Speculation: Arizona only has 5 players signed for next season

[Stubu]

Sooner or later they'll force Meruelo to sell, belatedly realizing that he's played the NHL all along just to try to land an NBA team which is what he really wants (recalling his failed bid for the Atlanta Hawks).

You sure keep pushing this narrative every time there's a discussion even remotely connected to the Yotes. It doesn't make much sense. Playing the NHL against the NBA, what does that even mean?

 

[Blitz]

Yep. The worst kept secret that literally zero insiders are talking about at all. Do you mean it’s the worst kept secret inside of your own brain where you made it up?

No. That's not what I meant... Or said.

Not even close actually.

Read between the lines guy;

A) Lease has been cancelled in Glendale. Will not be renewed. They're homeless as of June '22.
B) Coyotes requested to be moved to central division even though it makes their in-division road start times an hour later and effects ratings negatively.
C) HOU has been on NHL radar for decades, has a building & the population to actually support a gate driven league.

Until the new complex in Tempe is passed, It's foolishly optimistic to think this team is playing in Arizona long term. Footprint is a no-go, ASU's current arena & the Tucson CC are way to small for more than an emergency venue - Even if they got their wish to build a in Tempe, which is FAR from a done deal, it will take years.

Envisioning the Yotes playing elsewhere is far from ridiculous.

 

[jay from jersey]

It will never end, the hate is strong. Its amazing how so many hockey experts know so little about what the story in the desert is. However, the story is pretty simple. New rich owner that may be a little unfamiliar with the unwritten rules for the league. Sportsbook that is only available with the Coyotes being in AZ, complete teardown, they type we never could have done before because the emphasis is no longer scraping into the playoffs but to get generational talent through the draft. Complete new staff, scouts and front office. A shiny new arena with a real estate development opportunity worth another billion dollars. The new arena needs to happen for this to make sense. AM is a specialist at taking crap companies and turn them around. The Coyotes are literally what this guy did to become a billionaire. Now on the other hand it is still the Coyotes. So screwing this up would be the most Coyotes thing to do. But, at least for the next year or two there ought to be a suspension of doubt as to what is going on with this team. Its going to be a joy to really commit to sucking, and sustaining it long enough to rebuild properly because it has never ever been done before here. All the stuff that happened before doesn't really matter that much. Lots of bad management, and the team probably should have been moved if not for the pride of GB. But that is what it is and no one can rewrite the past.

Whoever is in charge and making the calls at least had the foresight to use these next 2 strong drafts to basically be the foundation of the new Yotes team.
They have a bunch of 1st/2nds for this upcoming draft, and I’d wager that they add more picks for the following year as well.
On the big club I only really like Chycrun and Crouse as hold overs.
They have some talented prospects as well, nothing earth shattering, but there is some talent on their farm.
I think Keller is dying a slow death there and would benefit from a change of scenery. If they can get a 22/23 1st 15OA. Or lower for him, I think he’s traded.
They are also going to attempt to overpay Matthews and give him the C as a FA. Key is to stock pile as much talent a make Matthews believe that have what it takes to be competitive if he decides to go home.
He’d be a legend in that area if he did. A marketers Dream...

 

[BHD]

Something tells me they’re rebuilding.

 

[GordonGraham]

Instead of worrying about players they should focus on signing a lease for the upcoming season

 

[Benstheman]

Matthews is a dream.

The team will have a real shot at drafting top 4 both in 2022 and 2023. That means they WILL get one of Wright/Savoie/Kemmel/Cooley...AND one of Bedard/Mischka/Yager/Fantilli.

Hey!! Habs to!!

 

[hbk]

No. That's not what I meant... Or said.

Not even close actually.

Read between the lines guy;

A) Lease has been cancelled in Glendale. Will not be renewed. They're homeless as of June '22.
B) Coyotes requested to be moved to central division even though it makes their in-division road start times an hour later and effects ratings negatively.
C) HOU has been on NHL radar for decades, has a building & the population to actually support a gate driven league.

Until the new complex in Tempe is passed, It's foolishly optimistic to think this team is playing in Arizona long term. Footprint is a no-go, ASU's current arena & the Tucson CC are way to small for more than an emergency venue - Even if they got their wish to build a in Tempe, which is FAR from a done deal, it will take years.

Envisioning the Yotes playing elsewhere is far from ridiculous.

They did not request to move divisions. I need a source on that.

 

[ClydeLee]

I dont support searches earth rebuilds as a good model for future cup winning success... but the Coyotes need stars to sell and be a draw. Thats the way to get that and at least for the franchise to have some stars, it means a lot.

 

[rt]

No. That's not what I meant... Or said.

