"Lord Stanley's Cup - The Greatest of All Trophies"
Another broke and in debt Municipality, CA • United States • 45 Years Old • Male
Coyotes to Finish in the Top 3 of Pacific Division
Posted 12:36 PM ET | Comments 6
On October 8, 2007, I wrote that the Phoenix Coyotes would win the Pacific Division. The blog is linked below. I really didn't believe it at the time - I wrote it more as a knock against the perennial favorite Sharks, Stars and Ducks. All three of those teams were mired in an early season of mediocrity and it was frustrating to watch these three lose to the Blackhawks, Isles, and Kings on a regular basis. I was looking for a team to take the lead and enforce some dominance on the rest of the Division.
http://my.hockeybuzz.com/...416&post_id=3162
Now it is a new season and the Phoenix Coyotes have a line-up of more familiar faces as they at least raised eyebrows last season. Many hockey pundits clamor about the youth of the Edmonton Oilers and how they are expected to really excel this season. While true, I like this young Coyote group even more. I believe the Coyotes have better young players and more of them than any team in the NHL - with the potential to play now. I do not mean to diminish the other young talent pools around the NHL, but rather accentuate the fact that the Coyotes organization, due to a lackluster history, is a better setting for the young players to accel and get an opportunity to play. Many of the other NHL clubs have depth charts that are heavy on experience and the young talent does not have the open opportunity to crack the lineup or play regularly. In addition, there are those in the NHL who would play a veteran for "safe" reasons versus playing a rookie who may may a few mistakes, but will net you better results in the long run. Phoenix has chosen to play the rookies and allow them to make their mistakes in hopes of higher returns later. "Later" is coming quickly and if the Phoenix Coyotes win the Pacific Division, nobody should be surprised.
If you take a look at the pre season depth chart linked below and then factor in newcomers Viktor Tikhonov, Kevin Porter, Chad Kolarik, Brett MacLean, Jonas Ahnelov, Colin Long, and Mathieu Brodeur as potential NHLers and you have an exciting team.
http://coyotes.nhl.com/te...hartPage&dcid=76
Say what you want, but Mr. Gretzky has assembled a potential powerhouse for the next several years and they may just be the class of the West as early as this 2008-2009 season.
http://my.hockeybuzz.com/...416&post_id=3162
Now it is a new season and the Phoenix Coyotes have a line-up of more familiar faces as they at least raised eyebrows last season. Many hockey pundits clamor about the youth of the Edmonton Oilers and how they are expected to really excel this season. While true, I like this young Coyote group even more. I believe the Coyotes have better young players and more of them than any team in the NHL - with the potential to play now. I do not mean to diminish the other young talent pools around the NHL, but rather accentuate the fact that the Coyotes organization, due to a lackluster history, is a better setting for the young players to accel and get an opportunity to play. Many of the other NHL clubs have depth charts that are heavy on experience and the young talent does not have the open opportunity to crack the lineup or play regularly. In addition, there are those in the NHL who would play a veteran for "safe" reasons versus playing a rookie who may may a few mistakes, but will net you better results in the long run. Phoenix has chosen to play the rookies and allow them to make their mistakes in hopes of higher returns later. "Later" is coming quickly and if the Phoenix Coyotes win the Pacific Division, nobody should be surprised.
If you take a look at the pre season depth chart linked below and then factor in newcomers Viktor Tikhonov, Kevin Porter, Chad Kolarik, Brett MacLean, Jonas Ahnelov, Colin Long, and Mathieu Brodeur as potential NHLers and you have an exciting team.
http://coyotes.nhl.com/te...hartPage&dcid=76
Say what you want, but Mr. Gretzky has assembled a potential powerhouse for the next several years and they may just be the class of the West as early as this 2008-2009 season.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to leave a comment.Blog Archive
07 The Boys are Back in Town
14 I Got My Fix Tonight - The NHL Has Started ! ! !
22 The NHL Snubs British Hockey - Reply
14 I Got My Fix Tonight - The NHL Has Started ! ! !
22 The NHL Snubs British Hockey - Reply
05 Why the NHL and Hockey will Always Be a Fringe Sport
07 Why the NHL and Hockey will Always be a Fringe Sport
14 Welcome to Anaheim Mrs. Boogaard
17 Changing My Name to steal_your_faceoff or Else
22 When Your Star Players Loaf....
07 Why the NHL and Hockey will Always be a Fringe Sport
14 Welcome to Anaheim Mrs. Boogaard
17 Changing My Name to steal_your_faceoff or Else
22 When Your Star Players Loaf....
08 Coyotes to Win Pacific Division
21 Lecavalier and the All Star Ballot - What is the Deal?
30 Who's Leading the NHL in Penalty Minutes?
21 Lecavalier and the All Star Ballot - What is the Deal?
30 Who's Leading the NHL in Penalty Minutes?
13 Tired of the old Dump and Chase - Ducks
13 Time for Some Ducks to Score and Top #1 Lines in the NHL
20 Need Tickets to Leafs-Lightening Game on Jan 1 in Toronto
13 Time for Some Ducks to Score and Top #1 Lines in the NHL
20 Need Tickets to Leafs-Lightening Game on Jan 1 in Toronto
18 Anaheim Ducks - A Few Player Observations
25 Two Good Hockey Films - The Rocket and In the Crease
25 Two Good Hockey Films - The Rocket and In the Crease
19 Lidstrom Takes a Punishing Hit..... and no Response
22 Lidstrom Takes a Punishing Hit..... and no Response
29 The Selanne Factor
22 Lidstrom Takes a Punishing Hit..... and no Response
29 The Selanne Factor
12 Ducks Lose, Dead Weight, and Carlyle Lays and Egg
19 Dino Ciccarelli and Alex Ovechkin - NHL Pizzazz
31 What Makes Hockey Great - A Poll
31 Enough Whining Already - This is Hockey
19 Dino Ciccarelli and Alex Ovechkin - NHL Pizzazz
31 What Makes Hockey Great - A Poll
31 Enough Whining Already - This is Hockey
So which of the three usual top finishers will finish 4th? I think the Yotes are a talented bunch, but I think they are poorly managed, and coached. You'd have to go back to Jim Schoenfeld to find a decent Phoenix coach, and he doomed himself by "promising to make the playoffs or he'd quit"....
I totally agree! I relocated here earlier in the spring and have been keeping tabs on them. They were beginning to get exciting last year (started watching them when I knew I was moving here) and with the addition of a true #1 center and more talented youth they could be explosive this year. They do have some holes to fill on defensive and that will end up determining, IMO, how good they get this year.
So the cyotes are gonna finnish ahead of L.A and........not likely. top 4 is more likely. so lets just say they'll finish top 4 instead of top bottom 2. that sounds accurate, and nice for everyone who is sensitive.
i just aint buyin it yet
Itlan - one of the Ducks, Sharks, or Stars will lose out this season and find themselves at #4. Not sure which one. All 3 are lead by quality veteran players and all 3 have excellent goaltending. I think Dallas has under-rated (at least as of last year) defense and I think the Sharks have a very suspect defense. I think the Ducks have to prove they can score and both Dallas and SJ can light the lamp enough to win. It will be a very close race. I think PHO has as good a chance to win the entire Div as any of the other 3. It is no longer a talent issue with the Coyotes. Now we will see if he Great One can be a great coach.
GetAPK Market From Here and enjoy the latest apps and games for free of cost