Guide VAVEL Arizona Coyotes 2020/21: Transition Season to Keep Growing

Arizona Coyotes

Foundation: 1996

Stanley Cups: 0

Conference titles: 0

Division Titles: 1 (2012)

Presidents Trophy: 0

Coach: Rick Tocchet

Arena: Gila River Arena, 17,125 spectators.

GilaRiverArena.com

Despite a strange 2019/20 season due to Covid-19, the delusion to Arizona fans with the great game unfolded and what resulted in reaching the playoffs, something that was not achieved since 2012, and the arrival of Taylor Hall to the desert for improve attack of the Yotes. But they not only managed to reach the postseason, but in the Qualifying Round they eliminated the Nashville Predators and they were defeated in the first round by about Colorado Avalanche high level.

Behind the good taste of the end of season, the offseason it couldn’t be more negative for those of the desert. First with the departure of the general manager John Chayka that occurred before the start of the bubble back to NHL play. Followed by the NHL penalty for violating the prospect training rules with the detraction of selections from draft of the first two rounds of 2020 and 2021, which was accompanied by a draft 2020 nothing good and where the disastrous selection of Mitchell Miller and their history of harassment and racist behavior made the team finally give up on him and lose that selection of the draft.

The lace was the exit rumors from the captain Ekman-Larsson and the goalkeeper Kuemper what they finally did not curdle, but what did end up being confirmed was the hall march in free agency to the Buffalo Sabers. A not good news cocktail that made all Yotes fans feel the sour taste years past and return to mediocrity despite all the illusion generated after the change of ownership and the arrival of Alex Meruelo.

Finally the arrival as general manager of Bill Armstrong, it took a little stability and got down to work to return to relaunch the project. After low by Vinnie Hinostroza, Brad Richardson, Michael Grabner, Carl Soderberg, Taylor Hall, and Derek Stepan, Armstrong sought ease the salary cap and make a tougher and more competitive team with the arrivals of Tyler Pitlick , John Hayden, Johan Larsson, Drake Caggiula and Derick Brassard in a year that given the circumstances will be transition to lay the foundations well of a future project that last season showed the first green shoots that seem like in this offseason has been able to stop but not stop.

—>Altas: Tyler Pitlick (F), John Hayden (F), Johan Larsson (F), Drake Caggiula (F), Derick Brassard (F).

<—Bajas: Vinnie Hinostroza (F), Brad Richardson (F), Michael Grabner (F), Carl Soderberg (F), Taylor Hall (F), Derek Stepan(F).

Squad 2020/21

Goal

Guarantee area as demonstrated last season until the injuries and what the Yotes noticed with several defeats. Whether Antti Raanta they respect injuries as if Darcy Kuemper returns to the level demonstrated both in the regular season and in the playoffs, despite having also fallen injured, then the Yotes will have a lot of cattle and will only have to worry about defense and attack because they will have life insurance under the tubes. Adin Hill He has already shown that he can appear in the NHL when required and will straddle the AHL and NHL to cover any injuries that may ensue.

Darcy Kuemper

Antti Raanta

Extra: Adin Hill

Defending

Behind the great level demonstrated last season, where they only allowed 2.61 goals per game, this campaign will once again be a mainstay on which to lean for victories that can give him the ticket to the postseason. Despite the rumors of departure, it will be led by its captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson in the first defensive pair next to Jason demers to form a guarantee couple.

In the second couple the couple will continue with chemistry Jakob Chychrun and Alex Goligoski, where Chcychrun showed that in addition to being a good defender he has scorer nose and is called to lead the defense in the future. Close the defense third couple with the seniority of Niklas Hjalmarsson beside Jordan Oesterle that you could see that they fit in well last season.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Jason Demers

Alex Goligoski – Jakob Chychrun

Niklas Hjalmarsson – Jordan Oesterle

Lead

The attack of the Valle del Sol team has been the most depleted area in this offseason. But with Armstrong’s arrival at the Yotes offices he has strengthened the team so that if players like Phil Kessel get back your best version of the Pens, Clayton Keller the numbers of his great season of Rookie and Connor Garland and Nick Schmaltz continue with the numbers from last season, the reinforcements will provide the physical and competitiveness what is missing to give the quality jump. Barret Hayton should take this opportunity that is presented to him to shine and show why he was a fifth selection of draft.

Do not lose sight of Lawson Crouse, Dereck Brassard and Tyler Pitlick that they must make the points and the game in favor of the Yotes arrive and happen positive things between Crouse’s higher level of play and Brassard’s veteran leadership. So after the disbandment suffered in attack during the offseason, it seems that a collateral attack, if they give the expected performance, to score points and qualify for the postseason.

Nick Schmaltz – Christian Dvorak – Conor Garland

Clayton Keller – Dereck Brassard – Phil Kessel

Lawson Crouse – Barrett Hayton – Christian Fischer

Tyler Pitlick – Johan Larsson – John Hayden