ESPN NHL analyst: Coyotes will go as far as Mike Smith takes them

“Phoenix will go as far as Mike Smith takes them.”

Those are the words of ESPN NHL analyst Barry Melrose when asked about the Phoenix Coyotes, and the guest of Arizona Sports 620’s Burns and Gambo said the possibility is there for the team to replicate the success it had last postseason again this time around.

Assuming, of course, the Coyotes make it back to the playoffs.

Currently the seventh seed in the Western Conference, the Coyotes find themselves in a group of 10 teams all within five points of each other. Every day seems to bring a significant change in playoff positioning, regardless of whether or not the Coyotes actually play.

But regardless of the team’s tenuous position, Melrose sees the same traits in this year’s club that made last year’s so effective.

“I think it’s a good team, it’s a solid team, it’s good defensively,” he said. “A typical Dave Tippett team.”

Follow @theAdamGreen