Pack Mentality

Coyotes Unified around Goal to Win

At the start of the season, the team was expecting to contend.  Not for the Cup, but for the rights to draft 1st overall in next year's draft.  Ownership and the GM were on the same page...REBUILD.  There was an abundance of youth on the roster, in the minors, and a wealth of prospects.  

The roster was:

McTavish - Zegras - P. Kane
Krebs - Maccelli - Kessel
Grundstrom - Glass - Perry
Jones - Smith - Olivier

Holden - Blankenburg
Bayreuther - Muzzin
Drysdale - Capobianco

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Sandstrom

The only team this roster struck fear into was their own.  But everyone bought into the plan.  Everyone knew their part.  But something strange happened.  The team started winning.  Or losing in OT or the shoot-out.  The points started adding up, and the Coyotes found themselves in the wild card race at an early point in the season.

Due to this, management started to re-think things.  Feelers were sent out and they started to kick the tires on some trades.

Erik Johnson was brought in as was Justin Faulk.  They were expected to be the leaders in the locker room, and be the new top pairing.  Sam Bennett and Tyler Toffoli were brought in to help the top line become more productive.  Alex DeBrincat was also brought in with those hopes.  Later, Krejci was brought in and Bennett dropped down to the 2nd line along with Zegras and Kane.  An upgrade in net also happened as the Coyotes acquired Kevin Lankinen.

As the dust settled from the trade deadline, it was apparent that the Coyotes were serious about their chances at the Cup.  They walked away with Ryan Suter, Matt Dumba, Nate Schmidt, and William Carrier.

The roster is now:

DeBrincat - Krejci - Toffoli
Zegras - Bennett - Kane
MacT - Maccelli - Carrier
Krebs - Glass - Perry

Faulk - Suter
Johnson - Schmidt
Dumba - Holden

Lankinen
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This team has been in the fight for the top seed in the Western Conference.  These acquisitions should help.  Now the only question is, were too many trades made that will screw up the once great chemistry of this team?

Only time will tell.  Stay tuned as the Coyotes continue to scavenge points and make the playoffs.