Actually their forwards look OK, but the defence looks shaky. Come TDL if they are out of the playoffs, upcoming UFA Dumba, Stetcher, Zucker and Boyd could be traded.

That's not a bad looking team to be honest. 😁

Im calling last wildcard in west, potential buying at deadline, first time in a long while

Y’all are really being fooled by this team 💀. This is literally what the ducks did last season and it’ll have the same results

Best 4th line in the league - I have it Kerfoot-Bjustad-Boyd

I also have them as my wild card pick to making the playoffs. BUT litterally everything would need to go well for them. Their forward group looks good but a lot of young guys would need to step up. Goaltending is solid. D core is super talented, but young and unproven. So they would need their d to step up.

Yes this team is shaping up nicely. Odds are they are still bottom 10 but I have been calling them as a wildcard spot for a few weeks now. Because it would be fun

There are some key differences with ducks, perennial Allstar Keller, better tandem in net, better coach building something and potential rookie of the year Cooley. Blueline is a work in progress but could have multiple big year potential with vet/mid/youth breaking through for big years, along with some kids to make camp competitive with guenther and geekie. Could dumpster fire and die also, but believing it’s a rather healthy 5 year plan possibly ahead is where I have it.

I do agree with you more than the others but I don't think they'll be quite as bad as the ducks

I 100% agree with this

The coach proved last season his team will compete every night and play a thight defensive system.

There's 2 issues with this roster:

1) Too many players signed for only 1 year or are at the last season of their contract. Those often play a more open game and take more risk to increase their stats and their negociation power for the next contract. An individualistic mindset could destroy the team's discipline.

2) The Dcore is full of unreliable puck moving guys (Dumba, Durzi, Valiimaki, Stecher). Again, great for offence, but you can't have turnover machines on that kind of team when your goaltending is only average.

TLR: With discipline and hot goaltending, they could compete for a playoffs spot, but that's unrealistic on paper. If they do so, the coach should 100% win the Jack Adams trophy.

Agreed.

This team is built to compete - but constructed in a fashion that some assets can be moved at the TDL.

Frankly, I think the blueline looks better than last year; but I think it is also obvious who is sticking around long term there - Valimaki maybe the one guy they are on the fence with. But Moser and Soderstrom look to be the building blocks.

Overall? The west has a lot of teams with question marks, and where the Yotes aren't nearly as talented or deep, they do have a balanced roster. Can see a solid 70 point season out of this.

No, they're not good. And I'm a Coyotes fan.

They have a very good top line and while I quibble with your alignment of the other 3 lines it's almost irrelevant. The D is a train wreck (I mean come on, Troy Stecher is your #2 RD??) and I doubt Vejmelka can over-perform as #1 G again.

I would be happy to be wrong, but unless they play super structured defense *or* outscore their opponents 6-5, they're not going to be particularly relevant.

They will be much more fun to watch, but probably will be playing meaningless hockey once March comes around.