Arizona Coyotes: Goaltending Uncertainties Set to Unfold
The Arizona Coyotes have officially lost Antti Raanta for the rest of the NHL season, but their strong depth at the position could help them down the stretch
The Arizona Coyotes are not a glamorous team. Their lack of superstars certainly plagues them in the popularity department, but they sometimes find a way to produce. Remember when they were making the NHL playoffs and people would wonder how? That was when the Coyotes had a collection of hard-working veterans with the right players at every position.
Nowadays, the Coyotes are at a different juncture in their franchise history. They’ve sold off the old real estate and opted for the newer, young-looking condo. The hope is that one day, just maybe, they can upgrade to a place with a view. Right now, they find themselves in a stagnant spot hoping for some kind of path to help get them to the next level.
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The Coyotes have always benefited from good defense. Whether it was veterans or promising youths up front, they always seemed to have a strong defensive group. This is also why several goalies have been able to step in and find success immediately.
Mike Smith rode the wave for quite some time and is now making a splash with the Calgary Flames. In that sense, the Coyotes turned a new leaf in goal and had all their hopes fixed on Antti Raanta‘s success. Unfortunately, that plan is now thwarted, at least for this season.
With Raanta’s injury only getting worse and potentially forcing him to sit the rest of year, it will be up to the remaining tenders on the Coyotes roster to fill the void. With a more detailed look, their goaltending group seems more than ready for the challenge.
Kuemper, Hill, Pickard or…Miska? That is the Question
While losing your prized acquisition can be disheartening, the Coyotes could have done a lot worse in that regard. Goaltending just isn’t their weakest position, and replacing Raanta, whether it be through a single player or a tandem, is quite possible.
Darcy Kuemper, along with Raanta, is making headlines in Arizona with hopes of making a return shortly. How perfect is that? This would be an ideal time for their most experienced goaltender to make his way back to the roster.
Admitted that the team found out during some imaging and testing that Raanta’s injury was more extensive than initially believed. Said Kuemper’s return is imminent though; back to full health And is just getting timing back.
— Catherine Silverman (@catmsilverman) December 10, 2018
There is no question Kuemper will get every chance to make the starting gig his own. At the same time, Adin Hill did a fantastic job in a temporary capacity, despite dropping his last few starts. He maintains a 1.62 goals against average and 0.939 save percentage in five starts this year. He has also recorded his first career shutout in that span. With that said, he is certainly in the mix to help the Coyotes win games after a strong performance but is also at risk of losing his NHL role to other hungry goalies.
Calvin Pickard was opportunistically scooped up off waivers after the Philadelphia Flyers called it quits. Another young goalie, Pickard has moved around quite a bit but could find a home in the desert. The position is wide open at the moment, and it would only take a few games to gain the coaching staff’s trust as they scramble to find the best combination. Hunter Miska is another goalie in the system who has made an appearance this season. While he is a very dark horse to see anymore NHL time, the options are there for the Coyotes.
At the end of the day, it is not just goaltending that will help the Coyotes succeed. Even though they have the right pieces to try and find production, it will be up to players like Derek Stepan, Alex Galchenyuk, Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz to step up. Their 29th ranked goals-for needs to change, especially when they’re tied for first in the NHL with the Boston Bruins for goals-against (76). Yes, that is not a typo. The Coyotes are the best in the NHL at preventing goals.
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If they can turn things around offensively, while maintaining a strong defensive presence, there is a chance we could see the Coyotes sneak into a wild card spot in the Western Conference. This would be even more impressive after losing who they thought would be their franchise goalie, at least for the near future, in Raanta. It’s time to start the scoring train in the desert. All aboard!