NHL panel gives Coyotes low ranking despite reasons for optimism
Sep 2, 2018, 3:36 PM
Arizona Coyotes center Clayton Keller (9) celebrates his goal with the bench during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Another active offseason for the Arizona Coyotes has not only given fans in the Valley optimism, but a few NHL pundits have liked what they have seen as well.
The Coyotes were rated as a tier four team (out of five) by a panel including TheAthletic.com’s Craig Custance and an anonymous NHL player, coach, executive and scout, but were described as a team on the rise.
This is a young team headed in the right direction that should be showing signs of progress in their rebuild. Still, the consensus is that it’s not quite ready to for the playoffs, even if there’s optimism in the desert right now.
“They haven’t shown me enough yet to get me to jump on the bandwagon,” said the scout.
Added the executive: “They’ve bottomed out but they’re on the way back up. They may not be at the absolute bottom of the league. They’re moving in the right direction.”
In 2017, the Coyotes started the season losing their first 11 games but ended the season winning 17 of their last 28 including a four-game win streak from Feb. 12 to Feb. 17.
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Two of the Coyotes’ first three regular season games are against the Anaheim Ducks, who were one of five Pacific Division teams rated in tier three.
The Vancouver Canucks were rated in tier five and the San Jose Sharks were rated in tier two as the highest-rated Pacific Division team in the Stanley Cup conversation.
