The Arizona Coyotes Are Not Expected to Make the Playoffs
Ask any ‘Yotes fan in attendance at Gila River Arena lately and he/she will tell you that the Arizona Coyotes aren’t playing well enough, and thus are not worthy enough, to make the playoffs.
With obvious disgust, they may tell you that there are too many players under-performing, or while shaking their heads with bitter disappointment, tell you that this was supposed to be the year the Arizona Coyotes finally got back to the playoffs.
Well, part one is true if you believe that the ‘Yotes had capable players in the first place. If the Desert Dogs are just a middle of the pack, not-worthy of a playoff spot club, maybe they’ve reached their maximum potential with its incumbent and woefully inconsistent roster. The second part of the above statement really rings true, in this case as in truly disappointing.
The addition of Phil Kessel was supposed to be a major upgrade to the Coyotes offense, but it hasn’t panned out. Some think that the only reason that he’s playing now is that Coach Rick Tocchet is his pal and doesn’t want to see Kessel’s consecutive games streak end, even if Kessel is a hefty non-factor and is basically just taking up space on the ice and money from the till.
More from Howlin' Hockey
- How the Arizona Coyotes could line-up with Logan Cooley signed
- Report: Logan Cooley could be closer to signing Arizona Coyotes ELC
- Arizona Coyotes sign Matias Maccelli to three-year deal
- Ivan Prosvetov signs one-year deal with Arizona Coyotes
- Arizona Coyotes cut Galchenyuk after reported police incident
Some have said that if, as a team, you’re not going to seriously compete for a playoff spot, for example by standing pat during the NHL trading period, then let the young guys play and get valuable experience rather than watch the more senior players waste valuable minutes. Let the has-beens or those in the twilight of their careers sit on their wallets on the bench or in the press box and let the young, hungry men with futures play their hearts out and compete for next year’s roster. Let Taylor Hall play with his potential teammates for next-season and decide for himself if he wants to remain a part of a team that is hamstrung by salary cap issues.
Eight years is a long time to wade through various organizational changes and stages of mismanagement (and mediocrity), pay thousands of dollars for the privilege of watching an average product at best take the ice, and still not reach the promised land.
President of Hockey Operations and General Manager John Chayka recently told Coyotes’ supporters that he believed that his current roster was capable enough to seriously compete for a wild card spot in this postseason. Does anyone believe him? His eyebrow-raising plan is falling flat on its face as we speak.
Ask the season ticket holders what they’ve witnessed from the team in person throughout the season at GRA. Their responses would include such observations as inconsistent play, the lack of timely scoring, defensive lapses resulting in goals, bad passes and turnovers in the “D” zone resulting in goals, and stupid penalties. Did I mention the dearth of goals?
Now is THAT a recipe for a successful run toward the playoffs? Uh, I don’t think so. Let’s go Coyotes!