1. No News is Good News
I haven't heard too much about Mike Smith since the end of the season. The last I heard was that he was walking around without noticeable trouble or any braces. That is a positive.
I still have a hard time reconciling the scream he made when his leg bent the wrong way and the fact that the team kept down playing his injury like he could be back any minute - which as we know ended up being the whole rest of the season.
All I really learned was that "Day-to-Day," in Arizona, means "Month-to-Month."
So here is hoping the fact that we haven't had any bad news about surgery or anything is good news. One should just assume he will be good to go for the start of training camp until we here differently.
2. Things Are Almost Too Silent
Since the assistant GM left town, there has nary been a whisper of anything resembling a rumour or transaction etc. I don't think the two are related, but it has felt like forever since we've had any Coyotes news.
Let's hope the Coyotes are bold on Draft Day and try to move up in the draft, and that they are active in the trade market as well. Clearly they have a stockpile of young D and it will be exciting to see what happens.
3. The Coyotes Should Go Young
With Samuelson and Domi nearing NHL readiness, the Coyotes should seriously think about a youth movement. If, as I fear, they are unwilling to spend to the cap, then this makes even more sense.
Everyone loves Shane Doan, but maybe it's time to move him out while he has value. It would be insanity to continue with Vermette as the top centre, so why not get some value for him too? Korpiskoski has value. Erat does.
Basically, with the exception of Boedker and Hanzal, you could get rid of anyone on the team who plays Forward and I would not mind. Sure, I have some sentimental ideals about Doan, but the Young D has such high potential, there are exciting prospects coming, and Smith is solid, so why not , since you are a budget conscious team, embrace the youth?
You can't tell me Doan can't be moved for a young guy on a cheap contract who can be inserted immediately into the lineup.
I guess my point here is that it's not currently working (worst forwards in the NHL?) and there are not the parts to make it work with the status quo and that, if you aren't going to spend your way out of mediocrity, a re-tooling is your only choice. Not saying they have to blow it up, as they have some good pieces, only that entering the season with the same group of forwards as they had last year is going to end up with the same result.
Let Vrbata Walk
Vrbata is getting old and he is part of the old team identity that to me just means mediocrity. One of the boldest moves Maloney could make would be to let fan favorite Vrbata try out a new team. Take that 3 Million and spend it somewhere else.
The Coyotes Will Not Sign Anyone of Note as a UFA
While I still hold out hopes that they will bust out the checkbook and throw money at Paul Stastny, I can pretty much guarantee this won't happen.
Not only is the team cheap, but as people constantly tell me every time I make a suggestion, no top quality UFAs are going to choose to come here, probably because the unwillingness to spend to the Cap means they are not really competitive.
So how do you combat this? See above and go full throttle youth. If the team will miss the playoffs anyways, then why not ice an exciting young group of forwards that is fun to watch?
I would pay to see Domi and Samuelson. Erat? Not so Much.
I Will Continue to Not Receive Free Tickets and Airfare to the Season Opener
So far I have no plans to watch the season kick off next year anywhere but on my couch in Ontario, Canada, but just putting this out there in case any savvy Coyotes executives read this and want me to attend: comp me a 2 star hotel, buy me a bus ticket and sit me in the nosebleeds and I'll still come.
Thanks for reading. It's the summer so feel free to message or tweet or comment any topics you'd like covered regarding the Coyotes. Also, I would do a mail bag, but the only questions I ever get are a) Have you met Oliver Ekman-Larsson? b) What is your sign? and C) Do you enjoy long walks on the beach?
Tweet me up @james_tanner123 for an interactive Coyotes blogging experience?