As Training Camp Approaches, Several Questions Confront the Arizona Coyotes

On Thursday morning, ice construction began in the soon-to-be renamed Gila River Arena.

This procedure marks the beginning of a new hockey season for the Arizona Coyotes and a time of eager anticipation. Despite new ice in the newly named arena from its former Jobing.com Arena title, can this also be a new beginning for the Coyotes?

After missing the Stanley Cup playoffs the last two seasons, general manager Don Maloney and his staff acquired several new faces and dismissed a few familiar ones. In the process, speculation abounds as to whether offseason changes make this edition of the Coyotes a better team or foreshadow another season of frustrating mediocrity.

Despite a lack of significant roster changes, the biggest challenge facing coach Dave Tippett is line construction.

Last season, a key illness to captain Shane Doan and the eventual benching of first-line center Mike Ribeiro left Tippett with holes the size of craters. By the time the critical month of March arrived and a full-engine thrust to make the playoffs generated, Tippett was left with marginal production from Martin Erat, Paul Bissonnette, David Moss, Kyle Chipchura, Lauri Korpikoski, Rob Klinkhammer and Mikkel Boedker.

No player had “a breakout,” offensive season. In this regard, Tippett continues to seek a reliable 30-plus goal scorer.

Only third-line center Antoine Vermette returns with any kind of production.

Leading the Coyotes a year ago in goals, Vermette emerged as a solid, two-way performer and a dependable skater in the final minute of any period. Vermette’s 24 goals topped the team and only Radim Vrbata and Doan reached the 20-goal mark.

Martin Hanzal, who centered the Coyotes’ second line, is back but tends to be injury-prone. Plus, Hanzal lost his linemate and fellow Czech countryman Vrbata in the offseason when Vrbata signed as a free agent with Vancouver.

In search of scoring, Maloney added center San Gagner, a former No. 1 pick of Edmonton, and one who is expected to light the red lamp. Plus, several first-round picks like Brendan Perlini (2014), Max Domi (2013) and Henrik Samuelsson (2012), as well as prospects Lucas Lessio, Tyler Gaudet and Tobias Rieder, can push for a roster spot.  

If Perlini does not survive the final roster cut, he must be returned to juniors.

In drafting around 10 players in each of the past several seasons, the hope is finding a few gems in the mix.

“This year, we had nine picks and if two, three or four develop as good prospects, then we’re happy,” Tim Bernhardt, the Coyotes' director of amateur scouting told reporters during the 2014 NHL draft in Philadelphia. “You select who you believe is the best on the board at the time and then see how, or if, that player develops.”

Not that Tippett is desperate to make the playoffs but this is a rather proud man and one who had his share of frustrations over the past two years. To complement production and cohesion among his lines, Tippett must also find leadership in the dressing room.

While Doan is considered one of the best captains in the NHL, there is a growing need for others to step up and carry the baton. So far in Tippett’s tenure, few have stepped forward.

The search for emotion, passion and production represent the key goals this fall on Tippet’s training camp agenda.



Mark Brown is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand.