Yeah but due to the laws of science, etiquette and proper debate, if that's all you got, then by virtue of me having laid out my reasons in a coherent and reasonable fashion I am right by default.

Again, note the title. "Coyotes are Better Than You Think."

Your comment only confirms my hypotheses.
- James_Tanner

First of all, you're expounding on a topic no one really has the interest or energy due to lack of interest to even want to debate. Secondly, there is nothing in your blog that states concrete reasons backed by supporting facts that says why the Coyotes WILL make the playoffs this season or even be better than they have for the last few seasons.

I mean c'mon Jimbo, you can put every NHL team name on a wheel and spin it and whatever name it lands on you could make an argument for why that team is "Better Than You Think"...

While I don't necessarily disagree with your take here, the bottom line is that we're smack dab in the middle of the dog days of summer and there really isn't much else interesting to talk about in the NHL, let alone the Coyotes.

I dont get where you see value in these guys yes OEL is really gd outside of that no one is that impressive over any other nhl team. Yandles -30 is a good point in how the Phx D is flawed they need a two way player not offensive guy like yandle playing those miniets. They have been try to deal Yandle for years now and no one will pay the price cause hes not worth it. Point wise hes not much better then Franson.
- jake24242

Yandle is comprable to Franson in the way that Brent Gretzky is comprable to Wayne.

Phoenix and their coaching should be a good spot for Erat, so I could see him returning to a reasonable top 6 forward. IF you move Yandle that would help, although that would downgrade the D and you would have to rely on one of those young guys being legitimately ready. Still, so much can be covered up when you have a 30 min a night minute muncher like OEL and a team approach to the defensive end.
- Ragingpikey

Possible playoff team because of Tippet. After the drama of last season..........I think Ana and sj will play their asses off and they will both make the playoffs. Kings, Hawks, Ducks, Sharks, blues are in Yotes will have to battle a strong Minny team, a strong young Avalanche team and an improvd Dallas team for the last three spots.

Look, I know you're a borderline Troll, so I do hesitate to answer this, but objectively, you can't call what I wrote a "Fan Boy Blog" because it logically breaks down why I think the team will make it - it's entirely based on reason and logic and nothing I wrote - outside of perhaps the title - is in anyway "fanboyish" unless you just think anything positive is that. Seriously, if you read the blog, it's a point by point dissertation on why the Coyotes are better than you think.
- James_Tanner

Im the farthest thing away from a Troll. Anyone who gives you critism you write them off as troll, you need to take a look in the mirror first regarding your writing style since envokes my style of comments. Do that before you start discrediting people as Trolls bc you disagree with them.

And you "breaking down" and writing about all the reasons of why youre team will make it was a nice effort but then to counter all that and disregard other teams with your reasons , such as the Ducks, bc thats how "you feel" about them. That is being a fan boy against your teams rivals.

So yes this is a fan boy blog bc you discredit the other playoff contending teams on gut feelings and opinions instead of actual well thought out facts.

Funniest post on hockeybuzz ever.
How do u expect edmonton to go from one of the worst to one of the best???
How is dallas getting hemsky and spezza make them worse??
How did u get a job as a blogger???
- Billymurray12

I can answer these, sure.

1. Edmonton is going to be good one of these years. Teams improve from year to year, it happens. I don't see a team with Eberle, Hall, RNH, Yakupov, and a bunch of other solid kids missing the playoffs ever again, until Taylor Hall retires.

2. I don't think it will make them worse. I think Tyler Seguin will be hard pressed to stay healthy enough to repeat his career year and I don't think Spezza has a healthy enough back to be counted on. Further more Alek Hemsky is the type of player fans of the team get excited about getting until they see him play. He's super talented but perhaps the most injury prone player in the NHL today.

3. I applied for it and included a sample of my writing. I don't claim to be a hockey expert, but I watch and read as much as I can. I am pretty knowledgeable for an amateur and like I've said before, if I ever make enough money to not have to have another job or two, I'll be able to focus on becoming an expert. Still, with my research background and extremely rare ability to be open to other people's ideas and a willingness to change my mind, I think I do allright.

First of all, you're expounding on a topic no one really has the interest or energy due to lack of interest to even want to debate. Secondly, there is nothing in your blog that states concrete reasons backed by supporting facts that says why the Coyotes WILL make the playoffs this season or even be better than they have for the last few seasons.

