Coyotes season preview: Coyotes try to silence outside noise with moves

The odds haven’t been in the Coyotes’ favor throughout the organization’s time in Arizona. 

The franchise's setbacks have been numerous, with the latest blow occurring last spring. The Coyotes' future seemed to hang in the balance after an arena proposal for Tempe was voted down in May. A few days later, the team addressed its murky future and stated that it would play the next season at Mullett Arena.  

Since then, the Coyotes have lived out General Manager Bill Armstrong’s motto for the 2023-24 season: “I don’t build rinks, I build teams.” 

Many would think that the offseason news would repel players from signing with the team, but instead Armstrong made the Coyotes a key player during free agency. Playoff experience was added with defenseman Matt Dumba and forwards Jason Zucker and Alex Kerfoot.

“I do think we are a competitive team that can push to play meaningful games," Armstrong said. "There’s an excitement level and you can feel it in the air when you’re around our players. They’re excited together. It’s the first time that the handcuffs have been taken off the team.”   

In a stunning turn of events, Logan Cooley, the Coyotes’ top prospect, flipped from returning to the University of Minnesota and instead went pro. 

Within a few months the Coyotes went from one of the darkest moments of the franchise to a promising season.  

Part of that turnaround comes from the organization’s emphasis on securing the key people for the team’s on-the-ice success. Head coach André Tourigny and his staff, along with Armstrong, all received contract extensions in the offseason. 

“What we didn’t want to happen with the noise of the arena shelling around and people saying, I’m not sure about my contract,” Armstrong said. “We wanted to make sure they were worried about one thing: doing their job and doing it well and not their contract. We tried to control what we could and they deserve it. Let’s face it, the coaching staff hasn’t had a lot to work with in the past and now they do. What they did have to work with, they did a phenomenal job.” 

The Coyotes have drawn the ire around the NHL for a long time, whether it’s about the team’s location in a non-traditional market or the arena problems. But don't confuse the organization with looking for an escape from reality.

“I think that the lifestyle here is fabulous, there’s no denying that. For nine months of the year to be able to live in a place like this is pretty unique and I’m looking forward to it,” Kerfoot said. “I don’t think that there’s any bit of, we’re down in Arizona, there’s no pressure on this team. You can be complacent if you feel that way a little bit. We understand where we are as a group and we have expectations amongst ourselves.” 

In the past, the Coyotes have been associated with taking on bad contracts for the sake of stockpiling draft picks. Based on this offseason, that period is likely reaching its end.

The team has been quietly moving to where it needs to be with its core players prospering and players like Cooley and Dylan Guenther coming in. Clayton Keller, the team’s longest-tenured player, is only 25 years old and is coming off a career year with 37 goals and 86 points. 

Keller has seen the team go through several different changes and has faith for this season. 

“We want to push for the playoffs this year and there’s going to be doubters and people saying what they want about our rink and situation,” Keller said. “I think our group has done a good job the last couple of years and keeping our heads in the room. We’re all excited for that challenge of not many people believing in us.”