Not even close actually.

Read between the lines guy;

A) Lease has been cancelled in Glendale. Will not be renewed. They're homeless as of June '22.
B) Coyotes requested to be moved to central division even though it makes their in-division road start times an hour later and effects ratings negatively.
C) HOU has been on NHL radar for decades, has a building & the population to actually support a gate driven league.

Until the new complex in Tempe is passed, It's foolishly optimistic to think this team is playing in Arizona long term. Footprint is a no-go, ASU's current arena & the Tucson CC are way to small for more than an emergency venue - Even if they got their wish to build a in Tempe, which is FAR from a done deal, it will take years.

Envisioning the Yotes playing elsewhere is far from ridiculous.

Oh. So you just have no idea what the phrase “worst kept secret” means? Got it! Helpful hint; it does NOT mean you connecting dots in your own head. As I already mentioned.

TIL: ignored threads still generate alerts. Hmmm…

 

[VivaLasVegas]

You sure keep pushing this narrative every time there's a discussion even remotely connected to the Yotes. It doesn't make much sense. Playing the NHL against the NBA, what does that even mean?

Uses his record as a sports owner in the NHL to pad his application to the NBA.

If he lands an NBA team, he'll sell the Coyotes before the sun goes down, which would be good for all concerned.

 

[Jormungandr]

No. That's not what I meant... Or said.

Not even close actually.

Read between the lines guy;

A) Lease has been cancelled in Glendale. Will not be renewed. They're homeless as of June '22.
B) Coyotes requested to be moved to central division even though it makes their in-division road start times an hour later and effects ratings negatively.
C) HOU has been on NHL radar for decades, has a building & the population to actually support a gate driven league.

Until the new complex in Tempe is passed, It's foolishly optimistic to think this team is playing in Arizona long term. Footprint is a no-go, ASU's current arena & the Tucson CC are way to small for more than an emergency venue - Even if they got their wish to build a in Tempe, which is FAR from a done deal, it will take years.

Envisioning the Yotes playing elsewhere is far from ridiculous.

They didn’t request to be moved to the central. Cite a f***ing source if you’re going to try and educate.

 

[XX]

Uses his record as a sports owner in the NHL to pad his application to the NBA.

If he lands an NBA team, he'll sell the Coyotes before the sun goes down, which would be good for all concerned.

Meruelo got one of the few sportsbook licenses the state handed out due to owning the Coyotes. He loses it if he sells. There's no point.

 

[Vitto79]

Well this was the AZ plan . Picks for bad contracts

they likely do the same thing next year

 

[Rebels57]

I can see the Flyers moving JVR and the final year of his $7 million contract to Arizona so they can pursue Gaudreau if he makes it to the market.

 

[MarkusNaslund19]

address the question. I have looked and there are a couple of teams with single digit players drafted--but most teams were built through the draft

It's not really a fair question though is it?

Generically every team gets 7 picks per year, there is no generic number of free agents that teams sign and there is a rarity to quality free agents.
It's also a false dichotomy, nobody is advocating for trading all of your picks and trying to bring in the Karlssons and Tavares' of the world.

Equally, how many teams have won by intentionally bottoming out?

The Lightning and Penguins had ownership issues and bottomed out briefly and were lucky to do so at the right time in terms of who was drafted that year. The Oilers (if you can point to them as a success story) had to wander in the wilderness for 15 years and still had to get incredibly lucky to win the lottery that gifted them possibly the best player of the last 25 years.

Quitting isn't a successful model in much the same way that building purely through overpriced free agents isn't a successful model.

 

[MarkusNaslund19]

This website is obsessed with draft picks, but having a plethora of young players means nothing if there is no culture for them to come to. Almost as important as drafting is development. You're going to have a really beaten down Chychrun and possibly Crouse and then who?

So you will have a bunch of 18 year olds coming in who you are hoping will build their own culture.

Also, even if you bottom out, the odds are far greater that you pick 4th than 1st so thinking you will have Michkov, Bedard, or Wright is possible, but banking on it is wishful thinking.

I think the 'Yotes only chance is for Matthews to sign there when he is a UFA. If that doesn't happen and they are still spinning their wheels they will probably move. I think they probably should move, but I take no glee in that, I think it's tremendously cruel to wish for fans to lose their favourite team.

 

[apocalypse]

Sucks having a broke team.

 

[TheLegend]

Instead of worrying about players they should focus on signing a lease for the upcoming season

They have to get the process with Tempe far enough along before dealing with an interim place to play.

 

[TheLegend]

Sucks having a broke team.

Yeah…. I was a Kings fan once and they certainly had a few.