I mean c'mon Jimbo, you can put every NHL team name on a wheel and spin it and whatever name it lands on you could make an argument for why that team is "Better Than You Think"...

While I don't necessarily disagree with your take here, the bottom line is that we're smack dab in the middle of the dog days of summer and there really isn't much else interesting to talk about in the NHL, let alone the Coyotes.
- MnGump

Nail on the head

LA Chi Ana StL SJ Dal Minn Col should be the playoff teams

Next tier in no particular order PHX Edm Van Nsh WPG

Last tier Cgy
- VANTEL

I don't see how Dallas, SJ, Minn or Col can be considered better, as PHX has a better goaltending/defense combo than all of them and its not even close.

Im the farthest thing away from a Troll. Anyone who gives you critism you write them off as troll, you need to take a look in the mirror first regarding your writing style since envokes my style of comments. Do that before you start discrediting people as Trolls bc you disagree with them.

And you "breaking down" and writing about all the reasons of why youre team will make it was a nice effort but then to counter all that and disregard other teams with your reasons , such as the Ducks, bc thats how "you feel" about them. That is being a fan boy against your teams rivals.

So yes this is a fan boy blog bc you discredit the other playoff contending teams on gut feelings and opinions instead of actual well thought out facts.
- DDM-Coga

Well I suppose I could have went for a 9,000 word blog breaking down every team. It is what it is, but as usual, you're hilariously off base with your confrontational arrogant take.

Well I suppose I could have went for a 9,000 word blog breaking down every team. It is what it is, but as usual, you're hilariously off base with your confrontational arrogant take.
- James_Tanner

I am off on this, how many people in these comments have agreed with this blog. You are the lone man on the totem pole on this one.

I don't see how Dallas, SJ, Minn or Col can be considered better, as PHX has a better goaltending/defense combo than all of them and its not even close.
- James_Tanner

You might be the only one that agrees with this comment about PHX being better

I am off on this, how many people in these comments have agreed with this blog. You are the lone man on the totem pole on this one.
- DDM-Coga

DDM...you can't argue with stupid. we're asked to find a better bottom 6 when two guys Murphy 30 games and gormley 5 games of total nhl experience. Plus, we're expected to believe that domi and sammuelson will be 20+ goal scorers and battleing one another for the Calder. I don't think Tippett has ever had a rookie he's really like. Even the holy ole spent time between the ahl and nhl in his first season.

I do like his guarantee though, cause if the coyotes are making the playoffs, then so are the jets.

I was stationed at Luke AFB from 83-86 and I think having built the arena for hockey in Glendale was a mistake. Your point of Phoenix being a low income area is a good one. Phoenix was a great place to be stationed and there is a lot of competition for your entertainment dollar. The money was east of the city, Scottsdale and Tempe, with Tempe housing ASU. Either one of those places or east Phoenix would have been better.

I think the Coyotes have a very good chance of making the playoffs, but I think you are selling Anaheim's defense short. They are not the best by any stretch of the imagination but they play a solid simple game.

Well I suppose I could have went for a 9,000 word blog breaking down every team. It is what it is, but as usual, you're hilariously off base with your confrontational arrogant take.
- James_Tanner

I wouldn't call Arizona a lock. But they have as good as chance as anyone to make it. They are underrated IMO.

I don't see a single sabres prospect on D who even has the chance - let alone the probability - of being as good as OEL.

Obviously, the Sabres are amassing a good stockpile of young players, but the Coyotes guys are all NHL ready and it appears that they could dress a top 6 this year that includes 3 top pairing guys and 3 second pairing guys.

I don't think the Coyotes match up against anyone on just potential, I think they have the best 1-6 D in hockey. Defense is so important in the NHL that only a horrible year of goaltending can stop them from making the playoffs.
- James_Tanner

As someone who has watched both the Sabres and Coyotes extensively: Rasmus Ristolainen.

LA Chi Ana StL SJ Dal Minn Col should be the playoff teams

Next tier in no particular order PHX Edm Van Nsh WPG

Last tier Cgy
- VANTEL

I think you usually see 6-7 teams per conference who made the playoffs last year to make it again next year.

I would expect see a little turnover in the playoff teams.

I think you usually 6-7 teams per conference who made the playoffs last year to make it again next year.

