Coyotes are the perfect example of a team that has the pressure of "we're supposed to be good now", mixed with bad goaltending and lack of depth. Raanta and Chychrun out does not help. Add in learning a new system that im not so sure how good it is at least defensively, and new faces on the team, and there you have it. Basically all boxes ticked for a bad start.
Completely opposite from Vegas, that is not afraid to lose, play a simple team-oriented system and doesn't get down on themselves when they don't have the lead or whatever happens in a game. Add in a favorable schedule with bunch of road teams coming on 3in4's, bunch of struggling teams and the element of surprise (clearly teams have had a feel out process again them, not much pre-scouting going on at least from the playoff teams) + goalies stepping up and there you have it. All boxes ticked for a good start.
None of this means McPhee is a better GM than Chayka.
It's funny how much crap Chayka gets right now. He's done a lot of moves with the right idea, he's trying to improve the team, and when the results aren't there for 8 games, people love to bash him.
Everybody wanted Tippett out and more offensive oriented style where the young guys could thrive. Everybody knows without good veteran players a young losing team isn't going anywhere. Everybody knows they have to be able to hold on to their best asset that is OEL and can't afford to let him walk.
Chayka did something about all those things. All his moves made sense. And just because they've had a terrible start, doesn't mean no positive things moving forward. It's clear they're not a complete team yet, but rarely do teams become playoff teams overnight. You add piece by piece, make evaluations each summer and try to improve your team. At some point, it'll start paying off.
People act like turning a rebuilding bottom team into a playoff team (without drafting a superstar) in one summer is easier than to have good first 7 games with a team nobody expects anything of. And don't be kidding yourself, Vegas will drop down like a rock sooner than you know it.