Moving on to preview the fourth of six teams in the new Pacific Division, we hit the oft-though of underdogs the Phoenix Coyotes...or is it Arizona Coyotes now? Whatever. First off, congratulations to the organization for finding an ownership group and being able to stay in Phoenix for at least a little while longer. I couldn't imagine having a team of mine relocate and it must be a relief to know that the team is safe for at least a little while longer.
The focus is now back to hockey. As you could expect with a lineup that lacks a lot of big names the Coyotes are pegged as a middle of the road team with an outside shot at a playoff spot. They've heard it all before though and have garnered a reputation in the league as an incredibly difficult and hard-nosed team to play against. Wins are battled for and not given. There are a lot of questions to be asked of the young desert dogs though after an off-season that didn't have a lot of moves, so let's get to it.
2012-13 Record
21-18-9 (10th in the Western Conference, 19th in the NHL)
9-11-4 Home, 10-11-3 Away
Failed to make the playoffs
Top-5 scorers in 2012-13
Keith Yandle - 48gp - 10g, 20a, 30p plus-4
Radim Vrbata - 34gp - 12g, 16a, 28p plus-6
Shane Doan - 48gp - 13g, 14a, 27p plus-6
Mikkel Boedker - 48gp - 7g, 19a, 26p even
Oliver Ekman-Larsson 48gp - 3g, 21a, 24p plus-5
Goaltender stats
Mike Smith - 34gp (15-12-5) .910 SV%, 2.58 GAA 5 shutouts
Jason LaBarbera - 15gp (4-6-2) .923SV%, 2.64 GAA 0 shutouts
Chad Johnson - 4gp (2-0-2) .954 SV%, 1.21 GAA 1 shutout
Team Stats
Goals for per game - 2.52 (21st)
Goals against per game - 2.60 (15th)
Powerplay - 14.8% (25th)
Penalty Kill - 79.9% (22nd)
Hits - 1260 (7th)
Faceoff % - 52% (5th)
Additions/Subtractions
OUT
Boyd Gordon (EDM)
Jason LaBarbera (EDM)
Alexander Bolduc (STL)
Chris Conner (PIT)
Chad Johnson (BOS)
Nick Johnson (BOS)
IN
Thomas Greiss (SJ)
Mike Ribeiro (WSH)
Tim Kennedy (SJ)
Brandon Yip (NSH)
2012-13 vs. Kings
Record: 2-3-0
Goals for/against - 12/14
Leading scorers: Shane Doan (4g 1a 5p), Mikkel Boedker (3g, 2a, 5p), Keith Yandle (2g, 2a, 4p), Rob Klinkhammer (1g, 1a, 2p), Derek Morris (0g, 2a, 2p)
Goaltenders - Jason LaBarbera (3gp - 1-1, .936 SV%, 2.30 GAA), Mike Smith (3gp - 1-2, .893SV%, 3.24GAA)
2012-13 King stats vs. Coyotes
Anze Kopitar - 3g, 3a, 6p
Jake Muzzin - 2g, 3a, 5p
Justin Williams - 1g, 4a, 5p
Jeff Carter - 2g, 1a, 3p
Jarret Stoll - 1g, 2a, 3p
Goaltending
Jonathan Quick - 4gp (2-2), .917SV%, 2.51GAA
Jonathan Bernier - 1gp, .952SV%, 2.00 GAA
Results
LAK W @PHX 4-2
LAK L @PHX 2-5
LAK W @LA 4-0
LAK W @LA 3-2
LAK L @PHX 1-3
Analysis
As usual the Phoenix Coyotes were a bit of a thorn in the side of the Kings last year. Despite taking the season series three games to two, Phoenix was stiff competition in every game except for the March 18th 4-0 blowout at Staples. That tends to be the case with the Coyotes in general though. They play a very tough and gritty style, and despite not having any true superstars they make it work in their own way and are a difficult team to play against. Last season was indeed a disappointment for the Yotes though. After a great run in 2011-12 that saw them fall to the Kings in the Western Conference Finals they failed to make the playoffs in the shortened season. They took a step back in almost every statistical category. The team continued to lack scoring, but what was more troubling was the fall from 2011-12 to 2012-13 in goals against average (5th to 15th) and penalty killing (8th to 22nd). Phoenix and Dave Tippett pride themselves on a system of defense first and last season that proved to be difficult for the team.
