31 Comments

The opportunity Uncle Gary has been waiting for. The team in AZ with the draft capital to finally get good. Now is his chance to go into the closet with the "independent auditor" and make sure the envelope says Arizona for the top pick.

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We should have 9 picks in the first 70 players in next year's draft. With those and the guys that were drafted this year, the future looks great. If we get our new arena built by 2024, guess who returns to the valley as part owner and team captain. Hope we have that #34 jersey ready for him, so he can lead us to the playoffs for the next 10 years.

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I’m a bit surprised by the negativity online surrounding this off-season. The team committed to a plan and is executing it. No half-measures.

This regime has been forced into this situation due to the abject failure of the previous regime. They aren’t just rebuilding, they’re making up for wasted years of ineptitude and squandered assets. Digging out of a deep pit.

Understandably, that’s extremely difficult to do. History doesn’t like to be re-written. It makes sure those that try will suffer. Recompense is painful by design.

We’re witnessing hope earned the hard way. I’m relieved and excited.

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For the first time since I moved to Arizona seven years ago I am truly optimistic we can have a team that goes beyond mediocrity. Armstrong has done a proper tear down and done it masterfully. I might not enjoy my season tickets as much the next couple of years but I think it will be worth it. And maybe we can get Dvorak back as a veteran presence when he reaches free agency and the young guys are ready to make noise in the playoffs. And Matthews.

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I hope if Armstrong is married, that they included a NMC in their wedding vows. Otherwise, they may be traded for draft picks as well!

In all seriousness, this sucks. We're being asked to be patient and to look at the potential that this roster may have in several seasons, which is the same old song and dance we've gotten from previous regimes. Yes, BA has more connections and drafting experience than his predecessor and way more resources than Maloney had, so the odds are better than before, but it's hard to remain hopeful. BA is charting a course that will either make him look like a genius or a fool. I just hope he knows we're cursed when it comes to the draft lottery...

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So now, we wait. I believe for the first time in my hockey fandom. I'll be looking forward to the draft more than the playoffs. It's going to be a long 2 years.

Feel for the people mourning Dvo's loss. It would have been fun to keep him around and given us some small measure to cheer about. Shootouts if nothing else. But get used to it. That's the Coyotes roster now, who? and what's his name?

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I can empathise with people who are upset at losing Dvo. He's a hell of a guy on and off the ice. A culture setter. But I haven't been this excited about the future of the team in forever. No doubt they will have one of the deepest prospect pools in the league in another year or two. Hopefully they'll be given the time and patience to develop these guys

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I understand that DVO had to go, given that we want to tank and he’s at peak value. But I just don’t love the return…given the conditions and teams involved it’s most likely a pick in the 20s. Kuempers pick will most assuredly be in the late 20s as well.

Teams are not built on the backs of late first round picks, and it takes more than 2 top five picks to turn it around (see Edmonton, Buffalo, NJ, Rangers…even great teams like Tampa, Penguins, Chicago and Colorado required waves of top 5 picks to really make it over the hump.

DVO netting a top 10 pick had potential to make it a 3-4 year rebuild, but late 20s picks will force this to drag out much longer.

No disagreeing with the plan, but receiving less than or equal to returns that Dzingel, JG Pageau, etc received is underwhelming. Dvorak is better, younger and on a better contract than the comp trades in recent years.

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To watch the Coyotes rebuild # (I’ve lost count) isn’t pretty, but they’re obviously serious about it, and not a little bit shrewd. It’s simplified my plans for the ‘21-‘22 season and beyond, as well as my budget. No more driving up to GRA, spending $600 on tickets since I bring 3 friends. I am perfectly positioned in Tucson to follow the Roadrunners since as far as the Coyotes are concerned, this is where the future will play out. Reminds me of living in MA, Bruins season tickets, waiting for Bobby Orr playing for Oshawa Generals.

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Connor Ingram is a name to watch for the waiver wire. He’s only 24 and was twice a WHL All-Star and twice an AHL All-Star. His numbers in the AHL up until last season were eye-popping.

He had some personal issues last year, and has to enter the player assistance program. He was drafted in the 3rd round by the Lightning in 2016, so like Boko Imama, there’s that Plandowski connection.

With Nashville’s goalie situation, it’s unlikely he makes that team out of camp and he has to pass through waivers to get sent down. He seems like a great fit for Arizona. My only worry would be Buffalo being higher on the waiver priority, and putting in a claim.

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You know I understand all of this “business” but it all still hurts so much and DVO put me over the top. I was so excited to see coach work with the young guns. Time will tell. I”ll be in my seat as usual and hope these guys in the room gel and at least we see some good hockey. I just want some energy and not to see them all giving up. Thanks as always Craig.

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It's quite an odd feeling going into next season as I literally cannot be disappointed in anything that happens. Zero expectations. We lose a game, ok, fine, think of the draft. We win a game, well, that's nice too. Unlike 2014/15 I don't foresee a situation where a win 'hurts' the team because we now have such volume of early picks that even making the playoffs (ha!) wouldn't be fatal to a rebuild (and we know the lottery won't have us pick first overall regardless).

Also, to briefly use this platform as a means of catharsis, losing Dvo hurts the most. That seems bizarre given the departures of OEL and Garland, but something about Dvo was different. I agree with the rebuild project, but he was one name I hoped would stick around to be a veteran leader to the young pups tasked with bringing success to the desert. I wish him every success.

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Looking through the last 8 drafts, only TWO players were drafted in the 20s and went on to be impact players (Boeser and Pastrnak)…the other 80 players are whiffs or bottom 6 players.

We need to package some of this QUANTITY, for QUALITY…otherwise it is going to be a LONG rebuild.

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I get it's a rebuild. I'm fine with a rebuild just don't change course midstream. I'm not sure how this team can reassure me that they won't do what they always do but that's all I want.

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The first time the Coyotes will be like a kid in a candy store come draft time.

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Alex better get a move on and get that sports book running. The only way to root for the team this year is seeing if they can cover the spread.

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