James Tanner: Arizona Coyotes Still not a Playoff Team - Stuck in Neutral

There must be another dead money contract that Arizona can take on to get them over the top

Any Datsyuks, Hossas, Prongers or Bollands out there?

We are a cap team now. That is no longer in the cards.

Wait what?
On June 30th you said they were a contender?

The sooner the team leaves Arizona, the better off it will be.

Finally, goalies have an incredible impact on the game, and whoever's goalie goes on a surprise run will rocket to the top of the standings. Darcy Kuemper had arguably a top 50 all-time season last year
- James_Tanner

This doesn't add up.

According to you, the Coyotes had one of the best goaltending performances in the history of the NHL last year.

Also according to you, whatever teams gets a goalie on a run like that will "rocket to the top of the standings."

If that's the case, shouldn't the Coyotes have been at the top of the standings?

Wow!!! where did the reversal back into the realm of reality come from ?

Wait what?
On June 30th you said they were a contender?
- jjonah

Follow along fella....

Jim says Coyotes a contender.

Coyotes massively win a trade and acquire kessel.

Tanner returns to state Coyotes are NOT contenders.....

Follow the logic?????......

James I am not understanding where this massive reversal is coming from? You and I beat the drum all last summer and in to the season that the coyotes were better than people realize and would be playoff contenders. Since then they’ve added Schmaltz (basically a free agent addition, since Strome wasn’t contributing) and Kessel. How can they now be worse?

They’re underlying stats were great before the injury rush and now we have more depth and durability, more seasoning of the young guns, and two top six forwards in Schmaltz and Kessel.

WE WILL BE IN THE PLAYOFFS, and we will scare teams in the process. Still a top six forward and top 4 d away from cup contending but still great progress!

Wait what?
On June 30th you said they were a contender?
- jjonah

Im pretty sure James is bipolar

James I am not understanding where this massive reversal is coming from? You and I beat the drum all last summer and in to the season that the coyotes were better than people realize and would be playoff contenders. Since then they’ve added Schmaltz (basically a free agent addition, since Strome wasn’t contributing) and Kessel. How can they now be worse?

They’re underlying stats were great before the injury rush and now we have more depth and durability, more seasoning of the young guns, and two top six forwards in Schmaltz and Kessel.

WE WILL BE IN THE PLAYOFFS, and we will scare teams in the process. Still a top six forward and top 4 d away from cup contending but still great progress!
- Dahlmanyotes

They'll be in the lottery right along with the Oil

Last 6 to 8 years this team is always either last or second to last in attendance. Why would they spend money?

It's just so random.

But isn't Antti Raanta a top 5 goalie? Wouldn't that make this a top 5 team? Kessel instantly makes them a contender according to some oscure Coyotes blogger I've read.

Don't worry, though, I get it. I'll file this article in the CYA folder when you're writing next March about how the Coyotes would be coasting into the playoffs if it weren't for the stupid NHL standings format.

This doesn't add up.

According to you, the Coyotes had one of the best goaltending performances in the history of the NHL last year.

Also according to you, whatever teams gets a goalie on a run like that will "rocket to the top of the standings."

If that's the case, shouldn't the Coyotes have been at the top of the standings?
- jmatchett383

Because they also happened to be the lowest scoring team in the NHL. They did rocket to the top of the standings though - based on their play and their scoring and peripheral stats, they should have been 31st in the NHL.

James I am not understanding where this massive reversal is coming from? You and I beat the drum all last summer and in to the season that the coyotes were better than people realize and would be playoff contenders. Since then they’ve added Schmaltz (basically a free agent addition, since Strome wasn’t contributing) and Kessel. How can they now be worse?

They’re underlying stats were great before the injury rush and now we have more depth and durability, more seasoning of the young guns, and two top six forwards in Schmaltz and Kessel.

WE WILL BE IN THE PLAYOFFS, and we will scare teams in the process. Still a top six forward and top 4 d away from cup contending but still great progress!
- Dahlmanyotes

I don't think it's a reversal. I consider them to be a good team - but other than Tampa, Toronto, Boston, maybe a few other teams - how many are elite teams are there?

The Coyotes are a very good team. I expect them to keep adding. I don't think they're a shoe-in at the moment though.

Wait what?
On June 30th you said they were a contender?
- jjonah

The blog in question says

"The penguins help the Coyotes take a massive step towards contention"

and then

"Still, as much of a win this trade is, it's 100% necessary for the Coyotes to now add a #1 centre to play with Kessel.

I would worry that a Keller-Schmaltz- Kessel first line would a) get caved in against other team's first lines and b) completely lack defensive awareness.

And Stepan is no first liner.

This is a solid start. Add a top-of-the-lineup centre and I think the Coyotes could be legitimate contenders.

Then again, half the league can probably say the same thing."


I don't see this is contradictory, reversing etc.

Im pretty sure James is bipolar
- Reveen.

The blogs do follow a predictable pattern. One day the Yotes are stocked with brilliant players and they're ready to make a splash. The next, all those players are bums and this team will never make the playoffs.

Hey, why have integrity when flip flopping gets hits.

The blogs do follow a predictable pattern. One day the Yotes are stocked with brilliant players and they're ready to make a splash. The next, all those players are bums and this team will never make the playoffs.

Hey, why have integrity when flip flopping gets hits.

its called balance

Get the moving trucks ready for Houston.

Because they also happened to be the lowest scoring team in the NHL. They did rocket to the top of the standings though - based on their play and their scoring and peripheral stats, they should have been 31st in the NHL.
- James_Tanner

So "the top of the standings" is now 18th place out of 31 teams?

#100 based on this list

I guess you could argue Top 50....

https://www.quanthockey.c...eason-by-nhl-goalies.html

#100 based on this list

I guess you could argue Top 50....

https://www.quanthockey.c...eason-by-nhl-goalies.html
- glennjpawlak22

Save pct is such a team stat and doesn't really measure quality of a goaltender or performance because it's a stat that's more than 7 years old. If you really want to see how well he did, you have to look at high danger save pct, 5v5 save pct, relative corsi for at 5v5 (because all hockey that matters is played at 5v5) corrected for PDO (of which save pct is part of) and the all important defensive zone start weighted save pct.

Old school thinking like save pct is ruining the game.

I don't think it's a reversal. I consider them to be a good team - but other than Tampa, Toronto, Boston, maybe a few other teams - how many are elite teams are there?

The Coyotes are a very good team. I expect them to keep adding. I don't think they're a shoe-in at the moment though.
- James_Tanner

Forgot Stanley Cup champs in St. Louis. Toronto, really??? What has Toronto done in past 50 years?

Find a new job flipping homes or something other than hockey blogging.

Forgot Stanley Cup champs in St. Louis. Toronto, really??? What has Toronto done in past 50 years?

Find a new job flipping homes or something other than hockey blogging.
- BlackhawkMike

According to Tanner the Cup Champs are not the best team. That's random. The real best team is the Presidents trophy winners. Tampa Bay.