Speculation: Coyotes 2021 Offseason Roster Discussion Thread #1

[Coyotedroppings]

The most common knock on him before his renaissance was that he was a puck hog and didn't play a team game. Speed, grit, scoring touch for days, but it was like the other four guys on the ice at the time were on a different planet when he was out there... which makes his turnaround that much more amazing, since now he's one of the best playmakers the Coyotes have.

Yep, that was the knock on this forum and it was only partially correct, as I witnessed him make some incredible feeds.

 

[WrinkledPossum]

Keller played at a 51 point pace. Not great, not bad. Needs to do better but I want to see what he does with a new head coach. We all believed Tocchet to be a big problem, I'm waiting to see how the forwards do with a new HC.

 

[TheLegend]

The one thing in Craig's Q&A article with BA that stuck out to me was..... BA admitting his budget is going up next season.

 

[RABBIT]

I want Dougie Hamilton

EDIT: I swear I’m not Tippett

 

[Bonsai Tree]

We're gonna need to add more than 1 or 2 players if we want to have a whole hockey team.

I meant more than 1 or 2 defensemen. Sorry that I wasn't clear.

 

[Sm00chy]

Keller showed more strength this season imo and I thought Garland would be effective.... mad skills, never understood why so many others were down on him.

Admittedly I am a diehard Yotes fan and watched every game this year. You could see Keller was ATTEMPTING to stick up for himself...and in some cases his teammates. I emphasize "attempting" because he was not successful because of the lack of muscle on him. However, that mindset change is critical for him as a player. He has the competitiveness.... he simply needs to get stronger.

I also said this all year.... I want him to shoot more. I think he has an incredibly underrated shot. Quick release, excellent placement, solid velocity...hopefully the new coaching staff can encourage that a little more.

 

[Sm00chy]

Every year it's "he's still young" and every year there's little to marginal improvement. He still seems disinterested when he doesn't have the puck.

He reminds me of Jeff Skinner, but 20 lbs. smaller. Their career trajectories are on an eerily similar arc. The first four full seasons(since Keller has only played 4 full ones so far):

Skinner: 294 games, 192 points
Keller: 290 games, 191 points

Both have contracts that pay them far too much, but Keller still has a chance to prove he's worth it. I don't see Skinner getting back to the form that got him his deal.

Every year its "he's still young"...but thats because he is.

 

[rt]

I want Dougie Hamilton

EDIT: I swear I’m not Tippett

If we can dump OEL without taking a boat-anchor back, than I'm all for it.

 

[Grimes]

Every year its "he's still young"...but thats because he is.

Exactly. But...
New coach, 5th season, will be 23 this season. He will be the player that I hold the highest expectations for this next season. The idea that BA is letting him go back to St. Louis for his offseason training and that he is letting him dictate what this training looks like is interesting. Almost like a father letting their son take a risky summer internship out of state, instead of working at the family business. I think BA will be holding him up to the same standards we will have. I think if Keller does not live up to BA's expectations he will be available at the deadline.

He's contract wont look nearly as bad in two more years as the cap goes back up. A 50-65 point player will begin to command 8-10m in UFA soon. Certain teams will be willing to take the young 7m player who will consistently play in their top 6. Now, the return for Keller won't be anything like it could be if he was signed for less, but it should still be decent.

 

[Coyotedroppings]

Admittedly I am a diehard Yotes fan and watched every game this year. You could see Keller was ATTEMPTING to stick up for himself...and in some cases his teammates. I emphasize "attempting" because he was not successful because of the lack of muscle on him. However, that mindset change is critical for him as a player. He has the competitiveness.... he simply needs to get stronger.

I also said this all year.... I want him to shoot more. I think he has an incredibly underrated shot. Quick release, excellent placement, solid velocity...hopefully the new coaching staff can encourage that a little more.

I'm also a bit of a fan, saw every home game live and every away on the tely. He was much stronger on his feet along the boards, a definite and marked improvement. I don't think he's every going to be the type that wins many (if any) altercations and he doesn't need to be. I'd be fine with him shooting more.

 

[rt]

Keller is all out of leash. He used it all up. This next season will define him.

 

[Bonsai Tree]

I'm pretty sure that Keller needs a more defined roll. He can't grind and he can't scrap. He needs to let others do both. I'd prefer that he camp in the quiet spots rather than chase pucks into the boards. He needs to let others do that too. Perhaps more than a well defined roll, he needs a complimentary center and forward to let him play the game he is best suited for.

 

[Grimes]

I'm pretty sure that Keller needs a more defined roll. He can't grind and he can't scrap. He needs to let others do both. I'd prefer that he camp in the quiet spots rather than chase pucks into the boards. He needs to let others do that too. Perhaps more than a well defined roll, he needs a complimentary center and forward to let him play the game he is best suited for.

