarily competitive. Fans have always chatted giddily about the ‘Yotes perhaps making the playoffs, but it was often accompanied by a wink and a nudge. Quite often fans went to games to cheer on their Coyotes, but it was just as likely they were present to see the talent on the other teams or were transplants that were used to “real” hockey in the cities they abandoned for Arizona.
This season it will hurt a bit more because everyone’s expectations were so high, perhaps too high, and to peter out at the end of the year when many of their opponents are trending in the right direction at exactly the right time is devastating.
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It’s a shame that Taylor Hall may very well be packing his bags for greener pastures in order to challenge for the Stanley Cup. It’s very sad that the team leader couldn’t find the magic elixir to get the boys consistently rolling in the right direction. “One step up, two steps back” was the rule rather than the exception.
In a way, it’s good that the Coyotes won’t be in the playoffs. It saves fans a lot of money, as the organization asks fans to pay for all the possible home playoff tickets upfront. Cha-ching! Regardless, most of us would indeed pony up the cash or the “plastic” to support a legitimate and deserving winner, but we won’t have to worry about it this year!
Nevertheless, we’ll be there to support our Arizona Coyotes for the remainder of the season, or most of us anyway, but it just won’t feel the same.
Having an irrelevant team sucks, and you really never get used to it. Hopefully, the brass at the top of the organization feels the same way and takes some affirmative action to make changes that result in a winning mentality from top to bottom. A competitive team would be nice for a change, and wholesale changes might be needed. Be bold, Coyotes!
Hang in there, Coyotes fans. I’ll see you at GRA on Saturday night. Let’s go Coyotes!