You forgot the Jets
- StargateSG1

Yeah but nobody cares about them

Yeah but nobody cares about them either
- DutchCanSaveUs

Fixed.

Yeah but nobody cares about them
- DutchCanSaveUs

This true . Aside from raping their cupboards for disgruntled players no one gives a Sh!t about the Jests

I get what you're saying, but I think you're just a little home-town biased.

If the Coyotes are so good and such a lock to make the playoffs, why did they not make it last year? Don't tell me its cuz Mike Smith went down. Though Smith is a good goalie, Greiss had better numbers than Smith last year.

Also, I know that stats need to be taken with a grain of salt, and that plus/minus is an iffy one at best, but Yandle (-23!!) and OEL (the greatest defensman ever, at -4)?

I agree that Boedker can be very good, but they will have a lot of points to replace in Vrbata and Ribeiro (as much as everyone hates him, and for good reason).

The Coyotes have always been a very difficult team to play against, but I can't agree with you that they are a lock to make the playoffs, especially in the West. Where it's so competitive that there are really only 4 teams that are a lock (Chi, STL, LA, ANA).

I actually thought this was meant for me DDm, Was a bit surprised when I saw you're name there...

but you're right, James is notorious for these blogs where he trawls out a bunch of his homerish opinions involving the Yotes and then defies you to tell him why he's wrong. Once you start arguing one persons opinion against another's with nothing factual to base anything on, it's a pretty moot argument. This blog is the equivalent of stating, the Wild and the Av's are two of the top ten teams in the west.

It's vague, it's easy to back up with rhetoric and it's a fairly safe estimate. Nothing real concrete about the statement either way. But I defy anyone to tell me "why I'm wrong".... Do it!
- MnGump

Seemed like a Jabroni blog to begin with but his comments were worse

Seemed like a Jabroni blog to begin with but his comments were worse
- Jeropotato

Every once in awhile James has a good discussion blog, but it's rare.

I get what you're saying, but I think you're just a little home-town biased.

If the Coyotes are so good and such a lock to make the playoffs, why did they not make it last year? Don't tell me its cuz Mike Smith went down. Though Smith is a good goalie, Greiss had better numbers than Smith last year.

Also, I know that stats need to be taken with a grain of salt, and that plus/minus is an iffy one at best, but Yandle (-23!!) and OEL (the greatest defensman ever, at -4)?

I agree that Boedker can be very good, but they will have a lot of points to replace in Vrbata and Ribeiro (as much as everyone hates him, and for good reason).

The Coyotes have always been a very difficult team to play against, but I can't agree with you that they are a lock to make the playoffs, especially in the West. Where it's so competitive that there are really only 4 teams that are a lock (Chi, STL, LA, ANA).
- Nick_Dangles

You can add the Sharks to that list of 4 locks.

While they are choke artists of the biggest order (i live here), they will make the PO's unless half their team goes down with season ending injuries. Even then there is always the option of trading Thornton and getting a quality return for him.

There is still value there, but if they don't do it soon it's not going to matter.

I don't see how Dallas, SJ, Minn or Col can be considered better, as PHX has a better goaltending/defense combo than all of them and its not even close.
- James_Tanner

All signs were pointing to Canucks dropping in the standings.Stick to the topic.
- VANTEL

Sure thing babe.

I think Boyle leaving isn't a big deal, they have lots of young promising Dmen that are looking to crack the roster, Mirco Mueller and Matt Tennyson should be there this year. I think their D will be ok with Vlasic, Braun, and Burns (they stated he will be a Dman this season). They will shelter the Kids
- DDM-Coga

The point brought up was moving burns back to forward depending on injuries. The youth will be tested if that is the case.

Sure thing babe.
- Tumbleweed

Hai there hawtie.

James, what are your thoughts on Ian Esplen?

James, what are your thoughts on Ian Esplen?
- Nucker101

2 Jabroni birds if the same Jabroni feather? Add Cloutier to the mix and you got gravy.

Hai there hawtie.
- Nucker101

You are living in fantasy land my friend, where to begin.

People(Edmonton) have been saying Gagner is going to have a breakout season for the past 3 years, well that never happened so now you guys have him, the fact that they gave up on that prophecy should be a little alarming if you expect him to be more than a 2nd or 3rd(on a good team)line center.

"The Coyotes are only a couple first line superstars away from being legitimate cup contenders"......sure, and so are 20 other teams.

To save the best for last, a lot of Good Western teams got even better:

Minnesota: Would easily make the playoffs with their current roster and They just added a legit 30 goal scorer in Vanek, maybe 40 if he's reunited with Pommer.

Colorado: Sure they lost Stasny, but another year of growth by McKinnon and the veteran leadership that Iginla and Brier will provide are huge

Dallas: really like the additions of Hemsky and Spezza, I think Spezza is going to excel on a team that won't expect him to provide all the scoring and leadership, as was the case on Ottawa.

