I noticed that most writers on here do a 'mailbag' but I never get enough questions to actually do one, so I made some up. Maybe it's a chicken/ egg scenario, so I thought if I write one, maybe more will come.

I sometimes get some questions in the comments section, but then I can never seem to track them down for a Q and A blog, so please send future questions through the private message system of the site.


Who will play centre this year for the Coyotes? - Tyrone Slothrop, London.

I would predict Hanzel-Gagner-Vermette as the 1-3 centres.

Sam Gagner will get every chance to utilize his offensive abilities, and perhaps because he was traded for a 6th round pick, people don't seem overly excited about him, but I think it's important to remember that a broken jaw last pre-season derailed what many people thought might be his breakout year.

He is young, talented and should be in a good position to set a career high in points. Most importantly, Gagner and Hanzal at the top means that Vermette can go back to his role as one of the best third line centres in hockey and won't have to play above his head against top defenses all year long. Sure, there's no Crosby in the bunch, but I like the three centres currently on the roster and think Gagner is a superior player to Ribeiro in every way.

Will any recent draft picks make the team? -Tom Bombadil - Wythiwindil

My prediction is that both Domi and Samuelson make the team. Actually, I flat-out guarantee that Domi is on the team to start the year. The Coyotes are starved for offense and barring a trade, those two stand to be among the top 6 wingers entering the year.

A bounce-back from Erat and continued defying of age from Doan will lessen the role that they need to play, but both stand out as decent bets to be in the Calder Trophy conversation at season's end.

The fact is, that if one of them excels, the Coyotes will be a massively better team. As things currently sit, they don't project to score enough to make the playoffs, but if Domi or Samuelson have strong campaigns, this is a totally different team.

I am biased because of I love the Coyotes and Domi is one of the only players to ever play on a team I like that I also got to see play Junior (he played on the London Knights in Ontario) but I just love him; I think he'll be a star in this league and like Anze Kopitar or Corey perry, people are not going to believe five years from now that he wasn't a top end pick in the draft.

Will the team trade Keith Yandle? Don Gately - Mass.

Rumours have been quiet lately, but I would think so. Yandle is a great player whose defense is underrated in the sense that he isn't the one-dimensional player a lot people seem to think he is.

He's a great asset on a team with tons of up and coming defeseman and I can't see how the Coyotes can pass up the opportunity to sell at his peak and acquire the top end scorer they so desperately need.

I predict he'll be traded before the season starts. I already pre-ordered my Evander Kane Coyotes road jersey, just in case. (Kidding!)


How will the Coyotes finish next season? - Philip Roth's Uncle - Arizona

I have said it before and I'll say it again: second in the division, only behind the hated Kings.


What is the best TV show to watch to kill time until hockey starts? - Seymour Glass - New York

The Wire, obviously. If I mention that you should buy it on Amazon, I wonder if they'll send me the box set for free? (somehow I doubt it)

Thanks for reading

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