His FIRST blunder??...lol
Hey, lets trade a #7 pick and a good defensive prospect for a second line center and a back up tender! Then...we'll make the second line center a first line center and the backup goalie a #1 starter.

And you say this team loses because of bad luck? There's no good or back luck here.....just poorly run organization.
- Mittin

The goalie has played for about 20 minutes so far, it was a weak draft, and Stepan is a first line centre by any standard. He's also been great so far.

People think to be a first line centre you have to be Malkin or better, but the fact is, there's maybe 12 super star centres and 18 guys like Stepan. Everyone wishes they had Stamkos or Matthews, but Stepan is still a legit 1C. Granted, he's like the 28th or so best top line C in hockey, so I partially get what you're saying, but it's not like he's garbage.

Hmmmm....a few months ago when I said Tocchet was a bad bad choice you called me an idiot and argued that he was the perfect choice.

Apology accepted.
- Iggysbff

I highly doubt I called you an idiot. If I did, you probably said something that deserved it.

What?!!! Wait a sec...
- MnGump

Demers most certainly does not suck.

The problem is demers sucks, hammer is struggling and most pressing they are dressing ~9 4th line forwards.

Not good.
- Tumbleweed

Demers is actually pretty good.

Luke Schenn is absolute garbage, and so is adam clendenning.

They should hire your good buddy, Darryl Sutter.
- verwustung

It's actually kind of insane that Darryl Sutter doesn't have an NHL job right now. I was actually planning on bringing this up.

It's actually kind of insane that Darryl Sutter doesn't have an NHL job right now. I was actually planning on bringing this up.
- James_Tanner

For personal reasons (his son), he is waiting for "a good fit."

https://www.nhl.com/news/...to-start-anew/c-289131574

Maybe the Coyotes young guys, the Tanner labeled best prospect group in the NHL, just are not very good hockey players. Stromes and Reinhardts should have come with buyer beware stickers on their foreheads. If Strome is so great he would make the other guys on his line better not vice versa. Did you ever notice how most pairs or groups of brothers that play or have played in the NHL have a last name that starts with S? There is quite a few starting with the Sutters and Staals.

The goalie has played for about 20 minutes so far, it was a weak draft, and Stepan is a first line centre by any standard. He's also been great so far.

People think to be a first line centre you have to be Malkin or better, but the fact is, there's maybe 12 super star centres and 18 guys like Stepan. Everyone wishes they had Stamkos or Matthews, but Stepan is still a legit 1C. Granted, he's like the 28th or so best top line C in hockey, so I partially get what you're saying, but it's not like he's garbage.
- James_Tanner

Yup, he has been good and I understand they needed a top center but weak draft or not, a #7 pick in any draft has A LOT of value. And to add in a very good prospect for one borderline #1 center seems like a steep price to me.
To go into the season with a goal tending tandem like they did was for sure a blunder.
Good backup or not, being a starter and playing 50 games is not the same as 20-30 games against primarily weak opponents.

tochett wasnt even teensy weensy loss for the pens... botterill another story.

Maybe the Coyotes young guys, the Tanner labeled best prospect group in the NHL, just are not very good hockey players. Stromes and Reinhardts should have come with buyer beware stickers on their foreheads. If Strome is so great he would make the other guys on his line better not vice versa. Did you ever notice how most pairs or groups of brothers that play or have played in the NHL have a last name that starts with S? There is quite a few starting with the Sutters and Staals.
- Dcoms

He's not even playing in the NHL.

Unless you are counting 2 games as your sample size.
He has like 260 assists in 200 something games in the OHL.
If that isn't making your teammates better I don't know what is.

Yup, he has been good and I understand they needed a top center but weak draft or not, a #7 pick in any draft has A LOT of value. And to add in a very good prospect for one borderline #1 center seems like a steep price to me.
To go into the season with a goal tending tandem like they did was for sure a blunder.
Good backup or not, being a starter and playing 50 games is not the same as 20-30 games against primarily weak opponents.
- Mittin

dont forget the borderline albatross contract of stepan that ny was able to unload. stings less on the yotes cause they have space but still

Remember when the Dallas defense was considered the pride of the league with Goligoski, Demers, and Connauton?

Me neither.

Remember when the Dallas defense was considered the pride of the league with Goligoski, Demers, and Connauton?

Me neither.
- tootooisapunk

To be fair, if you add OEL, Hjalmarsson, and a healthy Chychrun to that mix, you have a good group.

To be fair, if you add OEL, Hjalmarsson, and a healthy Chychrun to that mix, you have a good group.
- The_Journeyman

To be fair if you add OEL and hammer you'll improve almost any defense. I just think they have some of the wrong parts: Gogo is overpaid, I respect Demers as a third pair guy. I don't think they'll go 0 for, but you shouldn't have grand expectations with this D core.