This all screams coaching issues to me, and I absolutely agree with you. I'm glad he has gotten better at board battles and defensive positioning, but that will never be his strong suit. Let him fill Kessel's role next year. A good coach should be able to see this and define it for the player.

 

[rt]

Can we hire Ray Whitney as his personal life and hockey coach?

 

[RemoAZ]

Keller showed more strength this season imo and I thought Garland would be effective.... mad skills, never understood why so many others were down on him.

You went to the rookie camps, watched Garland and thought he was going to be a good NHLer??? Seriously?? He was horrrrrible. The play died on his stick every time. Yeah he was quick but he'd literally skate around and do nothing. It looked like the guys that played with him weren't having much fun either. I thought Tippett was just f***ing with Strome when he put Garland on his line. If you saw that and thought he'd become the player he is today, can you pick my lottery numbers please?

 

[The Feckless Puck]

I'm pretty sure that Keller needs a more defined roll. He can't grind and he can't scrap. He needs to let others do both. I'd prefer that he camp in the quiet spots rather than chase pucks into the boards. He needs to let others do that too. Perhaps more than a well defined roll, he needs a complimentary center and forward to let him play the game he is best suited for.

Keller's a specialty player. He's extremely good at one type of play. He'd fit in great in a system with a lot of depth and other guys who can manage the hitting, the grinding, and everything else. We unfortunately don't have the kind of team at the moment that can shelter him properly. That's why this offseason is going to be of such interest to me. BA is on the clock.

 

[Jakey53]

You went to the rookie camps, watched Garland and thought he was going to be a good NHLer??? Seriously?? He was horrrrrible. The play died on his stick every time. Yeah he was quick but he'd literally skate around and do nothing. It looked like the guys that played with him weren't having much fun either. I thought Tippett was just f***ing with Strome when he put Garland on his line. If you saw that and thought he'd become the player he is today, can you pick my lottery numbers please?

Everyone knew Garland had loads of talent, but he tried to do everything himself, like he did in junior and that does not work at the NHL level. It took him a few years to figure that out, and I think I read somewhere that the coaches in Tucson finally got thru to him.

 

[WrinkledPossum]

Everyone knew Garland had loads of talent, but he tried to do everything himself, like he did in junior and that does not work at the NHL level. It took him a few years to figure that out, and I think I read somewhere that the coaches in Tucson finally got thru to him.

Would that be Van Ryn who got through to him?

 

[Schemp]

Keller is all out of leash. He used it all up. This next season will define him.

Yes I agree, but the GM needs to bring in the right group of people to help him succeed and a coach to put him in the right position to succeed.

On a different note, really would love to get Domi back. A Domi - Schmaltz - Garland line could work. Too bad he is in rehab after surgery.

 

[moosemeister]

Yes I agree, but the GM needs to bring in the right group of people to help him succeed and a coach to put him in the right position to succeed.

On a different note, really would love to get Domi back. A Domi - Schmaltz - Garland line could work. Too bad he is in rehab after surgery.

He’s also an asshole so hard pass haha

 

[Jagged Ice]

He’s also an asshole so hard pass haha

I think the best and only place that will make Domi and his dad happy where he might tap into his best game is with his true love.

 

[Bonsai Tree]

I would take Domi back, whereas I want nothing to do with DeAngelo. You need an asshole in every organization to keep it centered and prevent it from going too soft. (Book of Bonsai, Chapter 4, paragraph 7) You don't need the DeAngelo type. You need the Domi type.

 

[GhostofYotesFan47]

I would take Domi back, whereas I want nothing to do with DeAngelo. You need an asshole in every organization to keep it centered and prevent it from going too soft. (Book of Bonsai, Chapter 4, paragraph 7) You don't need the DeAngelo type. You need the Domi type.

I'd rather it was a Tom Wilson type where it doesn't negatively impact the lockerroom.

 

[moosemeister]

I would take Domi back, whereas I want nothing to do with DeAngelo. You need an asshole in every organization to keep it centered and prevent it from going too soft. (Book of Bonsai, Chapter 4, paragraph 7) You don't need the DeAngelo type. You need the Domi type.

Domi and TDA are different kinds of assholes.

TDA for his homophobic and racist comments, but when Domi is telling teammates they’re AHL level, he needs to gtfo

I want nothing to do with either guy ever again.

 

[SR]

Domi and TDA are different kinds of assholes.

TDA for his homophobic and racist comments, but when Domi is telling teammates they’re AHL level, he needs to gtfo

I want nothing to do with either guy ever again.

Who’d he say was AHL level talent?