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.

NHL Preview 2018-19: Arizona Coyotes

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

2017-18 record: 29-41-12, 70 points, 29th overall.

Departures: Max Domi (C), Zac Rinaldo (LW), Luke Schenn (D), Joel Hanley (D), Jordan Martinook (LW).

Arrivals: Alex Galchenyuk (C), Vinnie Hinostroza (C), Michael Grabner (RW), Hudson Fasching (RW), Jordan Oesterle (D).

Top forwards: Derek Stepan (55-65 points), Galchenyuk (60-65 points), Clayton Keller (55-60 points), Dylan Strome (40-50 points), Christian Dvorak (30-40 points), Grabner (30-40 points), Richard Panik (35-40 points), Christian Fischer (30-35 points), Brendan Perlini (25-30 points).

Must-improve forward: Strome had a difficult start to the season last year but finished strong, with 8 points in the team's final 10 games. He's being penciled in as the franchise's long-term #2 center, although he may start on the wing. He may not be ready to fill that role yet, but he needs to consistently put points up on the svcoreboard at a rate of one per two games regardless.

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

Goalies: Antti Raanta (87/100), Darcy Kuemper (77/100).

Top rookies: Barrett Hayton (18, 5th overall pick in 23018), Pierre-Olivier Joseph (19, D, 23rd overall pick in 2017), Christian Fischer (21, RW), Adin Hill (22, G), Nick Merkley (21, C, 2015 first-round draft pick), Tyler Steenbergen (20, C).

Analysis:
The 'Yotes took a step back last year, falling two spots to 29th overall, albeit with the same amount of points as the previous seasons.

How many lives does GM Chayka have? Well, he added essentially 50 goals by acquiring Galchenyuk and Grabner, which would take Arizona from 30th to 10th overall in last year's stats column. He's got some decent young players, enough for them to compete and for the team to have options going forward. And going back to the Peyote jersey is a great move as well.

Re-signing captain Ekman-Larsson was a no-brainer, and Raanta found his game as the season went on, so if it wasn't that the 'Yotes play in such a strong division, I might have pegged them as a playoff team instead of a bubble team.

Prediction: 7th in the Pacific Division.