If Raanta can be as good as hoped, this is a team with depth all the way to the fourth line and the bottom pairing. A team with assets and 17 million or so in cap space if they want to improve. This is a playoff team, and it's going to be probably the best year the franchise has ever had. OEL, Keller, and Strome give the team three franchise players, the depth is as good as anyone in the league and not only that, but they'll be fast and fun to watch.

Add in potential super-stars Clayton Keller and Dylan Strome, and the Coyotes are looking like a team that could seriously contend for the Playoffs. Certainly, they are on the verge of icing one of the most exciting teams in hockey, and if the Playoffs seem like a long shot, it's only because of how bad they've been previously.

Yep

He's not even playing in the NHL.

Unless you are counting 2 games as your sample size.
He has like 260 assists in 200 something games in the OHL.
If that isn't making your teammates better I don't know what is.
- classic321

There's a very long list of point per game junior players that struggle making the step into the NHL, if at all. Strome needs to work on his skating, and use his time riding the bus to learn that nothing is handed to players, even top 3 picks. He still has time, he's just not there right this moment.

It's actually kind of insane that Darryl Sutter doesn't have an NHL job right now. I was actually planning on bringing this up.
- James_Tanner

I agree. Would be perfect for a team like WPG.

It's actually kind of insane that Darryl Sutter doesn't have an NHL job right now. I was actually planning on bringing this up.
- James_Tanner

Kings seem to be doing OK without him. And they're actually trying to score goals instead of trying to hit their opponent into oblivion. But yes, Sutter would be a great fit in Arizona.

The good news is that Arizona is only 3 points behind the Oilers.

The good news is that Arizona is only 3 points behind the Oilers.
- scottak

this isnt a hockey thread anymore

^^^
- Crimsoninja

Yes.

this isnt a hockey thread anymore
- Cloud

Hardly has been about hockey. Well there are the commenters, they try though.

I want Hammer to stay healthy the next 16 months so he can be traded back to the 'Hawks on his expiring deal. But this desert dumpster fire is closing the gap on the Browns as worst big league team of all four sports. And it can only spell doom for Hammer.

This isnt the first flip flop by James nor will it be the last. Here's a list off the top of my head:

1) Yandle was the best Dman in the league.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=64702

Once traded he was the worst dman in the league. You actually go out in state in this article December 5th 2015 that the Coyotes should trade OEL. You also mention in that article that the team has 1 great player(OEL), two decent ones and some duds. Yandle was not traded until March of 2015 which means he was on this team.

Link is here: http://www.hockeybuzz.com...r-Ekman-Larsson/200/73024

2) In the first article about how Yandle was great you also mentioned and I quote "While I am happy to see Doan move on and play in the Playoffs and go for a Cup, I really want the Coyotes to keep Yandle, even though I admit I'm tempted to see what he could bring in."

Then in the link below you flip flop and basically refer to Doan as Canadian Jesus

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...etires-a-Legend/200/87141

3) Rich Tocchet is a good choice

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...o-be-the-Choice/200/86344

Now all of a sudden he was a bad choice.

Some other notable ones are how great Michael Stone and Nick Cousins were when they were brought to Arizona and how they suck now

How Edmonton wouldnt make the playoffs because of the Hall trade and then you claimed that you picked them to make it all a long.

You have no integrity and you know absolutely nothing about this game!

This isnt the first flip flop by James nor will it be the last. Here's a list off the top of my head:

1) Yandle was the best Dman in the league.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=64702

Once traded he was the worst dman in the league. You actually go out in state in this article December 5th 2015 that the Coyotes should trade OEL. You also mention in that article that the team has 1 great player(OEL), two decent ones and some duds. Yandle was not traded until March of 2015 which means he was on this team.

Link is here: http://www.hockeybuzz.com...r-Ekman-Larsson/200/73024

2) In the first article about how Yandle was great you also mentioned and I quote "While I am happy to see Doan move on and play in the Playoffs and go for a Cup, I really want the Coyotes to keep Yandle, even though I admit I'm tempted to see what he could bring in."

Then in the link below you flip flop and basically refer to Doan as Canadian Jesus

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...etires-a-Legend/200/87141

3) Rich Tocchet is a good choice

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...o-be-the-Choice/200/86344

Now all of a sudden he was a bad choice.

Some other notable ones are how great Michael Stone and Nick Cousins were when they were brought to Arizona and how they suck now

How Edmonton wouldnt make the playoffs because of the Hall trade and then you claimed that you picked them to make it all a long.

You have no integrity and you know absolutely nothing about this game!
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Ethered

Went from my favorite writer on this site to nearly unbearable..