Yandle won't be quite as impressive in his new slot. I expect solid play, an occasional flash and low goal/assists withou top pp billing. You expect something else Tanner?

Stone pairs well with OEL and has that rocket shot. I expect his pp numbers to leap, and he will be the almost second coming on this blog.

Dahlbeck and Murphy get better and Murphy comes off his slump. They haven't played together but will mesh.

Gormley and Michalek will start off until he gets sent down. Others come up like P Samuellson and michalek/grossman work with the new guys to cover their backs/show the ropes.

You also have to figure they will be hurt blocking shots etc since they are old school defence unlike a certain ex Yote I've bashed. Smith, knowing he's got some guys in front of him that will do what it takes to protect and puts up good numbers. The wins come through gritty play. QED
- itsborken

Im pretty high on Stone
He could be a solid #2, eventually. But if we really wanna compete, he's gotta be lower, unless he just completely busts out.

I've watched KY blow games too many times. All those one or two on none breakaways kill Smith and lower one's expectations to the point that you cringe in the 3rd every time he hits the ice. Maybe KY took it on himself too many times to try to turn nothing into something.

Whatever it was it didn't pay off except on the PP. He wasn't a big passer here, just ripped off the shots. Towards the end OEL would be open and he wouldn't pass to him rather some other covered forward a stride or two away on the boards. You can guess that the result was a cleared puck and regroup to try again. I guess he didn't watch enough Stooges to understand 'spread out'.

Im pretty high on Stone
He could be a solid #2, eventually. But if we really wanna compete, he's gotta be lower, unless he just completely busts out.
- James_Tanner

So would you say you're stoned.

Oh boy, I crack myself up

Do you even watch the Coyotes play? Last 2 years the coyotes have been bad defensively. Last year Arizona was 3rd last in Goals against, year before that they were 19th which is still the bottom half of the league. The year before 17th. They have been getting worse for years now.....

They gutted 3 D positions at the end of the year and filled them with trades. You think that is not going to impact goals against? Plus their offense was junk with the cheap veterans on the block and injuries. If you aren't playing in the o-zone because of that your D will be hammered, and they were.

Do you even watch the Coyotes play? Last 2 years the coyotes have been bad defensively. Last year Arizona was 3rd last in Goals against, year before that they were 19th which is still the bottom half of the league. The year before 17th. They have been getting worse for years now.....
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

And yet, tanner thinks they have the best d in the league

And yet, tanner thinks they have the best d in the league
- MikeBabcock

Yes, that is what I think. Least you could do is read the fn title.

No, he's not.
- James_Tanner

Yes, he is.

Yes, he is.
- mochoson

Of course he is

OEL is not a top pairing d

Um, no offense but I think no matter what they do, this season will be a waste of OEL in his prime

Um, no offense but I think no matter what they do, this season will be a waste of OEL in his prime
- nikel

None taken, you're correct. But anyone who thinks Grossman is better than Gormley or Murphy is insane. That includes the Coyotes MGMT who do think that and are wrong.

Even if he is - and he isn't he's a negative player; he hurts you just by being there - why you'd play a slow old declining 7th dman over a couple of 22 year olds is just not comprehensible.

None taken, you're correct. But anyone who thinks Grossman is better than Gormley or Murphy is insane. That includes the Coyotes MGMT who do think that and are wrong.

Even if he is - and he isn't he's a negative player; he hurts you just by being there - why you'd play a slow old declining 7th dman over a couple of 22 year olds is just not comprehensible.
- James_Tanner

Zero surprise that you find someone saying a proven nhl'er is better than Brandon gormley mystifying.
Maybe he won't be as soon as this season. But as of today, grossman is the better player. Period.

I actually think you're a good writer and sometimes you have some intelligent stuff to say. But you're lack of knowledge on this sport and what it takes to win in this league, continues to surprise me.
And your incessant 'outside of the box' thinking just for the sake of it, is boring.

Phaneuf

Zero surprise that you find someone saying a proven nhl'er is better than Brandon gormley mystifying.
Maybe he won't be as soon as this season. But as of today, grossman is the better player. Period.

