Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Coyotes 5v5 Team Stats and Season Assessment

April 24, 2019, 2:58 PM ET [18 Comments]
James Tanner
Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Arizona Coyotes finished with 86 points this season, good for 19th in the NHL, and four off the total that would have gotten them into the playoffs, where, had they made it, and based on what has happened so far, they probably would have won the Stanley Cup.

The Coyotes did not make it, however, and here is a list of their team stats.

Their 48.5 CF% (5v5) was 12th worst in the league, which helps to explain why they missed the playoffs despite having one of the best goalies in the league this year in Darcy Keumper.

Who knows if he will keep it up, but his performance this year was fantastic, and he finished with one of the higher save% numbers in recent years among goalies who played at least 50 games.



At even strength, the Coyotes were 10th best in the NHL in team save % and only the Ducks finished higher and failed to make the playoffs.

The Coyotes had the absolute lowest team shooting percentage in the NHL (5v5) at 6.61%

This is partially because they have no shooters, but it's also just unlucky because that means that goalies had a .939 save percentage against Arizona this year, which is pretty crazy.

Even though the Coyotes were last in goals for and last in shooting percentage, they were 14th in expected goals.

Arizona was 13th in goals against (also 5v5).

What this means is that the Coyotes were a team that got great goaltending and decent defense, but couldn't move the puck enough to get a lot of puck possession. They lacked shooters, but still got unlucky when it came to scoring.

It should be noted, however, that even if they scored at an expected rate, they wouldn't have been a strong offensive team.

The numbers most also be considered in the light of the Coyotes almost never playing their best lineup all year, due to injuries.

The worst thing about their season is that given their goaltending, they'd only have needed average offense to be a contending team.

Going forward it will be hard to judge the team. The goaltending performance isn't repeatable, or at least it can't be counted on, and so the team has to find a way to drive possession of the puck more, and they have to add scoring.

The danger will be overrating the team by saying "given what they did with all their injuries, they should do alright if healthy."

The reason this is dangerous is that, as mentioned, a healthy team won't necessarily get this level of goaltending.

The bottom line is that the Coyotes have a decent depth team that needs high-end talent to truly take advantage of their strengths. Speed and defense and talent are there in the majority of the roster, but my assessment is that they are one franchise level forward, and one star forward away from competing.

All stats from naturalstattrick.com
Join the Discussion: » 18 Comments » Post New Comment
More from James Tanner
» I am Just Curious If This Works
» NHL At Least Tries to do the Right Thing
» The NHL Cannot Remain Apolitical and Must Show Leadership
» Time for a New Coach to Go Along with the New G.M
» Coyotes Eliminated Following Severe Beating