A Look at the Coyotes

Going into this season, the Arizona Coyotes looked like a team going up. When the season started, it certainly looked promising, thanks to some offensive performances by forwards Max Domi and Anthony Duclair. They were outscoring the opposition in the first two months and were looking like a lock to get a wild card spot in the playoffs. You would think they wouldn't be going backwards after this.

Well, fast forward to February, and the 82-game schedule is starting to take its toll on this team. After a 5-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday, the Coyotes have not won in their last four games and have realized how hard it is to be dominant in an already tough Western Conference. They have a -23 goal differential, which is now third worst in the NHL. What went wrong?

When you look at the Arizona Coyotes, you can think about their location problems, such as trying to stay in Arizona, or you can look at the organization, which may be focused on short-term success instead of the larger picture. Right now, Arizona is four points behind the Colorado Avalanche but has three games in hand, so they can still make it. They just can't be losing like this.

Now with the trade deadline coming up, is it time for the Coyotes to let loose of some of their young stars and focus on the future and not on this season? GM Don Maloney has said he will not do anything that will compromise the minutes of younger players. So he might look to trade some of the older veterans. They also have nine impending unrestricted free agents right now.

You may look at Mikkel Boedker and Nicklas Grossmann as guys who might get traded. Their stocks continue to rise on a team that hasn't played well recently. Then you have 39-year-old Shane Doan, whose contract expires after this season. You could say it's impossible for him to go anywhere else, since he has a No-Movement clause. Doan is an important part of the Coyotes' locker room and enjoys being part of the Arizona Coyotes. He's also turning 40 years old so if he comes back next season, his ice time could continue to decline so that emerging young players could get more opportunities and minutes on the ice.

For Arizona, the future looks like Domi and Duclair. Right now, if they want to play better, they have to find the offense. They're close to catching that wild card spot so with the right tools and tricks, the Coyotes could look to get into the playoffs. Again, the short-term deal with this team will not work. Not only do they need to give opportunities for young players, but they also need to look at the long-term to ensure that they can thrive in Arizona for years to come.