Ever since I stopped writing about the Coyotes, they've been on fire.
As I correctly predicted heading into the season, the Coyotes are an awesome team. I just kind of didn't count on them being near-historically bad to start the season. (They began 0-10-1 and that was all she wrote).
John Chayka assembled a great collection of players and built one of the NHL's best blue-lines last summer, but the team got off to a brutal start and were eliminated from playoff contention by Halloween.
While an illogical public continues to believe that 'injuries are no excuse,' in reality, injuries are not only a legitimate excuse, but one of the main determining factors in who wins and who loses in a league beset by parity.
The Coyotes began the season with Jacob Chychrun on the IR and he didn't play until well after the Coyotes were done trying to make the playoffs. (He also got injured again last night, on his other knee, I believe, and that's probably not good). Besides Chychrun, the Coyotes also suffered through the early season without prized off season acquisition Nik Hjallmarsson, and their starting goalie Antti Raanta. (To make no mention of Louis Domingues total meltdown and the starting of several fifth string goalies).
Now that they're healthy, the Coyotes are actually pretty good. They're well over .500 since New Years, and would be competing for a playoff spot right now if not for the awful start.
Goalie Antti Raanta has matched any goalie in the NHL over the 46 games he played. Proving himself as # 1 goalie and teasing superstardom, Raanta has been a brick wall while not injured.
The trade to acquire him - criticized early and often - has been proven an absolute steal.
Jason Demers, acquired for a 4th liner and so incredibly underrated that it raises existential questions about the point of everything, has been great. OEL has been torn down by people who just want something to teardown, but despite bad plus/minus numbers, he's been spectacular. (51% CF on the 23rd ranked possession team in the NHL).
I would be remiss if I didn't also bring up Richard Panik who has 8 goals, 18 points and a 54% possession rating in 33 games since being acquired. Dylan Strome has 7 points in 8 games since being called back up.
All in all, it's been great to watch the Coyotes rebound from their awful start. Their team is young, exciting and talented, but also has a strong veteren component. Add in another lottery pick and the emergence of Dylan Strome, and you have a team that might contend starting next season.