Was last year a bust?
Interesting to see what everyone thinks. Personally as a yotes fan, i think they will be a border-line team and not make the playoffs. Hope im wrong!
I pretty much agree. The club had some significant losses through free agency, and there hasn't been much brought in.
I think the club will need some quality play from unexpected sources (like younger players) in order to achieve the regular season success of last season.
My prediction would be that the team will be on the fringe of the playoffs.
I think they'll regress from last season and have to fight for a playoff spot right to the end of the season. That defensive strategy won't work as well this year imo.
I think they will make the playoffs, but they will not have home ice advantage.
They have been hit pretty hard by free agency. In order to still be a contender they need to resign what ever pieces are still loose in FA. They will need to keep their D gritty/tough in front of Bryzgalov. Probably require signing a couple gritty journey d men to do so.
But regardless of all this, and even with their off season losses, I would say they are still a contender for the bottom 4 spots in the West. Its theirs to win or loose though.
The most important people they lost were Michalek (overrated) and Lombardi (replaceable). I would say that they have a good chance to make the playoffs, but they don't really have the element of surprise, as people will expect them to be legitimate opponents, and not push-overs like many though they were last year.
I would put them 4-6 in the conference rankings at the end of the season.
The team was gelling really well last year, but to be honest I don't think they'll make it again.
Every year there's one or two teams that overachieve and make the playoffs, only to miss them the following year (St. Louis and Columbus come to mind).
As a bust, i meant, a one-time thing. I know last year was a great year for the yotes. The sky was the limit! But glad to hear mostly everyone is positive
I'm pretty pissed that lombo had to go though. He was my favorite player. I mean cmon, who doesnt love a fast center that can make plays and score goals?
Tahats going to hurt us big time.
Michalek was over rated? I wasnt much of a fan of him in the first place. He can go make friends with cindy.
The most important people they lost were Michalek (overrated) and Lombardi (replaceable). I would say that they have a good chance to make the playoffs, but they don't really have the element of surprise, as people will expect them to be legitimate opponents, and not push-overs like many though they were last year.
I would put them 4-6 in the conference rankings at the end of the season.
Obviously during free agency Michalek is going to be "one of the best free agents available" but now that he's gone he's "overrated"...
The losses of Lombardi and Zybnek are unfortunate, but IMO adding Whitney was a great move. Sure, he's old and all (I think he's 38), but he gives a calming presence on the 1st line that will see Wolski play center for the first time since I think the World Juniors a few years back (please correct me Colorado fans if Wolski played center with the Avs). Plus, the addition of Whitney should help on the power-play, which was mediocre last year and was often-too-missing during the series against Detroit outside of Game 1.
The biggest key though IMO for Phoenix is whether the young guys, namely Turris, OEL, Tikhonov and Bokeder (sp) can finally come through and shine. Turris, from all accounts has been working hard to earn his spot on the team, and he will probably be the 2nd line center, so he'll need to be effective for this team to contend. The young guys are key.
They do have a solid defense and a great goalie in Bryzgalov, plus as long as Wolski can prove to play great as the top center, and the young guys can shine or at least prove their place and play effectively, I think they can contend for a playoff spot. The West is deep though, quite a few good teams will miss, hopefully it isn't PHX.
Obviously, given that they finished 4th in the West last year and are taking the ice with a crew that doesn't look a lot weaker than last year's and with no change in coaching (or style, presumably), nobody can rule out the possibility that they'll make the playoffs again.
That being said, if I make the my predictions now, I have Phoenix at or near the bottom of the Western Conference.
Let me explain why. That's where well nigh everyone had them placed a year ago, and that's where, in terms of player personnell, they clearly belong. They don't look better this year.
Last season was a tremendous achievement - I don't know if I've ever seen a more impressive overperformance for as long as I've followed the NHL (which is more than 20 years). They implemented a tight system, everyone bought into it, they never had a prolonged bad stretch and they were just hard to beat.
The question is, does that happen again? I doubt it. Typically, teams who enjoy a season of distinct overachievement tend to come crashing back down to earth the next season. And my money is on that happening in Phoenix this year, much like it happened to the Islanders in 2007-8. Sorry, no disrespect and I'd be happy to be proven wrong, but that's what I think.
Also, they have a catch 22, which consists in this:
Quote:
The biggest key though IMO for Phoenix is whether the young guys, namely Turris, OEL, Tikhonov and Bokeder (sp) can finally come through and shine.
The conundrum being that as long as they stick to the game they were playing last year, the young guys are really unlikely to have any opportunity to shine. Tippett's style, especially with a relatively weak squad, has to emphasise discipline and defensive responsibility at all costs - that's how the results are coming. But that's not the kind of environment where players like Turris, Bødker, Tikhonov or OEL can develop their game and shine. If you want that, they have to be given the kind of room and responsibility that carries with it a certain tolerance for mistakes, and that's something that isn't compatible with Tippett's style. That game plan can be carried out far more effectively with veterans, and there isn't much room for compromise. Which may be why Tikhonov preferrred to transfer back to the KHL (where he had a really good goalscoring campaign), and Mueller was like a different player after he arrived in Colorado.
Which is also why, for all of last season's success, I don't think it really was much of a building block for the future. Rather it was a pleasant interlude in the rebuilding process, perhaps? This team is going to get worse before it can get really good, and maybe it's just as well to get started on that road.
The question is, does that happen again? I doubt it. Typically, teams who enjoy a season of distinct overachievement tend to come crashing back down to earth the next season. And my money is on that happening in Phoenix this year, much like it happened to the Islanders in 2007-8. Sorry, no disrespect and I'd be happy to be proven wrong, but that's what I think.
Good post. You also can't overlook the fact that many teams went into Phoenix thinking it would be an easy win. Hell, as a fan of the Canucks I expected them to brush Phx aside but they were a scrappy bunch. I doubt teams take them for granted this year.
Also, goalies will figure out how to stop Aucoin on the shootout...
