Another game goes to overtime........and another Coyotes win. This one another big game as for the second straight time they beat a team they're trying to pass for the Playoffs.
This really is the craziest year in the NHL I can remember. Already we saw EriK Karlsson get traded, then we have the Blues, Islanders and the fact no one wants to make the playoffs in the west.
We've even got Nikita Kucherov with a 100 points, already. Kids, don't trade your second round picks.
So the Coyotes beat the Canucks in a game the Coyotes dominated after the first period.
The Coyotes should also be getting Christian Dvorak back any time soon. I read also (thanks to Craig Morgan) that Nick Schmaltz is a possibility if the Coyotes make the playoffs.
Jason Demers is back soon too, and no one knows about Michael Grabner.
Obviously Raanta won't be coming back, but if anyone called Darcy Kuemper the best back-up goalie in hockey prior to this season, and hailed his acquisition, then I think that person is a genius.
Anyways, back to the standings: the Coyotes are now only one point out of the playoffs. Minnesota holds the final spot and I think they've already given up, if their trades are any indication.
Speaking of trades, the Coyotes GM told Craig Morgan, in an article you should read if you have a subscription to the Athletic, that where the team is in the playoff race won't effect his decision making because he wants to improve the team regardless.
He said he's only into rentals if he thinks they can be re-signed.
And that brings me to Jordan Oesterle. Oesterle just signed a two year extension for $1.4 million dollars per year. He's been a valuable asset and that's a good contract for him.
He's fourth on the Coyotes because of injury. As a top four defenseman, his numbers are fairly bad. He isn't a top four guy. But he he can move the puck (he's got 20 points) and if the Coyotes were healthy, and he was their 6th guy (or even seventh) then he'd have a lot better numbers.
To sum up: Oesterle is OK, the Coyotes are one point out, they are still really injured and the trade deadline is Monday and we're not expecting anything too crazy, but we do know that the Coyotes won't be sellers.
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