NHL Power Rankings: Week 15 Injuries, Prospects, In-Depth Analysis
Previous Ranking: 29 (-1)
Team Record: (13-25-6)
Goals For: 90
Goals Against: 142
Special Teams
PP: 20-for-133 (15.0 percent) (T-24th)
PK: 33-for-148 (77.7 percent) (26th)
Injury List
Dave Bolland (lower body) – out indefinitely
Max Domi (hand) – out indefinitely
Brad Richardson (leg) – out indefinitely
Ryan White (lower body) – day-to-day
Martin Hanzal (personal) – day-to-day
Statistical Leaders in 2016-17
Top Forward: Radim Vrbata (44gp 10g 19a 29pts)
Top Defenseman: Oliver Ekman-Larsson (44gp 9g 15a 24pts)
Top Rookie: Christian Dvorak (40gp 4g 8a 12pts)
Top Goaltender: Mike Smith (8 wins 2.99GAA .914 save percentage)
Player of the Week: F Radim Vrbata (4gp 1g 4a 5pts)
Louis Domingue and Radim Vrbata had a good week, but the rest of the Coyotes did not since they only put up a record of 1-3-0. After a strong start to the week with a victory over Winnipeg, everything after that went south and Winnipeg brought things back full circle Wednesday night handing Arizona a 6-3 loss. Mike Smith started in three games the past week and despite gathering the only win, he also brought back with him some terrible numbers.
Radim Vrbata was the top player of the week putting up a solid five points in four games but had a minus-three rating attached. Star defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson was right behind him with four points in those four games but he had a horrendous minus-eight rating. Louis Domingue only played in one game last week and in doing so was quite decent despite losing his only game, he had a very respectable .923 save percentage and a 1.74 goals-against-average. So what should Arizona do going forward with their netminders? I guess just keep riding whoever is going to win you games, but as of now it definitely looks like Arizona will be front-runners for the first pick in this year’s draft. And next week will help their cause since they got games against Minnesota, Tampa Bay, and Florida.
Weekly Prospect Profile: Nick Merkley, Kelowna (WHL)
2016-17 stats: 35gp 10g 17a 27pts
A strong playmaker who has an excellent eye for the game, Nick Merkley can create chances from nothing and plays every single shift with the highest of energy. His incredible work ethic allows him to take advantage of turnovers and puck-possession. He’s also not afraid to battle against the bigger guys and in the dirty areas of the ice. He doesn’t have the largest frame or the best skating, but he makes up for it with his outstanding hockey I.Q and understanding of the game. He still has a couple of small things to work on, but once he does, he’s going to be a top six center for Arizona which will complement their youth movement very well.
– Matt Duscharme