Outlook grim for Phoenix Coyotes
This offseason, Ilya Bryzgalov and the Phoenix Coyotes split due to the turbulence surrounding the ownership and the club. The world-class ‘tender grew tired of his team’s financial state and constant rumors of relocation.
He leaves behind a Coyotes franchise who has nothing but charts of poorly executed and unproductive years to look at.
What separates Phoenix from other lower end squads such as the New York Islanders is that after a 14-game losing streak, six different goalies, and over 500 man-games lost to injury, the Isles can really only go up.
The ‘Yotes, however, see a downhill in the horizon after two straight postseason appearances.
Bryzgalov’s departure was arguably the biggest loss of any team this summer. Gone is a Vezina caliber goalie that gave the Coyotes a chance to win every night. In three of his four seasons with Phoenix, he finished with a .920 save percentage or higher and provided stability between the pipes.
While the loss of Brad Richards and Tomas Vokoun will certainly hurt Dallas and Florida, respectively, both teams possess better Plan B’s than Phoenix.
Mike Smith, the Coyotes new No. 1 netminder, posted a .899 save percentage last season in Tampa Bay and didn’t develop into the starter the Lightning had hoped for. The upside to Smith is his puck handling, but you would be hard pressed to find a fan in Phoenix who thinks this is an upgrade.
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The Desert Dogs are a big team heading into this season, but lack the skill and finish up front to contend. Captain Shane Doan led the way with 60 points last season, but was one of just two forwards to surpass 50.
Keith Yandle showed some more offensive flare last season with 59 points, but this a team that only finished plus-five in goal differential and didn’t – or couldn’t, for that matter – address the problem.
Raffi Torres was a good acquisition, but would have been better if he were able to complement a pair of scoring lines. Thus, in 2011-12, the number of goals scored by Phoenix will be relatively similar with goals against rising.
Realistically speaking, Arizona’s NHL squad had two solid seasons in 2009-10 and 2010-11, but they have both been overshadowed by the bankruptcy debacle. The only thing that will really take focus off of the teams struggles will be stable ownership. A lack thereof will undoubtedly be the main storyline moving forward.
It’s a shame, too, because that kind of external pressure is an unnecessary distraction for the players and struggling fan base.
It’s undoubtedly tough to criticize a franchise that has its loveable characters (see Biz Nasty), but the fact remains that this was a playoff hockey team with Ilya Bryzgalov anchoring the back end and without him things surely look bleak.
After the horrible horizon, and some major changes on and off the ice, the Coyotes could thrive. It’s just a matter of when.
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