Sep 14, 2015
Coyotes on the path to Auston Matthews?
Since a surprising run to the Western Conference Final in 2012, the Arizona Coyotes have missed the playoffs for three straight seasons. As TSN.ca's team preview for the Coyotes explains, there is little doubt that they will extend that streak in 2015-2016.
Since a surprising run to the Western Conference Final in 2012, the Arizona Coyotes have missed the playoffs for three straight seasons, and there is little doubt that they will extend that streak in 2015-2016.
Defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson is a rising star, but he also led the Coyotes with just 43 points last season and Arizona’s top two goal-scoring forwards were Shane Doan and Mikkel Boedker, with 14.
So, it’s time for new blood. While the Coyotes have some vets in place, they also have a mish-mash of journeymen and mediocre NHLers. If there is to be any enthusiasm about this season it will be related to the progress of prospects, most notably Max Domi and Anthony Duclair, the latter acquired from the New York Rangers in last season’s Keith Yandle trade.
Those prospects are the start of a long-term rebuilding plan, and the Coyotes have been stocking the cupboards, but the anticipated prize of the 2016 Draft is Auston Matthews, a Scottsdale, Arizona native, and the way this team is currently constructed, the Coyotes will have an excellent chance to be in that lottery.
OFF-SEASON HEADLINES
June 27: Flyers trade Pronger’s contract to Coyotes
July 1: Vermette headed back to Coyotes
2015-16 ARIZONA COYOTES
* Off-season Addition
Projected Lines
LW | C | RW |
---|---|---|
Anthony Duclair | Antoine Vermette* | Mikkel Boedker |
Max Domi | Martin Hanzal | Steve Downie* |
Tobias Rieder | Brad Richardson* | Shane Doan |
Kyle Chipchura | Boyd Gordon* | Joe Vitale |
John Scott* | Brendan Shinnimin |
Fighting For Jobs: LW Brendan Perlini, C Dylan Strome, C Christian Dvorak, RW Henrik Samuelsson
Projected Pairs
LD | RD |
---|---|
Oliver Ekman-Larsson | Zbynek Michalek* |
Nicklas Grossmann* | Michael Stone |
Klas Dahlbeck | Connor Murphy |
Stefan Elliott |
Fighting For Jobs: LD Keith Aulie (PTO), LD Philip Samuelsson*, RD Corey Potter (PTO)
Projected Goalies
No. 1 | No. 2 | No. 3 |
---|---|---|
Mike Smith | Anders Lindback* | Louis Domingue |
Off-season Departures: C Sam Gagner, C Mark Arcobello, D John Moore, LW Lauri Korpikoski
Projected Lineup: Sarah McLellan, Arizona Republic
SERAVALLI'S THREE QUESTIONS
1. Will No. 3 overall pick Dylan Strome make the jump to the NHL?
2. Will Max Domi or Anthony Duclair be the first line left winger?
3. Can veteran defencemen Keith Aulie and Corey Potter earn a contract?
BUTTON'S TOP PROSPECTS
Top 2015-16 Prospect
C Max Domi (London, OHL): Outstanding sense, skill and competitiveness. Developed as a key leader last season.
Long-Term Prospect
C Christian Dvorak (London, OHL): Exceptional sense and combined with excellent skills, has a chance to be an impact player.
* Listed with 2014-15 teams
BY THE NUMBERS
THREE-YEAR BREAKDOWN (LEAGUE RANK)
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | |
---|---|---|---|
Points | 87 (19th) | 89 (18th) | 56 (29th) |
Goals For | 2.5 (21st) | 2.6 (20th) | 2.0 (29th) |
Goals Against | 2.6 (T-15th) | 2.7 (18th) | 3.3 (28th) |
Power Play | 15% (T-25th) | 20% (4th) | 20% (7th) |
Penalty Killing | 80% (22nd) | 79% (26th) | 77% (T-28th) |
SAT% Possession | 51% (13th) | 51% (13th) | 49% (22nd) |
* 2012-13 points: Pro-rated lockout-shortened total
ESTIMATED PAYROLL vs. CAP - $58.5M/$71.4M
Keeping costs low, the Coyotes are well below the cap even though they have more than $4.9-millon of Chris Pronger’s contract on the books for each of the next two seasons.
PARTING SHOT