James Tanner: Take Advantage of Low Expectations to Improve

Solid discussion !

Look what happen to our Leafs after trading picks...it hasnt been pretty.

The Yotes shouldn't be trading first round draft picks ,they should be using them to draft and develop players.

Look what happen to our Leafs after trading picks...it hasnt been pretty.
- annoyed

Gotta take risks to win.

Im sure Chayka would be open to it if the right player was coming back but who would you target that is realistically available?

Gotta take risks to win.
- James_Tanner

At the right time...not sure its the Yotes time.

Coyotes have a couple more years at least of hanging around the West's basement. Rannta hasn't proved sh^& and Derek Stepan is a #2 center. The young kids have talent but they need all of them to step up big time. I think A LOT hinges on what kind of player Dylan Strome is. He's the x-factor.

Either way they should definitely not be trading 1st overall picks when they are a goalie injury away from finishing 30th

Coyotes have a couple more years at least of hanging around the West's basement. Rannta hasn't proved sh^& and Derek Stepan is a #2 center. The young kids have talent but they need all of them to step up big time. I think A LOT hinges on what kind of player Dylan Strome is. He's the x-factor.

Either way they should definitely not be trading 1st overall picks when they are a goalie injury away from finishing 30th
- teamvanek

Everyone is a goalie injury away from 30th, pretty much. It's wierd how conservative people are - basically the team has a couple more years with OEL and a poop tonne of cap room and a bunch of ELC contracs. It's basically now or never. You don't ease into competing in a salary cap world - the stars align, you go all in, most likely you don't win poop, then you start over.

Coyotes need to go for it while everyone is ELC.

Everyone is a goalie injury away from 30th, pretty much. It's wierd how conservative people are - basically the team has a couple more years with OEL and a poop tonne of cap room and a bunch of ELC contracs. It's basically now or never. You don't ease into competing in a salary cap world - the stars align, you go all in, most likely you don't win poop, then you start over.

Coyotes need to go for it while everyone is ELC.
- James_Tanner

The Yotes are not remotely close enough to adopt a go all in strategy. That is a really bad read on their situation.

Interesting idea. The whole goalie thing isn't a huge obstacle either, there are a number of goalies in their UFA years they could pick up if they're playing well and Raanta goes down. The only problem, is that they probably wouldn't even need to trade their 1st if they picked up a defender from Vegas. I just hope they resign the Duke ( I'm currently looking at houses in the PHX/Glendale area )

This is the first of 2 'all or nothing' type articles you've written about the Coyotes in the last few weeks. Hockey off-season in the desert must lead to boredom and what appears to be heat-stroke related writing.

I'm not sure if you're used to video game style wheeling and dealing, or if you're 13 years old, but gambling 1st round picks, prospects and $20 million in salary cap space on hoping to achieve 25 consecutive best case scenarios is a little outlandish. Sure as long as every player is 100% healthy, scores at never before established levels, every rookie displays maximum potential immediately and every off-season acquisition maximizes their value with minimal adjustment to the system, then sure the Coyotes MAY make the playoffs. Throw in the fact that you pre-plan on pulling the wool over every GM/Scouts eyes and over sell every asset...

Even in this fantasy land of perfect case scenario, they've already gone 'ALL or nothing' by acquiring a starting goaltender, top 6 centre and top 4 defenseman. You have already maximized your off-season potential. You don't just get to obtain everyone you like. Having 30 other teams capable of targeting the same assets makes that tricky.

My reasonable expectation: Bide your time, wait for the prospects to mature, retain future 1st round picks that can be difference makers and take your head out of your butt and put a pin in any more of these ludicrous articles until ~2020.