A lot of that however had to do with Mike Smith coming back down to earth a little bit. In 2011-12 the Coyotes allowed one of the worst shots against average in the league at 31.6 per night. Mike Smith played out of his mind and was able to put together a 38 win season with a .930 average despite facing so many shots a night. Despite the previous year though, under similar conditions in 2012-13 he posted just a .910 in save percentage. The Coyotes will be looking for Smith to rekindle his 2011-12 form certainly, as he was a huge piece in their splendid playoff run.
Speaking of the defense for the Coyotes, you might not see a better top-four in the NHL right now and they have more young pieces coming. Between burgeoning star Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Keith Yandle you have two all-star worthy defenseman to build around, along with solid NHL vets in Derek Morris and Zbynek Michalek who in my opinion was a fantastic pickup. On the back end of the top-six Michael Stone is making a push, as is young star David Rundblad who was stellar in the AHL last year. Let's also not forget 2010 first-round selection Brandon Gormley who had a solid rookie season in the AHL as well, and veteran Rostislav Klesla. Defense will again have to be the bread and butter with Phoenix, but they are definitely going to have to improve on what was a very disappointing 2012-13.
Offense? Well, with Phoenix, it's always touch and go. Last season defenseman Keith Yandle was again their leading scorer, although the real offensive threat is Radim Vrbata. Vrbata missed about 14 games with injury last season but was still on a torrid pace that would have surpassed last season's 35g/62p season in a full 82 game schedule. He was also a major factor in the success of the Coyotes in 2011-12. A constant thorn in the King's side, Vrbata has put together some of his most productive and consistent seasons in Phoenix in the last few years at the ripe old age of 32. While the big addition of the summer, Mike Ribeiro, certainly gives them a more formidable first line center they still don't have a true goal scoring threat outside of Vrbata who tends to score in bunches. Ribeiro is a setup man first and foremost, and his talents might be under utilized in a lineup that really lacks a gifted goal scorer. Phoenix is also going to struggle mightlily with bottom-6 scoring. As it currently stands these are the bottom two lines of the Yotes:
Bissonnette/Korpikoski - Vermette - Moss
Klinkhammer - Chipchura - Yip
(
NOTE: Klinkhammer and Bissonnette could very well switch spots, as well as Lucas Lessio and/or Chris Brown earning a spot and relegating one of the two to the pressbox.)
While Vermette is a talented player and David Moss COULD be a 20 goal scorer, that figures to be an excruciating lack of production from the bottom six forwards, particularly when they match up against some stronger Pacific division opponents. However, Phoenix has made a name for themselves in defying the odds. People tend to count Phoenix out most of the time only to be surprised at their tenacity and grit. There is a good culture in Glendale under Tippett and with a lot of the off-ice fiascos sorted out it could translate to a more focused on-ice effort.
However, as heroic as the efforts have been in the past for Phoenix, I just don't see it being a year where the Coyotes can make the playoffs in a strong division. The loss of Boyd Gordon as a key faceoff man hurts, and the addition of Mike Ribeiro isn't going to be enough to bolster an offense that still lacks a considerable threat. If they are going to go anywhere it's going to be on the backs of their defense yet again. Can they hold that weight? Can Mike Smith rebound and hold that weight as well? Time will tell, but they are certainly going to have to defy the odds yet again if they want to make some noise this year. They seem to be used to that though.
Scheduled Games
Oct 24th @LA
Oct 29th @PHX
Jan 28th @PHX
Mar 17th @LA
Apr 2nd @LA
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