With the Tank Official, Can the Arizona Coyotes Become a Championship Team?

Legendary head coach Herb Brooks said it best: "Great moments are born from great opportunity ... to tank and get maximum value for your players in trades to better foster a winning team in the coming years."

You didn't know there was more to that quote? Hollywood bastardizes history all the time.

The Arizona Coyotes were always going to be sellers at the trade deadline, but they went full tank over the past 48 hours. They dealt Antoine Vermette, Keith Yandle, Zbynek Michalek and compiled Anthony Duclair and two first-round picks, among other assets.

It's the type of two days that can change a moribund franchise's fortunes.

The Coyotes had lost nine straight in regulation before blowing it up in the desert. With only four points separating them from last-place Buffalo, the Coyotes have positioned themselves to sink like a stone to guarantee themselves either Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel in the 2015 draft.

Michael Martin/Getty Images

This could very well be the start of something special for the Coyotes, and perhaps just in the nick of time. If the Coyotes lose $50 million over the first five years of their new lease agreement with the city, they could relocate to a new city for the 2018-19 season. A New York Post report by Larry Brooks said the Coyotes lost $24 million in the first year of the lease, so, you know, that's not a good start.

The best, most efficient way of avoiding revenue losses and making the team successful and profitable before the five-year clause can be activated is through the method general manager Don Maloney is employing: tank hard, draft well and build around the young core. The coming years have a chance to be special for the Coyotes.

How will the next three seasons play out in Arizona? Here's one set of imagined possibilities.

2015-16 season

After finishing out the 2014-15 season 3-13-3, the Coyotes secure 30th place in the standings and win the draft lottery. They grab McDavid with the first pick, bringing excitement to the fanbase for the first time since Brett Hull played five games for the Coyotes in 2004-05.

As the 2015-16 season begins, the Coyotes ice a young, exciting lineup nearly devoid of veterans. 

LW	C	RW	LD	RD
Mikkel Boedker	Martin Hanzal	Shane Doan	Oliver Ekman-Larsson	Michael Stone
Max Domi	Connor McDavid	Anthony Duclair	John Moore	Connor Murphy
Lauri Korpikoski	Sam Gagner	Tobias Rieder	Brandon Gormley	Klas Dahlbeck
Kyle Chipchura	Joe Vitale	Mark Arcobello

It's 39-year-old Shane Doan's final season with the Coyotes. The inexperience on the back end hurts, Mike Smith (signed through 2018-19) isn't making saves and it's another rough season for the Coyotes. Only McDavid finishing with 27 goals and 78 points gives the franchise and fans hope.

It's a sad season as the team deals Doan to the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he wins a Stanley Cup. It's a happy season because the Coyotes finish 27th in the standings and once again win the draft lottery, which lands them local product and super prospect Auston Matthews with the first pick.

2016-17 season

Along with Matthews, the Coyotes make a splash in free agency by signing defenseman Erik Johnson to a multiyear contract. With many of their young players maturing and more stability on defense, the Coyotes make a push for the postseason. McDavid is already considered a Hart Trophy candidate and actually holds the league lead in points when new American president Lena Dunham is inaugurated in January.

The Coyotes grab the final wild-card spot and stun the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the playoffs. Coyotes trade-deadline rental Patrick Marleau nearly wins the series on his own, scoring five goals in six games, though the team fades in the second round and bows out in five games against the Winnipeg Jets.

2017-18 season

This is it. Potentially the final season for the Coyotes in Glendale. 

Knowing this could be the end, the Coyotes buy out the final year of Smith's contract and sign Ben Bishop to a three-year deal. This will be the roster they ice to start this season.

LW	C	RW	LD	RD
Max Domi	Connor McDavid	Anthony Duclair	Oliver Ekman-Larsson	Erik Johnson
Mikkel Boedker	Auston Matthews	Patrick Sharp	Brandon Gormley	Connor Murphy
Brendan Perlini	Martin Hanzal	Tobias Rieder	John Moore	Michael Stone
Eric Nystrom	Brian Boyle	Brian Gionta

The Coyotes fill out their fourth line via free agency, adding veterans Brian Boyle, Brian Gionta and 36-year-old Patrick Sharp as the experienced top-six right wing with Stanley Cup experience. It all comes together, as McDavid and Matthews provide a 1-2 punch reminiscent of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin back in their heyday.

Record revenue and attendance highlight the Coyotes' run to the top of the Western Conference. They storm through the first two rounds of the playoffs...only to again lose to their archrivals, the Jets, in the conference finals in seven games.

It's heartbreak for the Coyotes, but it's the final step before winning hockey's ultimate prize.

2018-19 season

After relocating during the offseason, the new Seattle franchise wins the Stanley Cup in seven games against the Brooklyn Islanders. President Dunham is on hand for all three games in Brooklyn. McDavid wins the Conn Smythe Trophy.

All statistics via NHL.com and Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com. Cap information via Spotrac.

Dave Lozo covers the NHL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter: @DaveLozo.