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Coyotes want to become Armstrong Cup contenders under the new GM

Following the NHL draft, free agency, and other offseason moves, NHL.com is reviewing where each team stands in preparation for the 2020-21 regular season, which is slated to begin January 1st. Today the Arizona Coyotes are:

The Arizona Coyotes are hoping for another big step after qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2012.

The process began with the hiring of General Manager Bill Armstrong on September 17, who helped make the St. Louis Blues the 2019 Stanley Cup champions. He spent 16 years with St. Louis, including the last 10 years as director of amateur scouting and the last two years as GM assistant.

“What’s on his finger, this championship ring, the Stanley Cup, that’s what we’re here for,” said Coyotes President Xavier Gutierrez.

[RELATED: Complete Team Reset coverage]

The Coyotes are hoping to build on last season after winning 33-29-8 (0.529 point percent) and beating the Nashville Predators in four games in the best-of-5 Stanley Cup qualifiers before going through five Playing against the Colorado Avalanche have lost Best-of-7 Western Conference First Round. You have to do it without going forward Taylor Hall, who signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Sabers on October 11th as an unrestricted free agent, and Michael Grabnerwho was put on waivers on October 4th to buy out the final season of his three-year contract.

The Coyotes didn’t make a splash in the free hand, but they signed forward Tyler Pitlick, Johan Larsson and John Hayden to support a core that is led by Clayton Basement and Conor Garland.

“We added small pieces to the puzzle that the team had to make prickly,” Armstrong said on October 9. “We added a few cacti to the team and I was happy with them.”

This is what the coyotes look like today:

Key arrivals

Bill Armstrong, GM: He was hired to replace Steve Sullivan, who got the job after John Chayka quit on July 26. … Tyler Pitlick, F: The 28-year-old center signed a two-year contract on October 9th. In 63 games last season he scored 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) and in 16 postseason games for Philadelphia three points (two goals, one assist) Flyer. … Johan Larsson, F: The 28-year-old center signed a two-year deal on October 10 after hitting an NHL career high of 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 62 games for the Buffalo Sabers last season. … John Hayden, F: The 25-year-old center signed a one-year contract on October 9th. In 156 games for the Chicago Blackhawks and New Jersey Devils, he scored 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists).

Key departures

Taylor Hall, F: Scored 52 points (16 goals, 36 assists) in 65 games for the Coyotes and Devils last season, including 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 35 games after being acquired by Arizona in a deal on December 16, 2019 was scored six points (two goals, four assists) in nine postseason games. … Michael Grabner, F: Scored 11 points (eight goals, three assists) in 46 games and three goals in nine postseason games. … Brad Richardson, F: Signed a one-year deal with the Nashville Predators on October 12, after scoring 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 59 games and three points (two goals, one assist) in nine postseason games. … Vinnie Hinostroza, F: Agreement on a one-year contract with the Florida Panthers on October 9, after 22 points (five goals, 17 assists) in 68 games and two assists in seven postseason games.

At the top

Barrett Hayton, F: The 20-year-old center scored five points (four goals, one assist) in 20 games for Arizona last season before injuring his shoulder in a shoulder injury for Canada at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship. Hayton, number 5 in the 2018 NHL Draft, scored 66 points (26 goals, 40 assists) in 39 games for Sault Ste. Marie of the Ontario Hockey League in 2018-19. … Kyle Capobianco, D: The 23-year-old, who signed a two-year contract on October 5, led defenders in assists (27) and points (37) for Tucson from the American Hockey League last season. He scored one goal in nine games for the Coyotes. … Victor Soderstrom, D: The 19-year-old, who was selected as number 11 in the 2019 NHL Draft, scored 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) and six points (one goal, five ) Assists) in seven games for Sweden at the World Juniors.

Video: ARI @ NJD: Hayton scores first NHL goal of his career

What else do you need

Offense. The Coyotes averaged 2.71 goals per game last season, 23rd in the NHL, and Garland (22 goals) was the only player to score at least 20 goals. Arizona also needs to play better defensively, having allowed 38.7 shots per game in nine postseason games.

Fantasy focus

After departing from Hall, the Coyotes have a vacant seat on the top row, which is an opportunity for basement or Nick Schmaltzwho has played in the NHL center and wing. Schmaltz was second among Arizona skaters last season in points per 60 minutes (2.16) behind Hall (2.29), and Keller was fourth (1.90) among those who have played at least three games. Schmaltz and Keller are well worth being selected in the late rounds of a fantasy draft with the expectation that it will take on a bigger offensive role. – Rob Reese

Video: ARI @ WPG: Schmaltz clears the rebound up front

Projected placement

Nick Schmaltz – Christian Dvorak – Conor Garland

Clayton Keller – Derek Stepan – – Phil Kessel

Lawson Crouse – Barrett Hayton – Christian Fischer

Tyler Pitlick – Johan Larsson – John Hayden

Oliver Ekman-Larsson – – Jason scoffs

Alex Goligoski – – Jakob Chychrun

Niklas Hjalmarsson – – Jordan Oesterle

Darcy Kuemper

Antti Raanta

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