Follow @james_tanner123 The Arizona Coyotes are in a great position. Top Tier goalie, one of the best blue-lines in the NHL and a forward group that is young, fast and talented.
While many people don't look past them being the NHL's punchline, John Chayka has quietly built his team into a darkhorse contender. They might have already removed the 'darkhorse' distinction had they not suffered through a MR. Burns Softball Team amount of injuries last season.
Granted a healthy roster, this team will do some damage this year. Which is what prompted me to write out this series of blogs.
#4 Was a review of all the great moves John Chayka has so far made, and the fact that finally the Coyotes have Competant Management.
#3 Was that the Coyotes have one of the best rosters in the NHL. Had I been planning out this list it likely would have been the #1, but what can you do?
#2 Was the emergance of Antti Raanta as a #1 goalie and potential superstar. If he makes the first few saves of this season he'll have the highest career save percentage of any starting goalie.
The #1 Reason to be excited about the Coyotes?
Their trio of potential superstar forward: Clayton Keller, Dylan Strome and Barrett Hayton
While playing in all 82 games last year, Clayton Keller scored 23 goals and 65 points. His 1.96 p/60 was equal to Nik Backstrom, and just below guys like Patrick Laine and John Tavares.
Dylan Strome, fighting non-sense reviews and predictions of being a bust from people who've never seen him play - dominated the AHL and struggled in the NHL, scoring only one point over his first ten or so games.
However, he was jerked around and deployed on the 3rd and 4th line with terrible players. Didn't get much, if any , power-play time.
Finally, the Coyotes brought him back up near the end of the season and he scored 8 points (7 5v5) in his last ten games, despite not getting PP time (31 total minutes across 21 games) or a ton of ice time.
In the end, Strome, despite not scoring much in his first ten games, finished the year with a 2.05 p/60 which is higher than Keller, Tavares, Marner, Eichel and a whole bunch of other players that aren't busts.
Dylan Stome enters the year as the co-favorite along with Rasmus Dahlin to win the Calder Trophy. He and Keller will look to lead the Coyotes to the playoffs.
And don't forget about Barret Hayton, he isn't likely to make this year's team, but he's a hell of a prospect and based on Chayka's reaching for both Strome and Keller ahead of conventional wisdom, I like this pick a lot.
To sum up: The Coyotes are a team worth watching this year and there are five very good, if not improperly ranked, reasons to be a fan of this team.
Thanks for reading!