Arizona Coyotes
2015-16
season: 35-39-8, 78 points
Did not qualify for playoffs
|
Head
Coach: Dave Tippett (2009)
|
4th Place Pacific Division
|
General
Manager: John Chayka (2016)
|
10th Place Western Conference
|
AHL
Affiliate: Tucson Roadrunners
ECHL
Affiliate: Rapid City Rush
|
Cap
Space: $2,342,162
|
News
- 10/3 - Agreed to an extension with restricted free agent Tobias Rieder - 2 years, AAV $2.225 million
- Traded a 2016 5th round pick to Dallas for Alex Goligoski's negotating rights
- Traded Joe Vitale and a 2016 1st round pick and 2016 2nd round compensatory pick to Detroit for Pavel Datsyuk's contract and a 2016 1st round pick
- Traded a 2017 3rd pick and a 2018 conditional 2nd round pick to Florida for Lawson Crouse and Dave Bolland's contract
Players Lost in the Offseason
POS.
|
Player
|
New Team
|
Contract
|
LW
|
Antoine Vermette
|
Anaheim Ducks
|
2 years, $3,500,000
|
LW
|
Alex Tanguay
|
Free Agent
|
|
C
|
Boyd Gordon
|
Philadelphia Flyers
|
1 year, $950,000
|
RW
|
Steve Downie
|
Free Agent
|
|
D
|
Nicklas Grossman
|
Calgary Flames
|
PTO
|
D
|
Philip Samuelsson
|
Montreal Canadiens
|
1 year, $600,000
|
D
|
Alex Grant
|
Boston Bruins
|
1 year, $600,000
|
G
|
Anders Lindback
|
New Jersey Devils
|
PTO
|
Incoming Free Agents
POS.
|
Player
|
Old Team
|
Contract
|
LW
|
Jamie McGinn
|
Anaheim Ducks
|
3 years, $10,000,000
|
RW
|
Radim Vrbata
|
Vancouver Canucks
|
1 year, $1,000,000
|
C
|
Ryan White
|
Philadelphia Flyers
|
1 year, $1,000,000
|
C
|
Chris Mueller
|
Anaheim Ducks
|
1 year, $600,000
|
D
|
Luke Schenn
|
Los Angeles Kings
|
2 years, $2,5000,000
|
D
|
Jamie McBain
|
Los Angeles Kings
|
1 year, $600,000
|
G
|
Justin Peters
|
Washington Capitals
|
1 year, $600,000
|
2016 Draft Picks
RD
|
Pick No.
|
POS.
|
Name
|
Junior/College/Club Team
|
1
|
7
|
C
|
Clayton Keller
|
U.S. National Development Team (USHL)
|
1
|
16
|
D
|
Jakob Chychrun
|
Sarnia Sting (OHL)
|
3
|
68
|
D
|
Cam Dineen
|
North Bay Battalion (OHL)
|
6
|
158
|
D
|
Patrick Kudla
|
Oakville Blades (OJHL)
|
7
|
188
|
D
|
Deon Stewart
|
Portage Terriers (MJHL)
|
Top Three Prospects
POS
|
Name
|
Draft Info
|
Current Team
|
RW
|
Nick Merkley
|
2015 1st RD (30)
|
Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
|
RW
|
Christian Fischer
|
2012 2nd RD (32)
|
AHL/ECHL
|
RW
|
Conor Garland
|
2015 5th RD (123)
|
Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
|
Projected Lineup
Forwards
POS
|
Name
|
Age
|
Nationality
|
Free Agent Year
|
LW
|
Max Domi
|
21
|
Canada
|
2018 (RFA)
|
C
|
Dylan Strome (maybe)
|
19
|
Canada
|
2019 (RFA)
|
RW
|
Anthony Duclair
|
21
|
Canada
|
2017 (RFA)
|
LW
|
Jamie McGinn
|
28
|
Canada
|
2019
|
C
|
(A) Martin Hanzal
|
29
|
Czech Republic
|
2017
|
RW
|
Radim Vrbata
|
35
|
Czech Republic
|
2017
|
LW
|
Jordan Martinook
|
24
|
Canada
|
2017 (RFA)
|
C
|
Brad Richardson
|
31
|
Canada
|
2018
|
RW
|
(C) Shane Doan
|
40
|
Canada
|
2017
|
LW
|
Christian Dvorak
|
20
|
USA
|
2019 (RFA)
|
C
|
Ryan White
|
28
|
Canada
|
2017
|
RW
|
Laurent Dauphin
|
21
|
Canada
|
2018 (RFA)
|
Defensemen
POS
|
Name
|
Age
|
Nationality
|
Free Agent Year
|
D
|
Oliver Ekman-Larsson
|
25
|
Sweden
|
2019
|
D
|
Michael Stone
|
26
|
Canada
|
2017
|
D
|
Alex Goligoski
|
31
|
USA
|
2021
|
D
|
Connor Murphy
|
23
|
USA
|
2022
|
D
|
Kevin Connaughton
|
25
|
Canada
|
2018
|
D
|
Luke Schenn
|
26
|
Canada
|
2018
|
Goalies
POS
|
Name
|
Age
|
Nationality
|
Free Agent Year
|
G
|
Mike Smith
|
34
|
Canada
|
2019
|
G
|
Louis Domingue
|
24
|
Canada
|
2018
|
Extra Skaters
POS
|
Name
|
Age
|
Nationality
|
Free Agent Year
|
RW
|
Tobias Rieder
|
23
|
Germany
|
2018
|
C
|
Tyler Gaudel
|
23
|
Canada
|
2017 (RFA)
|
RW
|
Craig Cunningham
|
26
|
Canada
|
2017
|
D
|
Zbynek Michalek
|
33
|
Czech Republic
|
2017
|
Inactive Players
POS
|
Name
|
Age
|
Nationality
|
Free Agent Year
|
RW
|
Pavel Datsyuk
|
38
|
Russia
|
2017
|
C
|
Dave Bolland
|
30
|
Canada
|
2019
|
D
|
Jared Tinordi
|
24
|
USA
|
2017
|
D
|
Chris Pronger
|
42
|
Canada
|
2017
|
Season Outlook
- The Coyotes are in the middle of a rebuild and made significant strides last season towards becoming more competitive and successful. Max Domi and Anthony Duclair both had their first full NHL seasons and contributed a great deal. This is really encouraging for an Arizona franchise that needs their young players to develop and become major pieces. There were two bright spots on the Coyotes' defense, in Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Michael Stone. OEL is one of the league's better defensemen and has been the Coyotes' best for several years now. He is also one of the NHL's better two-way defensemen who can move the puck similar to that of Erik Karlsson. Michael Stone turned 26 over this past offseason and had his best season as a professional, putting up 36 points. They had a real struggle in net, where neither Mike Smith nor Louis Domingue were good. Both had GAA's above 2.50 and save percentages under .920. The results on the ice was not good, actually finishing fourth in the division, but were still twenty points behind third place. They were near the bottom of the league in every statistical category, so the lack of wins makes sense. That being said, there were encouraging signs for the Coyotes and a bright future ahead.
