Largely impart due to the no vote in Tempe it feels like there's a sense of disappointment/concern (rightfully so) amongst the core group of players with-in the organization who have been with the coyotes for some time now, i.e. Keller, Schmaltz, Crouse, Fischer & Hayton. As it was reported earlier Keller and his agents met with management and ownership expressing such a concern for both the arena situation and direction of the team. Without diving to deep into the arena situation due to it's complexity, I do think Meruelo and ownership will find a new home with-in Arizona, as there are numerous sites throughout the Phoenix-Metro area that would realisticly make sense. It's more so of finding a way in which to privately finance the project and not require another public vote. With that said it does need to be done rather quickly, or at least making a public statement by the start of the season saying there is a plan in place. Providing some sort of insurance to the players, fans and league. However due to the uncertainty arena it feels like Armstrong needs to improve the team on the ice to help put some of the concern amongst the core players regarding the on-ice performance. Armstrong himself even stated during the exit interviews the he feels the rebuild is complete in the sense of adding more draft picks and is looking to add some younger players/help to the team this offseason that can grow with the team.
When looking at the current state of the Coyotes current roster, prospects and future draft picks it is reasonable to say they could start to transition out of the rebuild without going all in yet.
Current roster: Keller is an elite player who is only 24 and Schmaltz is a low-end first line center/high-end second line guy, having a .929 ppg over the past two seasons (however he has yet to play a full 82 games). Hayton really broke out in the back half of the season last year and looks like a legit 2nd line center who really only has room to grow, Crouse is another solid top6/9 player who in a full season will probably score 25-30 goals, Maccelli looks like he'll be a really good 2nd like winger having scored at a .766 PPG in his rookie season, McBain and Fischer are both solid depth guys who enjoy playing in Arizona. The backend is little weaker with JJ Moser and Valimaki looking like solid 2nd pairing guys with maybe the potential to progress into a low-end 1st pair if all things go right.
Prospects: Cooley looks like he'll be a legit playmaking first line center who can put up 85-95 points in his prime. Guenther will likely be a really good top-six winger who has the potential to put-up 30-40 goals in season. Geekie seems like a safe bet to be a good 3rd line center with potential to be an impactful top-six guy. Soderstrom, Duda, Jenik, Doan, Lamourex, Lutz, Lipkin, Fedotov and Szuber all have potential to be good depth guys if they pan out. With 37 picks over the next three drafts, notably 6 and 12 this year, and 22 in the first 3 rounds over the next 3 years. The coyotes are position to add even more high-end prospects to the system or what will likely happen is trade some of those picks for more assets.
The roster I constructed for next season: Resigned Maccelli to a bridge deal to see if he can continue his production. McBain, Fischer, Mackey and Ingram all signed to cheap two year deals to allow for both them and prospects to develop and then see structurally where the roster is at in 2 years. The Cole and Kampf signings were both signed to fill roster spots, a 3rd line center and a veteran defenseman, so they could really be interchanged with other free agents who classify under those categories. However I did target Kampf because he's a guy who could have been overlooked because he was playing in Toronto who could produce more points than he has before, given more opportunity he might receive in Arizona, plus he's 6'2" so he fits the mold of an Armstrong kind of player. As for the trades I wasn't really sure what Mantha and Addison's value were so I just did what I could see as fair. Honestly I think the Mantha trade really benefits both teams, the Coyotes move up four spots in the draft and would then be selecting 6 & 8 plus adding Mantha who could really bounce back under a new system. While the Capitals would move back four spots, this year's draft is really a crab shoot for the players in the 6-12/14 range as they all have similar upside, however the Caps would be shedding 5.7 million in cap space plus adding an additional pick in the third. It's been reported that the Wild are looking to trade Addison to give him a change of scenery and given the yotes history of revitalizing player's career and lack of young dman it seems like a perfect match.
