It’s really no surprise given the current COVID situation, number of players out, and games postponed in recent days, that the league and NHLPA have agreed to pause the season until after Christmas.
With as quickly as things changed for this year, we’re now left with a lot of questions as to what will happen next in regards to the current season, the Olympics, and so forth.
Speaking of strange times…remember all that hoopla regarding Glendale locking the Coyotes out of their arena? Well, as predicted, it looks like everything is cool now. The Coyotes paid up last week, the December 20th deadline came and went, and with it, a statement from Glendale was released:
So that pickle is back in the jar. At least until June…
Embrace the Mess
If you watched (or are watching) Only Murders in the Building on Hulu, you’re probably familiar with the quote, “Embrace the mess. That’s where the good stuff lives.”
I think this is not only a cool line, but something that Coyotes fans, management and players can latch onto right now.
Yes. This season is yet another rough patch for this franchise, but why not embrace it at this point and see it as an opportunity for something new?
Former-Coyote-turned-analyst-and-co-host of probably the biggest hockey podcast (Spittin’ Chiclets), Paul Bissonnette, shared his thoughts on the current Arizona situation, helping illustrate what I’m trying to say.
Biz has some solid ideas here and think the Coyotes are the prime (only) candidate that can actually pull this off given their current situation.
The Barn
If they have to play somewhere else in the time between leaving Glendale and the new Tempe rink being built, why not go to the old barn Biz is talking about? Who cares that it doesn’t hold huge crowds - the Yotes aren’t selling out anyways. And who cares that it doesn’t have new/cool amenities and bells and whistles? You don’t need them. People are there watch hockey, not hobknob and “be seen” - well, there’s always going to be those people…but you know what I mean.
Arizona actually has a great opportunity to develop a tight knit, gritty, old school hockey vibe with the stadium Biz mentions - one that would be a great experience that a hardcore fan base would embrace and hold on to.
The Team
Biz brings up an interesting idea about redesigning this team. They’re probably a few years away from the rebuild being complete. Like any team, the young guns in their system, and the ones they’ll draft, are going to need development.
This season kind of validates that bringing in bad contracts (to get the picks that teams throw in with it) and guys with something to prove, can make for a rough go. While players like Ladd, Eriksson, Beagle, etc., have a wealth of veteran leadership/knowledge to benefit the young guns, this team just isn’t working this year. And that’s not on any one guy. The whole product isn’t clicking, and as a result, the fan base is stuck with a directionless product on the ice (again).
So why not mix it up and do something different while the rebuild cooks?
The current Yotes don’t have the ability to compete with the top dogs, let alone the rest of the league - as evident by their place in the standings (32) and 6-21-2 record.
We know they’re not going to go from last place to the 1980s Oilers overnight. But they certainly can’t carry on in this way. I mean…with how things are going, they’ll be lucky to win 15-20 games this season.
So what do you do?
I say go the Biz route. If you’re struggling to be competitive, at least be a tough team to play against. Make it miserable for teams to come through Arizona. This style of play, in conjunction with the environment you build through the old arena, could see the Coyotes become a really entertaining team to root for. A tough, throwback squad of sorts.
I’d love to see them go out and get some muckers/grinders, and gritty characters. Let’s get “ugly” for the next few years, and when the “pretty” players have marinated and are ready, let them take over for this team’s next metamorphosis.
Think of this franchise like the stages a caterpillar goes through to become a butterfly.
The Egg: The Goal
Like all teams in the league, the Coyotes have a vision of building a successful team. One that will continue to evolve and eventually win the Cup.
The Larva (Caterpillar): Current Coyotes Team
Much like a caterpillar lazily chomping away at a leaf, this team has been meandering around the league, scooping up draft picks via taking on bad contracts, and working on developing prospects in the AHL.
The Pupa (Cocoon):
This is the phase where Biz’s idea takes over. The Coyotes add gritty, tough players to their roster. Arizona becomes a team that others hate having to play. They’re not necessarily lighting up the win column (can’t get much worse than currently), but their tough, physical play is a nod to old time hockey that gives the team and fan base an identity and direction. They become something the modern game hasn’t seen in a long time.
This team, and their style of play, buys some more time for the picks/prospects to continue developing.
The Adult (Butterfly):
After a few years of development and call-ups, the rebuild is complete and the next wave of Arizona hockey is here. They’re young, skilled, hungry and ready to compete.
They’re ready to move out of the old barn, where hard-nosed hockey in a wild atmosphere has built up a hockey-crazed fan base, eager to watch a team that’s now ready to seriously compete.
Most likely none of this will happen, but it’s a fun thought, and gives us something to chat about during this brief league pause.
Speaking of which…I was really looking forward to tonight’s game with the Yotes coming off that 6-5 OT winner against the Ducks last Friday. I thought the Coyotes did a lot of the right things that game, mainly capitalizing on John Gibson, who was returning from an injury. I also liked how they battled back, trading blows back-and-forth for the lead all night.
The Ducks are a team that’s trending up, so the Coyotes’ should have had a confidence boost after that win - something I was looking forward to seeing carry over to tonight against the Kraken.
Another positive for Arizona is that Carter Hutton was back on the ice last Monday. Hopefully he’s getting back up to speed and can get into the blue paint soon.
I guess I’ll have to wait to crack that game-time cold one until this pause is over…
Stay safe out there, guys!
Matt Ross
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