The Arizona Coyotes (9-6-2, 20 points) have already sustained injuries to key players that may have impacted where they currently rest in the standings after 17 games (just over 20% of the schedule).
If the injured players return to the ice soon and the entire roster remains relatively healthy for the remainder of the season, are the Coyotes talented and skillful enough to reach the postseason? Can they perform at a consistently high level within their system to be competitive in the latter stages of the season?
I think the answer is yes. As the skillful, aggressive younger players continue to gain experience and gel with the more established veterans, there’s no reason to believe that a balanced roster won’t be able to effectively compete night in and night out for the ultimate prize.