Overall, I feel like this roster below could surprise some people due to the combination of young players still progressing and coach Touringy's ability to get the most out of his players. While I certainly don't think this team is a playoff team I can see them being at or above 500 and being closer to a wild card spot than the bottom of the league. Aside from the arena or lack of arena situation, the future in Arizona is certainly bright on the ice.
Bettman and friends have been awful in finding NHL owners who actually want to own an NHL team, Arizona was given the franchise, because the somebody gave the NHL a cheque, but the the actually it was real estate and arena deal that had to make the finances work....and if that was a stretch. The other NHL owners were let holding the financial debt of operating the team when the owners.
And let's face, an arena doesn't pay for itself if fans who attend games aren't willing to put up true high ticket prices for 41 home games.
I'm not sure of any city in North America (that doesn't have a team already) that can truly support an NHL franchise. There doesn't seem to be a fan base who would attend games, pay the prices or TV revenue that justifies the 150m it costs to run a NHL franchise yearly.
This could be one scary team with right situation, blast into next years ufa market and get to the cap and a stock pile of kids coming of age, just imagine a billionaire owner brings them to town and wants to make a splash. Add guenther geekie Cooley, with 2/3 vet top dollar ufas. Probably need at least an elite 1c and two legit dman, but not too far fetched, with a 6/12 from this year getting 9 games or more possibly or in next couple years as reinforcements and also a pile of picks in next few years.
Washington won't move the 8th overall pick to move Mantha, He's a buyout candidate.
100% agree that he's a buyout but come draft day let's say Michkov is taken somewhere in the top 7 I feel like this deal makes a lot of sense from the Capitals perspective. Some of the players available in that 8-12 range would likely be guys like: Benson, Dvorsky, Leonard, Reinbacher, Sandin Pellika, Wood, Sale, Barlow and Willander. Depending on who you ask most of those guys are pretty interchangeable and have similar upside if they reach their potential. So yes while the Caps would be moving down 4 spots they're still likely to get a similar level player that would have at gotten at 8 and add an additional 3rd round pick plus 5.7 million of the books and wouldn't have to worry about paying out Mantha's contract over the next few years like they would if they buy him out. By all means if Michkov is there at 8 or there's a guy the caps really like at 8 and don't feel like he'd be there come 12 then they don't make the trade.
This could be one scary team with right situation, blast into next years ufa market and get to the cap and a stock pile of kids coming of age, just imagine a billionaire owner brings them to town and wants to make a splash. Add guenther geekie Cooley, with 2/3 vet top dollar ufas. Probably need at least an elite 1c and two legit dman, but not too far fetched, with a 6/12 from this year getting 9 games or more possibly or in next couple years as reinforcements and also a pile of picks in next few years.
Agreed. I feel like Cooley could very well be the elite 1c, defensive prospects are for sure a weakness but I feel like that will be somewhat addressed at this years draft. If the ownership group can get a new arena built in the next 2-3 years, Arizona instantly becomes one of the premier destination from players due to quite a few factors. A young skilled team would definitely attract veterans, but players really love living in Arizona for things like the weather, golf, lower taxes and Scottsdale.
Agreed. I feel like Cooley could very well be the elite 1c, defensive prospects are for sure a weakness but I feel like that will be somewhat addressed at this years draft. If the ownership group can get a new arena built in the next 2-3 years, Arizona instantly becomes one of the premier destination from players due to quite a few factors. A young skilled team would definitely attract veterans, but players really love living in Arizona for things like the weather, golf, lower taxes and Scottsdale.
Im kind of hoping they run to the podium for mitchkov if falls at 6 and any which way at 12, best player available, possibly danielson or benson at 12. Ya they need dmen, but a little too tempted for those guys. Quite a squad a brewing
Bettman and friends have been awful in finding NHL owners who actually want to own an NHL team, Arizona was given the franchise, because the somebody gave the NHL a cheque, but the the actually it was real estate and arena deal that had to make the finances work....and if that was a stretch. The other NHL owners were let holding the financial debt of operating the team when the owners.
