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Do the Coyotes Have a Shot at the Playoffs This Year?

August 15, 2019, 4:15 PM ET [49 Comments]
James Tanner
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The Arizona Coyotes are in a strange place.

They are no longer the terrible team that can count on finishing low in the standings, and for once, expectations this year should include having meaningful games after the end of October.

It happened last year, as the Coyotes were in the playoff race down to the wire, until a terrible road trip near the end of the season saw them score four goals in four games.

They added Kessel, and will have another year of growth and experience for young players such as Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz.

Will it be enough? Probably not, but maybe.

The Coyotes have a decent roster. Unfortunately, elite players tend to win you games, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of teams the Coyotes can brag about having more elite players than.



However, the wild card here is goaltending. If the Coyotes get anything close from their goalies to last year's performance, they only have to improve scoring a little bit.

The Coyotes play in the Pacific where three of the NHL's best rosters are lurking: The Sharks, Flames and Golden Knights all figure to be absolute locks for the Playoffs. (Although anything can happen, obviously).

The other division gets three teams automatically, and I think we would all be shocked if any of Winnipeg, Nashville or St. Louis missed the playoffs (although, keep in mind, something always shocks us).

Additionally, the Avalanche are primed to explode and could easily end up as one of the best teams in hockey, but they too are unlikely to miss the playoffs.

That's already seven teams.

I think it's safe to say that barring absolute craziness, the Hawks, Canucks, Wild, Kings and Ducks are all but certain to miss the playoffs.

So to recap: Jets, Blues, Predators, Flames, Sharks, Knights and Avalanche are - barring a complete surprise - going to make the playoffs in some order.

That leaves the Coyotes fighting with the Oilers and Stars for the last Wild Card spot.

Now, I do realize it's August so the entire premise of this article is a fantasy, but I also think it's interesting to set some pre-season expectations before we see what happens.

As of right now, I'd bet against the Coyotes making the Playoffs. The Stars and the Oilers have better rosters. So do the other seven teams. And it's not going to be shocking if the Hawks or Ducks pull a surprise out of their nests.

If the Coyotes want a better chance, they're going to have to add an elite player to their roster before the season starts. I hear Matt Tkachuk is looking for work!!
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