St Louis: would easily make the playoffs with current roster but the addition of Stasny only improves their odds.

No big changes in Anaheim, LA, and Chicago but they didn't need any and should easily make the post season, so that essentially leaves the Coyotes fighting with Vancouver, Nashville, San Jose....all of whom made additions equal to or greater than those made by the Coyotes.

I think everyone else(other than you) would agree that Edmonton, Calgary and the Jets don't have a shot in the West.

No offense but the odds are stacked against you guys.....then again, they have been in past seasons and the Yotes always seem to find ways to win, it's just not as much as a done deal as you portray it, actually far from it.

You are living in fantasy land my friend, where to begin.

People(Edmonton) have been saying Gagner is going to have a breakout season for the past 3 years, well that never happened so now you guys have him, the fact that they gave up on that prophecy should be a little alarming if you expect him to be more than a 2nd or 3rd(on a good team)line center.

"The Coyotes are only a couple first line superstars away from being legitimate cup contenders"......sure, and so are 20 other teams.

To save the best for last, a lot of Good Western teams got even better:

Minnesota: Would easily make the playoffs with their current roster and They just added a legit 30 goal scorer in Vanek, maybe 40 if he's reunited with Pommer.

Colorado: Sure they lost Stasny, but another year of growth by McKinnon and the veteran leadership that Iginla and Brier will provide are huge

Dallas: really like the additions of Hemsky and Spezza, I think Spezza is going to excel on a team that won't expect him to provide all the scoring and leadership, as was the case on Ottawa.

St Louis: would easily make the playoffs with current roster but the addition of Stasny only improves their odds.

No big changes in Anaheim, LA, and Chicago but they didn't need any and should easily make the post season, so that essentially leaves the Coyotes fighting with Vancouver, Nashville, San Jose....all of whom made additions equal to or greater than those made by the Coyotes.

I think everyone else(other than you) would agree that Edmonton, Calgary and the Jets don't have a shot in the West.

No offense but the odds are stacked against you guys.....then again, they have been in past seasons and the Yotes always seem to find ways to win, it's just not as much as a done deal as you portray it, actually far from it.
- nikel

Not sure I follow....could you expand on this?

I don't see how Dallas, SJ, Minn or Col can be considered better, as PHX has a better goaltending/defense combo than all of them and its not even close.
- James_Tanner

And your offense is light years behind each of those you just listed, as you said, not even close

- MnGump

LOL..

Go well, this thread did not..

Mmmm.. Can we all make a bookmark in our browsers now so that when the season is over we can revisit this masterpiece of a blog?

If they were smart they'd trade off everything they have and start over with one of McDavid or Eichel.. add Domi and everyone else.. might as well.. they aren't going to win by adding a piece here and there and having an aging core.

Lol.

a guarantee is pretty silly for any outside of la, chi and st.loo.

but Arizona has a pretty solid team. the only position the really stands out as ugly is right wing.
some quality at all other positions.

if smith goes down, they have zero shot. but outside of that they've got a chance to squeak in as one of the bottom seeds.

1. Pietrangelo
2. Bouwemeester
3. Shattenkirk
4. Gunnarrson
5. Jackman
6. Leopold
7. Cole
8. Butler
9. Prosser.

That's a hell of allot of depth for the blue line.

Every once in awhile James has a good discussion blog, but it's rare.
- MnGump

I gotta say though that those responding to his blog are just as bad, if not worse. Most people just say, "your an idiot, these 9 teams are better because they made the playoffs last year!" That's not really a nuanced argument.

Look, I'm a lifer Canucks fan, and I'm not a Coyotes fan. I'd like to see them moved. But I have zero problem with a team blogger writing a homer blog predicting his team will make the playoffs. I think its fun. I thought he did a decent job giving reasons, even if I disagree with some of them, particularly with the top six. However, most of those responding to him aren't making any more nuanced arguments than he is. Pointing to last years standings or simply stating that you think SJ is better is frankly less than what he did.

I enjoy reading most of the writers on this site, and I enjoy laughing at home at the posters. It would be tough to be a blogger and have to deal with a lot of internet tough, mock you when I disagree with you types. Whatever, I guess he gets paid to write about hockey, that's pretty cool.

As a Winnipeger I will forever resent the Coyotes and what they represent to me. I always love seeing the Coyotes lose, the more spectacular the better.

That being said, I wish someone would write a blog like this about the Jets. Here in the Peg the despondency is getting a little sickening.

2 Jabroni birds if the same Jabroni feather? Add Cloutier to the mix and you got gravy.
- Jeropotato

Honestly, if guys who talked like this didn't hate me, I would think there was something wrong. I am just guessing here, but do you happen to be a Kid Rock fan?