One reason each NHL team should be excited for the 2018 season

Arizona Coyotes – An Exciting Team

The Arizona Coyotes haven’t made the playoffs since the 2011-12 season when the Los Angeles Kings beat them in the Western Conference Final. Since then, they’ve spent most of their days toiling in mediocrity. A huge reason for this is they’ve lacked an identity. The Coyotes have never had a franchise goalie or center to call their own.

With Derek Stepan, Alex Galchenyuk, and Dylan Strome, suddenly the Coyotes are looking strong down the middle.

Now they have a franchise defenseman to call their own, thanks to Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The likely future captain of the Coyotes made a huge statement, signing a massive eight-year extension to stay in Arizona.

Not only that, the Yotes have slowly built a team that should at least be exciting. Center depth used to be an issue for Arizona. With Derek Stepan, Alex Galchenyuk, and Dylan Strome, suddenly the Coyotes are looking strong down the middle.

Clayton Keller’s amazing rookie season got overshadowed by the likes of Brock Boeser and Mathew Barzal, but he still quenched the thirst of the star-thirsty desert dwellers. And with Antti Raanta in goal, the Coyotes finally have someone they can rely on in net.

It might not be this season. Heck, it likely won’t be this season. But for the first time, the Coyotes are starting to resemble a team that could sneak into the playoffs.