CAT.
|
Goals For
|
Goals Against
|
PP %
|
PK%
|
PDO
|
Corsi For
|
Corsi Against
|
Corsi For %
|
oZS%
|
dZS%
|
Stat
|
209
|
249
|
17.67
|
77.30
|
99.9
|
4298
|
4783
|
47.3
|
49.7
|
50.3
|
Coyotes’
Rank
|
25th
|
27th
|
21st
|
29th
|
19th
|
26th
|
26th
|
28th
|
22nd
|
22nd
|
PDO= Even Strength Shooting Percentage + Even Strength Save
Percentage
Corsi For= Shots + Blocks + Misses while in possession of
puck
Crosi Against= Shots + Blocks + Misses while not in
possession of puck
Corsi For %= Corsi For/(Corsi For+Corsi Against) -> Above
50% means that team controls play
oZS% = Offensive Zone Start Percentage
dZS% = Defensive Zone Start Percentage
- During the offseason, the Coyotes' ownership group relieved GM Don Maloney of his duties and hired John Chayka as his replacement. Chayka, at 27, is the youngest GM in NHL history and has no GM experience at any level. Rather, he comes from an analytical background, which could serve as a changing point in the league from a traditional front office of former players to one similar to those found in Major League Baseball. The Coyotes are using their massive cap space to take on other teams' bad contracts or contracts of players who are injured long-term. In taking on these contracts, they also receive draft picks and/or prospects, which works to build the future of the Coyotes. Any signings they made this offseason were either just to fill out their roster or were to add to the young, talented core they have started. Following this year's draft, The Hockey Writers ranked their farm system as the second-best in the league, and they have only just started to crack the surface in terms of calling players up. Their talent is mostly at forward and on defense and will need to figure something out for their future in net, which is currently their only weak spot. Mike Smith and Louis Domingue aren't cutting it as NHL goaltenders and they also don't have any elite goalie prospects currently in their system. They will either have to draft someone with upside in the next few drafts or sign someone via free agency. With several major contracts expiring in the next few years (Martin Hanzal, Shane Doan, Zbynek Michalek, Pavel Datsyuk, and Chris Pronger), Arizona will have a lot of money available to extend their young players to bridge contracts or long-term ones, and sign a big name free agent or two. If they choose to go the free agent route, they should try and follow the Maple Leafs' path of not signing free agents just because they have the money, but rather ensuring that the free agents are proper fits for their plan. Arizona currently has one of the best young cores in the league and look to be in line with Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, and Florida as the next wave of talented teams looking to make the jump into the playoffs. For this season, however, they will not be good, and that's okay. They shouldn't rush this process because they are on the right path. When they made the playoffs several years ago, it never felt like they truly belonged there, and it proves that the best way to succeed in sports today is to experience failure first. That's where the Coyotes are right now. The only question I have about them is whether they will in fact remain in Arizona or if they will be forced to relocate. Last season, the Coyotes had the second worst attendance numbers in the league and that has been a continual problem for this franchise. In 2015, the team signed a contract with the city of Glendale for a new two-year lease regarding arena usage. The NHL has hinted at Quebec City as a possible landing spot for a relocation bid and Arizona could be the team that moves.
Breakout Candidate
- LW Max Domi, C Dylan Strome - My actual pick for this is Dylan Strome, but because there's not a guarantee that he'll be in the NHL all year long, I didn't feel confident making him my only pick. Strome is an elite hockey player who will certainly produce at the NHL level. He scored 111 points last season with the Erie Otters, his junior hockey club. In my opinion, there's no reason for the Coyotes to play him beyond the nine game threshold, as that would start his NHL service time. My backup candidate for this is Max Domi, only because I think that he could be even better than he was last season.
Regression Candidate
- RW Shane Doan - Doan had 47 points in 72 games last season, which has been close to his average production in recent seasons. I think 72 games could be a bit much for a player who is 40 years old. I think he'll regress this season in terms of health and that will, in turn, cause his production to regress.
Bounceback Candidate
- I don't think that there's anyone who truly fits this mold, just because anyone who had a bad year last year I don't think is capable of bouncing back.
*All statistics and information come from: rosterresource.com, thehockeywriters.com,
hockeydb.com, hockey-reference.com, and generalfanager.com
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