Bet On NHL Hockey Phoenix Coyotes Season Preview
The Phoenix Coyotes will enter the 2011-2012 season without two players that defined their overachieving persona over the past couple of years. Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov has left for the greener pastures of Philadelphia and Ed Jovanovski has gone back to Florida to likely finish his career.
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Odds To Win Pacific Division: +750
Odds to Win Stanley Cup: 35/1
Last season: 43-26-13, 99 points (3rd place Pacific, 6th place Western)
Acquisitions: Mike Smith, G; Alexandre Bolduc, C; Boyd Gordon, C; Raffi Torres, LW; Curtis McElhinney, G; Justin Pogge, G
Departures: Ilya Bryzgalov, G; Ed Jovanovski, D; Eric Belanger, C; Andrew Ebbett, C
Youngsters to Keep an Eye On: Andy Miele, C; Brandon Gormley, D; Mark Visentin, G; Chris Brown, C
In a very competitive Pacific division, the Coyotes will be hard pressed to not only challenge for the division crown but also for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. With relocation talk persisting in the desert, you can bet that distraction will be evident once again throughout the season.
Phoenix is a defense first organization – the forwards have essentially been ignored in favor of a strong corp. of defensemen. The first line will likely consist of Martin Hanzal, Ray Whitney and the face of the Coyotes Shane Doan. Although the Top Line is solid, they resemble more of a second line for any other club. Daymond Lankow was brought in to serve as Phoenix’s second line center after underwhelming years in Calgary. He will likely skate alongside Taylor Pyatt and Radim Vrbata to form a below average second unit. Draft bust Kyle Turris should be the Coyotes third center between Lauri Korpikoski and Mikkel Boedker and the fourth line will feature grinders like Raffi Torres, Paul Bissonette and possible center Petteri Nokelainen. [ad-4437448]
The Coyotes forwards all have good defensive awareness – it is the mark of this team. It is a good thing too! Phoenix will struggle to score goals and absolutely must get a solid season from their defense and goaltending.
Phoenix did one thing right during the offseason – they signed 24 year old rising star defenseman Keith Yandle to a five year contract extension. He is an exciting building block that will be relied upon heavily with the departure of Ed Jovanovski. Yandle will be joined by Rotislav Klesla, Adrian Aucoin, Derek Morris, Michal Rozsival and likely Oliver Ekman-Larsson on the blue line. The blue line is definitely the strength of the Coyotes although that is not saying all that much.
Perhaps the biggest change for the Phoenix Coyotes this season will be between the pipes where Mike Smith and Jason LaBarbera will battle for the spot vacated by the best Coyote, Ilya Bryzgalov. To say that Smith and LaBarbera are a huge downgrade is an enormous understatement. With no Bryzgalov to steal games for Phoenix, the Coyotes appear to be in some trouble.
Betting Prediction: The Phoenix Coyotes are aging and they are underwhelming at every position. The team will need some of their youth to step up for certain. But developing talent has not been a strong suit of the organization. In a rapidly improving division, the Coyotes will struggle their way through the 2011-2012 season. No Bryzgalov means no playoffs for the desert-dogs!
Fearless Forecast: The Coyotes will finish above the lowly Dallas Stars this season and finish fourth in the Pacific division. Don’t expect Phoenix to make the playoffs this upcoming season.
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