Season Preview: 3 players to watch on the Coyotes
theScore is previewing each team leading up to the 2016-17 season.
After finishing with just 56 points in 2014-15, the Arizona Coyotes began the climb back to respectability last season, missing the postseason by just nine points. Arizona looks to take another step this year under new GM John Chayka. Here are three Coyotes to keep an eye on this season:
Dylan Strome
The Coyotes introduced rookies Max Domi and Anthony Duclair last season, and will likely do the same this year with first-year pivots Christian Dvorak and Dylan Strome.
After finishing with 111 points in junior last year (and 240 points over the past two seasons), the betting is that Strome, 19, is ready to make the jump to the NHL. After Arizona bought out veteran Antoine Vermette, another spot opened up at center.
While the long-term goal is to pair Strome with Domi, Duclair, or some of the team's other budding forward prospects, Strome could start the year paired with veteran wingers like Jamie McGinn and Radim Vrbata, both of whom signed with the Coyotes this summer.
Martin Hanzal
When healthy, center Martin Hanzal provides the Coyotes with size and a dominating presence down the middle. In addition, he's a valuable penalty killer and a great net-front presence on the man advantage.
The problem is that Hanzal spends too much time on the injury reserve. He was limited to 64 games last season and has not played more than 65 games in any of the past six seasons. Still, he scored a career-best 41 points last campaign, and if he can avoid the injury bug, that number figures to increase as the team infuses more young talent.
Hanzal, 29, is a pending unrestricted free agent. In August, Chayka admitted to the possibility that the Coyotes could enter the season with no extension in place. Depending on the team's performance, and if he is still unsigned, the Coyotes could move Hanzal at the trade deadline. In June, Arizona asked Hanzal, who carries a modified no-trade clause, for a list of teams to which he would accept a trade.
Mike Smith
The Coyotes' season will live and die on the performance of starting goalie Mike Smith.
Smith, 34, missed 40 games last season after undergoing core muscle surgery. Upon his return, he posted a 5-4-1 record, a pair of shutouts, and an incredible .944 save percentage. He finished the year 15-13-2, with a .916 save percentage, his second-best with the Coyotes.
When healthy, Smith has been heavily replied upon by head coach Dave Tippett, appearing in no fewer than 62 games in any of his three full seasons in Arizona.
Last season, young backup Louis Domingue proved capable, and could run with the starter's role should Smith falter. Adding another wrinkle, the Coyotes will need to expose a goalie in next summer's expansion draft, and Smith's big-ticket contract - three years remaining with a $5.67 million cap hit - could be made available to Las Vegas.