And let's face, an arena doesn't pay for itself if fans who attend games aren't willing to put up true high ticket prices for 41 home games.
I'm not sure of any city in North America (that doesn't have a team already) that can truly support an NHL franchise. There doesn't seem to be a fan base who would attend games, pay the prices or TV revenue that justifies the 150m it costs to run a NHL franchise yearly.
I agree that the Yotes have had their fair share of terrible owners. But Meruelo seems to be different from the past owners. Not only is he personally worth a **** ton but his development group has loads of money and he seems very committed to keeping the coyotes in Arizona. He paid close to $30 million out of his own pocket for the Annex at Mullet to bring the arena up to "nhl standards". 100% arena's don't make money themselves and Meruelo knows that, which is why he wants to build not just an arena but an entertainment district and residences along with the arena, after all he's a businessman. As for fan attendance of games, honestly it all depends on if the Coyotes are good or not. The Arizona sports market is very much driven by performance more so than most other markets, look at the DBacks and Suns both are really good teams right now and have high attendance numbers however if you look back to when they were bad they attendance numbers corresponded. If you take a look back at when the Yotes had good teams their attendance numbers were really good. Another thing that the Coyotes have going for them is the snowbird population in the Phoenix-metro area who spend the winters in Arizona, many of who are hockey fans and attend many coyotes games. The market in Arizona can work it's just a matter of doing it right.
Im kind of hoping they run to the podium for mitchkov if falls at 6 and any which way at 12, best player available, possibly danielson or benson at 12. Ya they need dmen, but a little too tempted for those guys. Quite a squad a brewing
I would love for Michkov, a line in 4 years with a 28 year old Keller - a 23 year old Cooley - 22 year old Michkov would probably be one of the best lines in the league for quite some time. If Michkov isn't there at 6 I can totally see Leonard at 6 and then either one of Reinbacher, Sandin Pellika, Willander and Simashev (whoever is available/who they like the most) at 12.
Adisson is an undersized RHD, he’s not necessary, I’d rather keep the pick for ammo at the 24 draft. McBain should be signed long term, he’s such an ideal bottom 6 C. Maccelli needs a 1 year bridge before term next summer, that’ll keep the cost down for this coming season. Washington likely buys out mantha.
I’m sure players like Keller want the team to get better, but there’s no path to that this summer, it’s a draft and develop for one more year before the prospects start filling in. He bought into the plan, I don’t think he’ll be asking out. Schmaltz is probably getting moved, he just isn’t going to fit the age core and he’s going to be a hot commodity. Some younger 20s player and another 1st would be a good deal
I agree that the Yotes have had their fair share of terrible owners. But Meruelo seems to be different from the past owners. Not only is he personally worth a **** ton but his development group has loads of money and he seems very committed to keeping the coyotes in Arizona. He paid close to $30 million out of his own pocket for the Annex at Mullet to bring the arena up to "nhl standards". 100% arena's don't make money themselves and Meruelo knows that, which is why he wants to build not just an arena but an entertainment district and residences along with the arena, after all he's a businessman. As for fan attendance of games, honestly it all depends on if the Coyotes are good or not. The Arizona sports market is very much driven by performance more so than most other markets, look at the DBacks and Suns both are really good teams right now and have high attendance numbers however if you look back to when they were bad they attendance numbers corresponded. If you take a look back at when the Yotes had good teams their attendance numbers were really good. Another thing that the Coyotes have going for them is the snowbird population in the Phoenix-metro area who spend the winters in Arizona, many of who are hockey fans and attend many coyotes games. The market in Arizona can work it's just a matter of doing it right.
I absolutely loved the old barn and businesses around it, but obviously need to do it in the right place and that wasn’t it. We showed up at noon for 7 pm games and enjoyed happy hrs at a few places, then closed places after, kind of chaos but so much fun, box seats at playoff game against detroit for 75 bucks was kind of insane.
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