The Coyotes missed the playoffs last year when, near the end of the season, they headed out on a roadtrip and proceeded to score four goals in four games.
With total control of their own destiny, the lost 4-1, 4-2, 2-1 and 2-0.
Then, almost just to make my point for me, they came and beat the Hawks 1-0.
I would be surprised if there was ever another team that got goaltending as good as the Coyotes got last year and missed the playoffs.
They seem to be counting on a repeat performance from their goalies this year (or else they expect a lot out of Schmaltz and Keller) because all they did was upgrade Alex Galchenyuk to Phil Kessel.
If the Coyotes are going to make the playoffs, they're almost certainly going to have to do so by winning a wild card.
They play in the pacific division.
That leaves two spots, and the Golden Knights aren't missing out with their roster. (Note: the NHL may want to change the rules to find a balance between punishing and stacking expansion teams).
Calgary and San Jose will both be near locks for the playoffs, although their goaltending is going to make those assumptions much riskier than they should be.
Even if I'm wrong about the Oilers - I am not - the Coyotes will still have to hold off a Vancouver team that is getting better despite it's manager seeking to destroy them from within.
The Kings still have a Kopitar-Quick-Doughty combo that might have a last hurray, and the Ducks - as bad as their roster looks - have perhaps the best goalie in the world, in a league where sometimes that's all that matters.
Every team in the Pacific has at least a chance to be better than the Coyotes. I want to be optimistic, but I can easily see them finishing last.