NHL Preview 2019-20: Arizona Coyotes

(This year again, I will twin-post with my Collectibles Blog and write about a player who is related to my Preview post here. Today, it's 1990s star defenseman Jyrki Lumme).

GM: John Chayka (since 2016). 6/10
Coach: Rick Tocchet (since 2017). 7/10

2018-19 record: 39-35-8, 86 points (4th in Pacific Division, 9th in Western Conference).
Playoffs: Did not qualify.

Departures: Alex Galchenyuk (C), Kevin Connauton (D), Nick Cousins (C), Richard Panik (LW), Josh Archibald (RW).

Arrivals: Phil Kessel (RW), Carl Soderberg (C), Beau Bennett (RW).

Top forwards: Kessel (30-35 goals, 55-65 points), Derek Stepan (55-65 points), Clayton Keller (55-60 points), Nick Schmaltz (40-50 points), Vinnie Hinostroza (35-50 points), Christian Dvorak (30-40 points), Michael Grabner (30-40 points), Lawson Crouse (25-35 points), Christian Fischer (20-30 points).

Must-improve forward: Keller's new eight-year deal with a cap hit of $7.15M per means he cannot have another 47-point season, regardless of the fact that he led the team with it. His GM's mistake means he has to produce, because he signed on the dotted line and accepted the role, pressure and pitfalls that come with a superstar-type of contract.

Top defensemen: Oliver Ekman-Larsson (40-50 points), Alex Goligoski (30-40 points), Jakob Chychrun (35-40 points), Jason Demers (20-30 points), Niklas Hjalmarsson (20-25 points).

Goalies: Antti Raanta (82/100), Darcy Kuemper (77/100).

Top prospects: Barrett Hayton (19, 5th overall pick in 2018), Kyle Capobianco (22, D), Jan Jenik (19, C), Ilya Lubushkin (25, D), Adin Hill (23, G), Nick Merkley (22, C, 2015 first-round draft pick), Tyler Steenbergen (21, C).

Analysis:
Don't get fooled by the fourth-place finish in the Pacific last season with an injury-depleted lineup: other teams weren't taking them seriously, took those games to sit veterans and star goalies and the players took it as a day off.

This year, teams know they at least have to watch out for Kessel.

Generally, I'd be inclined to look at their talented youth and think they're on the rise, but GM Chayka keeps trading them away (Max Domi, Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Alex Galchenyuk), then he turns around and signs unproven values to long terms deals, like Keller and Chychrun, as RFAs with no arbitration nor offer sheet rights. It's downright puzzling. Of course, by the sheer number of odd things he attempts, one of them will eventually pan out, and some might call him a genius when it does, but I doubt they all do, so when we weigh in the good and the bad, there might be a lot more of column #2 than column #1 in there.

Prediction: 6th in the Pacific Division, 26th in the NHL.