I would expect see a little turnover in the playoff teams.
- Tumbleweed

Are Chicago, STL, Anehiem, LA, SJ all locks again? I'm not sold on SJ and Anehiem being locks this year. Likelys yes but not locks.

Overall, if you really look into it, the Coyotes seem to be only a couple of first line superstars away from being a true Cup Contender

Couldn't you say the same thing for a ton of other teams. Two first line superstars would do wonders for most all of the teams. If your waiting/needing two of them, good luck.

Overall, if you really look into it, the Coyotes seem to be only a couple of first line superstars away from being a true Cup Contender

Couldn't you say the same thing for a ton of other teams. Two first line superstars would do wonders for most all of the teams. If your waiting/needing two of them, good luck.
- sparky

Not every team. TB was 2nd last with two first line superstars.

Are Chicago, STL, Anehiem, LA, SJ all locks again? I'm not sold on SJ and Anehiem being locks this year. Likelys yes but not locks.
- JVR_42_PK81

I think 1-2 teams will drop out of Sj, Ana, Col, Minn and Dal.

I think AZ has the best chance of any non-playoff team from last year to make it.

I don't see how Dallas, SJ, Minn or Col can be considered better, as PHX has a better goaltending/defense combo than all of them and its not even close.
- James_Tanner

That's a cool story and everything, but those teams made the playoffs and the coyotes didn't. They have better teams as a whole.

I don't see how Dallas, SJ, Minn or Col can be considered better, as PHX has a better goaltending/defense combo than all of them and its not even close.
- James_Tanner

Dallas smokes you upfront, and both teams could expect similar numbers in goal from Lehtonen and Smith.

I take Dallas everytime, sorry. Not even an argument.

Seriously, find me 3 teams in the NHL with better 1 through 6 depth than the Coyotes on D. Then let's see if they have Summers and Schlemko at 7/8, or anyone as good as Yandle on their second pairing.

I don't claim to know every team in hockey as intimately as I know PHX, I mean, I do have another job and can't spend all my time on hockey, but I am reasonably knowledgeable about the other 29 teams and I don't think it can be done. Maybe one or two, but not three.
- James_Tanner

How about this..... Weber, Josi, Jones, Ellis, Volchenkov, Bartley, and Ekholm. Nashville isn't a playoff team either with a better goaltender also.

How about this..... Weber, Josi, Jones, Ellis, Volchenkov, Bartley, and Ekholm. Nashville isn't a playoff team either with a better goaltender also.
- Predman29

And you guys at least added James Neal, a bonafide 1st line scoring player. Swap the Coyotes with the Preds, this blog's a bit more reasonable.

I just don't see it from the Yotes. Not with Tippet as the coach. The NHL has passed guys like him and Hitch by.

No one believes the Coyotes will make the playoffs because they aren't that good on paper. Yes the Defensive system is strong BUT the Forwards are nothing special.

You lost Vrbata who easily scores 20-30 goals a season,

Shane Doan is getting older and you have to wonder how his body will hold up next season

Gagner isn't really anything special, I doubt he does much better in Arizona

Vermette is not a consistent 40 point guy, maybe he can do it again maybe not.

Erat hasn't scored more than 5 goals in a season in the last 3 years and that is your 2nd line winger.

Your 2nd line winger Lauri Korpikoski was nothing special last season, guy is 28 and not likely to get better.

On D You have nothing special aside from OEL, Yandle and Mihalek

Murphy is a sophomore, expecting him to have a good year with limited NHL experience is expecting a lot

Michael Stone at 24 is getting close to the point where what you see is what you get.

David Schlemko is 27 and probably a career 6/7 Dman

So yea There is a reason Arizona is not favoured to make the playoffs. Sure they missed by a few points last season but they did not get better. Every team above them got better and Vancouver got a better Nashville as well and they played majority of last season without Rinne. Arizona WILL NOT make the playoffs, I'd bet my life on it.

I don't see how Dallas, SJ, Minn or Col can be considered better, as PHX has a better goaltending/defense combo than all of them and its not even close.
- James_Tanner

Please resign as a blogger, I do not mean to be rude but this is by far the worst comment I have ever read! Yes Colorado finished 2nd in the West by accident and San Jose tied for 3rd by accident so Arizona is definitely better..... Minnesota beat Arizona out despite losing their top 2 goalies and Dallas improved their line up significantly. Arizona has done NOTHING!