Good Core To Start the Rebuild

I really hope I see that top line to start the season. I like how Arizona has brought on bad contracts and such to gain picks, I wish Yzerman would have done that a bit more the last two years.

We more than likely won’t see that line till the very end of the season or in full next year. Cooley is going to college this year and will likely be a one and done player, joining the team at the end of the season for whatever games remain. For Guenther, he’s a 50-50 to make the team this year. He’s got all the talent to make the team but Armstrong has made it clear he’s not gonna shy away from overbaking prospects. Putting Guenther in the lackluster lineup next year may not be the best for his development. Wouldn’t be surprised if Guenther gets the 9 game “tryout” next season.

What worries me about the Coyotes is that you have to surround these young prospects with some solid veternan players to help their development.......Not sure that Armstrong has figured that out yet......its hard developing when you are not competitive and getting kicked every game in the NHL.

Personally I actually think he’s done a great job surrounding the young players with veterans players. The “veteran” guys who are still putting up good numbers quite frankly aren’t going to want to play in Arizona right now, there going to contending teams. Guys who are cap dumps, this is there one last shot or just players who need a change of scenery are the guys who Arizona is gonna get. Armstrong has been bringing in players who’ve been around the league a while and knows what it takes to make it in the league, something they can pass on to the younger guys. At the time Gostisbehere was acquired he had well over 350 games under his belt and at one point was considered one of the league’s best offensive defenseman. He proceeded to have a bounce back year, returning to his old self putting up 51 points. Not to mention his adversity with injuries in the past allows him to pass on advice/support to the younger guys that may be going through the same thing (Chychrun perhaps). Eriksson, Roussel & Beagle have 2,303 GP, over 950 points & 1 Stanley cup combined and each bring their own set of skills and knowledge. Anton Stralman has played 930 games and someone who has also suffered through his fair share of adversity throughout his career. It was reported that he really took some of the younger guys on the blue line under his wing throughout the season, especially JJ Moser (who had an impressive first season in NA). Dzingel has over 400 games played. Boyd was a guy who was drafted in 2011 and has had to fight for every game he’s played in the NHL. Riley Nash, a guy who was drafted in 07’ and played over 600 games. Ladd is now a guy with over 1000 games played, some really good seasons (points wise) & 2 Stanley Cups plus his own shares of adversity. Even though he hasn’t played a game with the yotes yet, Kassian has played over 600 games played. Yah none of these players are gonna provide loads of offense, there gonna provide leadership for these young guys we’ll starting seeing over the next few years. The goal for the next season or two is still to be really bad and acquire high drafts picks, loading up young talent. Once majority of this young core develops in juniors (or wherever outside of the nhl) then are ready to make a jump to the NHL is when you go out and add this veteran pieces who put up good point totals. The team last year was fairly competitive in most games last year (considering the makeup of the roster) plus they’re were stretches were half the AHL team was playing in the NHL because of injuries.