I actually think you're a good writer and sometimes you have some intelligent stuff to say. But you're lack of knowledge on this sport and what it takes to win in this league, continues to surprise me.
And your incessant 'outside of the box' thinking just for the sake of it, is boring.
- HB77

Its not a good time to put this much effort into making Arizona's defense competitive. Not that the defense outlined in this blog is competitive.

OEL is not a top pairing d
- OilerFan16

The things Grossmann does well, he does very well. Blocks shots and keeps Power Forwards from setting up shop on the PP. He's not Nick Lidstrom, nor does everyone have to be. Let's just say, there is a reason he plays a decent bit of minutes. Mike Smith is going to like him a lot. Personally, I would have rather moved Luke Schenn and probably gotten more in return.

The things Grossmann does well, he does very well. Blocks shots and keeps Power Forwards from setting up shop on the PP. He's not Nick Lidstrom, nor does everyone have to be. Let's just say, there is a reason he plays a decent bit of minutes. Mike Smith is going to like him a lot. Personally, I would have rather moved Luke Schenn and probably gotten more in return.
- flyler

He certainly has his drawbacks, but he's one of those low talented dmen that you appreciate having on your team. As does his teammates. Difficult minutes, hard nosed, honest effort, keeps opponents honest, blocks shots and does a lot of little things well.

I think he's probably better suited on a good team where he isn't depended on a ton and can add that depth and take some physical minutes off the top guys during big games. Something he's done well in the past.

But either way, if you can't comprehend grossmans value, again, you really need to try and understand the nhl game better if you're gonna blog about it imo

Yep. Grossman handles the puck like a grenade...when he can get to it. Very effective at pinning players...when he can get to them. Yes he blocks shots. But he is a dying breed. I'm happy to be rid of him. The old guard loves him. Solid shot blocking clease clearing defensive dman blah blah blahs
- Just5

Same blah, blah, blah, just a different thread.

This blog is a text book example of the issue with analytics. Not so much the analytics themselves, but the conclusions some draw from them.

Zero surprise that you find someone saying a proven nhl'er is better than Brandon gormley mystifying.
Maybe he won't be as soon as this season. But as of today, grossman is the better player. Period.

I actually think you're a good writer and sometimes you have some intelligent stuff to say. But you're lack of knowledge on this sport and what it takes to win in this league, continues to surprise me.
And your incessant 'outside of the box' thinking just for the sake of it, is boring.
- HB77

You don't know what you're talking about dude. It's not "outside the box" thinking to consider a slow, older, decling D man worse than one of the teams top prospects. I find it hilarious how condescending you are here when you consider that I've seen every game Brandon Gormley has played in the NHL and you - and I'm assuming here - probably haven't even seen him play twice, if at all.

Also, there's these things called stats which you can use to back up your argument, but even though you speak as if you had some authority, all you ever do is give an UNSUBSTANTIATED OPINION.

Even though you accuse me of being different just for the sake of it, that actually couldn't be further from the truth: when not being a slightly ridiculous homer (hey I'll admit that) I pretty much back up what I think with stats when possible.

The problem with guys like you is that you think everyone who thinks differently than you must do so because of ignorance. Now that is boring.

Fact: before hurting his ankle, Gormley looked like a future star player. When he returned from his injury, he struggled a lot, so maybe the post injury pre healing Gormley is worse than Grossman.,

But have you seen Grossman play? Have you looked into his stats? You're being pretty dumb here man.

Its not a good time to put this much effort into making Arizona's defense competitive. Not that the defense outlined in this blog is competitive.
- sniper11

The entire point was that it's not. But yeah, it kind of is the time to make it better. Maybe you aren't aware of this - because giving strongly worded opinions that you have no clue about seems to be today's theme - but the Coyotes have a very, very nice collection of prospects.

I'm not saying that you should ever stop trying to collect more assets, but there really is no need to keep being intentionally bad. It's time to start putting the blocks in place for the next level.

No, he's not.
- James_Tanner

Yes he is

None taken, you're correct. But anyone who thinks Grossman is better than Gormley or Murphy is insane. That includes the Coyotes MGMT who do think that and are wrong.

Even if he is - and he isn't he's a negative player; he hurts you just by being there - why you'd play a slow old declining 7th dman over a couple of 22 year olds is just not comprehensible.
- James_Tanner

Maybe because he is better than said 22 year olds
A 7th Dman lol