Progress may have seemed like a pipe dream when the Coyotes were drowning in losses last season, tumbling to a 29th-place finish that loiters among the worst in franchise history.
And with a rebuild in full swing, early signs of optimism aren’t necessarily guaranteed.
But that reality hasn’t curbed the Coyotes’ hope for better results brought on by a roster that is poised to mix youth with experience after a summer of revisions.
“The way the season finished last year, it was no fun for anybody,” coach Dave Tippett said. “I’m excited to get in and get a whole new perspective on things right through our organization.