Arizona Coyotes: 2019-20 season preview, predictions

DALLAS, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 04: (L-R) Ilya Lyubushkin #46, Kevin Connauton #44 and Lawson Crouse #67 of the Arizona Coyotes celebrate a goal against the Dallas Stars in the second period at American Airlines Center on February 04, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

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Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images /

Burning Questions

Is Clayton Keller Ready To Break Out?

Clayton Keller has a 65 point season in his rookie year back in the 2017-18 season. He took a step back last year with 45 points in 82 games. At the All-Star break, he had 35 points in 50 games. After that, Keller had 12 points in his last 32 games.

The Coyotes need him to be better in 2018-19. Playing a lot with Kessel should certainly help. It should help Keller on the power-play as well, as he should finally have a great shooter to finish off his passes. If Keller has a breakout season, the Coyotes have a much better shot at making the postseason.

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Can Conor Garland Stick On The Third Line?

Conor Garland has a very solid rookie season for the Coyotes last season. In 47 games, he scored 13 goals and had 18 points despite averaging under 13 minutes per game. Garland also had the fourth-best relative five-on-five expected goals for percentage among all Coyotes forwards. He still needs to be sheltered, but he has enough talent to potentially make Arizona’s third line a very good one.

Will The Coyotes Defense Pull Off An Encore?

Hats off to the Coyotes defense last season. Their blueline and goaltending were the only reasons the team came close to making it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, can the Coyotes blueline repeat? They might not need to, with the addition of Kessel. If a few of their young forwards breakout, that gives the Coyotes a great chance of making the postseason. But they’ll still need their defense to come up big again.

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