Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Coyotes Camp News and Notes

September 16, 2017, 2:29 PM ET [5 Comments]
James Tanner
Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Coyotes opened camp this week and the big story is that there is not big story!

With a crazy amount of summer turnover - Strome and Keller will be on the team, Raanta, Hjalmarsson and Stepan were traded for, Mike Smith is gone, Tocchet is in, Tippet is out, Chychrun is injured etc. etc. the team appears to really need some time to gel before even narratives can occur.

For instance, most teams have a will _______ supplant _____ on the first line type of narrative going on. The Coyotes don't even have lines at this point.

I guess the closest thing to that is about Clayton Keller and Dylan Strome making the team, but they are pretty much guaranteed to do so.



The best news I heard / most interesting thing I saw was this:




I've had people tell me anywhere from Christmas, to February to next summer when it comes to Chychrun's knee, so him not even wearing a brace at this time has to be considered pretty optimistic news.

Other than that, it's slow going. Max Domi's haircut and Tocchet's plan to adopt a similar strategy to the Penguins (shocker) are about the only other things going on.

To be honest, it's been almost wall to wall Shane Doan. Why he retired, what he's gonna do know, who's fault it was, how it was handeled etc. Who cares? Everyone glosses over the fact that this is a rebuilding team and Doan was declining to the point of embarrassment.

The Hockey News (AKA Hockey's Blockbuster Video) gave the Coyotes a 55-1 shot at the Cup in their season preview. Overall, they seem pretty pessimistic about the Coyotes, and they don't seem to think Dylan Strome will be any good.

They are wrong. It's hilarious how every guy who fails to be a star gets absolved of blame because his team 'rushed him' but you finally have an organization being patient with a player and he's a bust. Give me a break. He played seven games of 4th line minutes under Dave Tippet (who, even though he knew his team was terrible, still gave minutes the young players could have used to guys like Doan). Strome is going to be a star.



I think the Coyotes are going to do well this year. The Sharks and Kings are beatable, Vancouver and Vegas will suck. The Oilers will fail to live up to the hype, and the Coyotes could realistically finish ahead of anyone other than Calgary.

I mean, they probably won't, but they're going to surprise everyone this year. Except me.
Join the Discussion: » 5 Comments » Post New Comment
More from James Tanner
» I am Just Curious If This Works
» NHL At Least Tries to do the Right Thing
» The NHL Cannot Remain Apolitical and Must Show Leadership
» Time for a New Coach to Go Along with the New G.M
» Coyotes Eliminated Following Severe Beating