How do the Yotes keep on howling?

[yave1964]

  This has to be the organization that i never will get. Just when you think you have them figured out......

 

  Not that awful long ago the Yotes were on the verge of moving to quebec or Kansas City or wherever would let them play their inept brand of Hockey. No owner, no hope, league owned, Biding their time in the desert until Seattle or somewhere came calling to the league with enough money to buy the gang that couldnt shoot straight and move them far away, leaving Arizona as yet another failed experiment for the Gary Bettman NHL.

  Don Maloney was brought in five years ago to run the organization, he hired the underrated Dave Tippett to coach and the team has managed with the exception of only one season to remain relevant, more so than they ever were before.

  Under the Maloney/Tippett regime the club has had its first ever 100 point season, won its first ever post season series as the Coyotes, and with a bunch of has beens, retreads, never weres and castoffs are right in the thick of things in the unbelievably tough Western conference yet again.

  Bryzgalov came over after being tossed aside by the ducks, he became a solid goalie who left for riches tobe replaced within their system by the appropriately named Mike Smith, a more incognito name in the game for a starting goalie there isnt. Smith, a career backup who had failed to grab a job in his various stops has turned into one of the leagues best playing within the clubs responsible defensive system.

  Shane Doan is the face of the organization, he has been around forever, since the first Jets club first took flight to the desert, but is a 50 point guy. Players like Moss, Korpikoski, Vermette, Klinkhammer, Derek Morris and Mike Smith were all found wanting at least in one city if not more and came to the desert at a bargain deal to resurrect their careers. Kids like Yandle, Ekman-Larsson, Boedker and Hanzal toil in obscurity to all but the most knowledgeable fans, all building on their skills, adding a new dimension every year.

  Tippett is the best coach in the game. Anyone who does not give him the credit due for keeping this club relevant does so at their own risk. Not saying they are going to win a cup, or even make the playoffs but they might, getting more out of less than any club in the league. They went out and added Ribiero this offseason which was a huge move for them, he posted gaudy numbers with the Capitals last year and didnt win, this year his numbers are down and everything i have read is how much more of a complete player he is, His scoring is down yet he leads the successful Yotes in ice time this year.

  I personally do not believe they are a playoff team this year, too many good or even near great clubs ahead of them, but it is hard to discredit all they have accomplished. A solid bunch of young players on defense especially and at forward as well is the envy of many teams in the league and a system that promotes the team first concept has them as one of the most dangerous clubs in the West.

[Chicago Hawkie]

They're playing very well as a team.  The Hawks have done well against them this season, but they are definitely not an easy team to face, and I'd be afraid for whatever team draws them in the first round, if they make the playoffs.