I'm excited to see who continues to emerge as leadership now that the elder statesmen are gone.
New sole owner who trimmed the fat/country club
New coach for the first time in many years
Very talented young players either coming into the league at a full time spot and/or finally solidifying themselves as a legitimate NHL player
Where were the Leafs with Wilson at the helm of a bench with exciting young youth being the minority?
They won't make the slightest bit of progress
Why the hate?
Is there really no chance they can improve by leaps and bounds ala the Leafs? While they dont have a player the calibre of A. Matthews they have added a top 6 C and a top 4 D, a coveted goalie, and a coach that has won 2 Cups plus expect an infusion of some of the best young talent in the league. They already have one of the best defensemen in the league - OEL - and some good young players.
they have been "on the rise" forever and not only did they not rise I'd argue they fell.
I see no reason to believe it won't be more of the same
Eh, they're just kinda there.
Half of the posts here are jokes about their financial situation in Glendale and have nothing to do with the team they'll be putting on the ice this season.
I love what they have done this offseason. Added a top line center and a top pairing defenseman, both are veteran guys with a lot of playoff experience and can help guide the young guys as they develop. Raanta has been one of the best backup goalies in the league the past two seasons and will likely do very well in a starting role. Keller will break out IMO. Domi continues to improve. Strome finally gets a chance to prove himself. Fischer may get a serious look.
There's a lot to like to like about the Coyotes and I think they've got a legitimate shot at a playoff birth.
What are you talking about? the Leafs weren't young and exciting with Wilson they had nothing even close to what they do now
they have been "on the rise" forever and not only did they not rise I'd argue they fell.
I see no reason to believe it won't be more of the same
they have been "on the rise" forever and not only did they not rise I'd argue they fell.
I see no reason to believe it won't be more of the same
John Chayka thought Rookie's teaching Rookie's about the rigors of the NHL was a smart idea.
Adding a top 6 center, #2-3 dman and possible calder winning rookie in Keller + positive changes in management doesn't give you any reason to believe they won't get better? Not to mention all of their other young players will get better, since they all have decent amount of experience now.
Tough crowd.
Funny how a lot of the repetitive jokes are coming from Oiler and Leaf fans.
We've been seeing them draft "promising this and promising that" for the last how many years"
Funny how a lot of the repetitive jokes are coming from Oiler and Leaf fans.
Truth be told, addition by subtraction was key here. Cutting bait with Tippet and his dinosaur trap system was the major upgrade, regardless of the replacement. He hindered more rookies development and confidence than he did build it. Awful coach when it comes to new talent.
Stepan and Hjarlmarsson are and were immediate needs. The team hasn't had a serviceable 1/2 centerman since Ollie jokinen and even that was a stretch. Adding Hjarlmarsson to pair with Oliver is a supreme upgrade than having Murphy or Schenn flank him on the right side. This will allow Oliver to open up trusting Hjarlmarsson has him covered.
Dropping the ol ball and chain in Doan and his head case brother Mike Smith will do wonders for the room, a fresh clean start. Raanta is still a question mark, but given the opportunity as a starter I think he surprises a lot.
Adding in Clayton Keller and Dylan Strome is also another wild card since neither have the experience of a NHL season, both are very promising, though.
Do I think the Arizona Coyotes will make the playoffs? No, but I can assure they will be a hell of a lot more exciting to watch this year and likely will be somewhere in the fold just below a wild card spot.