The Coyotes are on a five game losing streak after losing 4-1 to Columbus and then 4-0 to the Blackhawks this week.
The most recent loss, to the Hawks, was, if you can believe it, one of the better games the Coyotes have recently played. Though the Hawks have had favorable results this year so far, and I wouldn't say that they are one of the better teams in the NHL anymore, it is still nice that the Coyotes were able to at least show up for this game.
My current unofficial count is now 13 straight games where the Coyotes either lost or deserved to lose. You have to go back to November 8th where they beat the Avalanche, in order to find a game that they won while also having at least 50% CF. (Technically, they were at 49.47 % in that game, but I'm gonna give them a pass).
The team is reeling and have now lost five in a row, but I wouldn't expect anything to really go down. A person I talk to - I don't even wanna call him a source because that sounds too official/posery - who has, in the past, provided me with information that proved to eventually be true, told me yesterday that there is 'no chance' Dave Tippett is fired, that the owners 'love him' and that they are completely fine with a losing season.
While nothing is ever impossible, my friend here has all but extinguished any hope I had of seeing the Coyotes salvage at least the excitement of this season.
In fact, much of what people have told me about Tippett - that he is interested in learning new things, lobbied to have Strome on the team last year, that some of Chayka's creative and much lauded moves this summer were actually his idea - goes against my view of him as an old-school coach who won't give young players much chance and who lives and dies by his top six/ bottom six mentality.
I hope I am wrong. I hope that perception is, in this case, much different than the facts.
Perhaps Dave Tippett is just doing what he can with an absolutely terrible roster. Perhaps Strome (15 points in six games in the OHL so far) wouldn't have done well, even in a scoring role.
Either way, perhaps guys like me are way too quick to yell FIRETHECOACH (then again, perhaps he should be replaced).
Whatever the true answer is, Dave Tippett is (likely) not getting fired. (Watch him get fired an hour after I publish this) and the season is likely going to be very, very long.
If I was John Chayka, I would consider moving my first round pick. The Coyotes already have a great system of prospects, they have terrible vets outside of OEL and Smith (who's 109) and there isn't an Auston Matthews available this year. People will overpay for lottery picks, especially from the odds-on favorite for #1.
Next up, it's the Flames