 

[finkelsteinberg]

Also, even if you bottom out, the odds are far greater that you pick 4th than 1st so thinking you will have Michkov, Bedard, or Wright is possible, but banking on it is wishful thinking.

I thought if they are at the bottom of the league, the worst they could pick is 3rd?

 

[XX]

This website is obsessed with draft picks, but having a plethora of young players means nothing if there is no culture for them to come to. Almost as important as drafting is development. You're going to have a really beaten down Chychrun and possibly Crouse and then who?

They just won back to back games. I think you missed the part where they hired all new staff at every level and completely flushed the OBC turds down the drain, including all the hockey bros on the roster who were cool with losing. AZ then hired a pretty highly regarded coach and he has an AHL level roster punching above their weight. They're also no longer the softest team in the league.

Crouse has taken several major strides this year. He has never looked better. So all of this worry about 'culture' is premature. They are bottoming out but filled the roster with guys who need to play hard to stay in the league. With nobody signed, there are no guarantees.

 

[MarkusNaslund19]

I thought if they are at the bottom of the league, the worst they could pick is 3rd?

Ah, right that's true now isn't it. I forgot about that because it wasn't implemented in the past draft yet. Thanks for the correction. I stand by my point though.

 

[Guttersniped]

This website is obsessed with draft picks, but having a plethora of young players means nothing if there is no culture for them to come to. Almost as important as drafting is development. You're going to have a really beaten down Chychrun and possibly Crouse and then who?

So you will have a bunch of 18 year olds coming in who you are hoping will build their own culture.

Also, even if you bottom out, the odds are far greater that you pick 4th than 1st so thinking you will have Michkov, Bedard, or Wright is possible, but banking on it is wishful thinking.

I think the 'Yotes only chance is for Matthews to sign there when he is a UFA. If that doesn't happen and they are still spinning their wheels they will probably move. I think they probably should move, but I take no glee in that, I think it's tremendously cruel to wish for fans to lose their favourite team.

How would moving the Coyotes alter their building strategy? Does Houston have anti-tanking laws or something? It would be the same organization. Teams move because the owners want to move them for financial reasons. If there’s any chance they can get their own arena built in Arizona then that’s the best case scenario, it’s certainly better for the team financially than becoming tenants in someone else’s arena.

And getting 1OA would be a pretty big deal because the Coyotes have gotten jack shit in the draft, they likely have fewer top picks than just about any NHL franchise.

The Coyotes have had a top 5 pick a grand total of four times in their history (starting in 1996): 2018 #5 Barrett Hayton, 2013 #3 Dylan Strome, 2007 #3 Kyle Turris and 2005 #5 Blake Wheeler.

That’s absurd. In contrast, Tampa has had 8 top 5 picks and 3 1OA since 1992: 2013 #3 Jonathan Drouin, 2009 #2 Victor Hedman, 2008 #1 Steven Stamkos, 2001 #3 Alexandr Svitov, 1998 #1 Vincent Lecavalier, 1995 #5 Daymond Langkow, 1993 #3 Chris Gratton and 1992 #1 Roman Hamrlik. Not all of these picks are winners but a bunch are pretty critical players.

And the Coyotes’ recent poor luck with lottery is due in part with the NHL changing the lottery odds. The lottery only expanded to all 14 non-playoff teams in 2013. In 2015 the odds for the four worst teams were decreased while the odds for the better teams were all increased. In 2016 the lottery slots expanded to the top three picks.

The NHL apparently had it’s fill with the chaotic fun of this juiced lottery because they’re switching the odds back to favor the bottom four teams more as well as cutting the lottery back to two spots. This is actually a really good time to tank.

I’m not saying their scorched earth approach is flawless or not without it’s drawbacks but tanking does work in the sense that you significantly increase your odds of getting elite players by doing it. The fact that tanking teams have then screwed up the team building around those players is a different issue. (For example, the Griffin Reinhart trade wasn’t part of any Oilers tank.)

 

[McSuper]

There isn't any pick numbers engraved on Stanley Cup. It actually takes players. It is very very long way to go with Arizona and next time they are competitive, they most likely play in different location.

HFBoards overvalues picks over actual NHL players as usual. Anyway, they didn't got anywhere with the team they had so need to start rebuilding the core.

So does rebuilding teams and most fans know where the team they cheer for are at . Making a blanket statement is foolish . 5 years ago draft picks matter to Edmonton now I would trade every pick this year and next to fill out holes .

 

[Hobnobs]

address the question. I have looked and there are a couple of teams with single digit players drafted--but most teams were built through the draft

The question is a logical fallacy called black and white. You presented two alternatives as the only possibilities when in fact more possibilities exist.