The Arizona Coyotes' future isn't now.
It might not be next season either.
There's no disguising what they're doing as they build from the ground floor. With three picks among the first 29 in the 2022 NHL Draft and 18 in the first three rounds in 2023, 2024 and 2025, this is a total rebuild focused on developing as many elite prospects as possible.
The Coyotes made no major offseason additions despite having plenty of space under the NHL salary cap ($82.5 million). They led the NHL with 50 regulation losses last season and were 31st with 57 points and a .348 points percentage ahead of the Montreal Canadiens (55 points, .335).
"We haven't shied away from telling everybody in the world that we're trying to acquire draft picks," Arizona general manager Bill Armstrong said.
A youth movement takes time, and the Coyotes have a group of age 26-and-under forwards who have proven they can score in the NHL. They also want a tough-to-play against, don't-take-a-shift off attitude they plan to carry over from season to season.
"We want to be a competitive, hard-working team," Armstrong said.
A primary storyline going into this season isn't just the Coyotes' style of play, but where they'll play. They left Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona after 19 seasons and will play at least the next three at Arizona State University's brand-new 5,000-seat multipurpose arena. They're negotiating to build a new arena and entertainment complex in nearby Tempe, which wouldn't open until the 2025-26 season at the earliest.
"I'm going in with an open mind. I'm excited," said forward Lawson Crouse, who signed a five-year contract Monday to avoid an arbitration hearing scheduled for the same day.
Until then, the Coyotes hope the intimacy of the college arena gives them a home-ice advantage unlike any other in the NHL. There will even be a section for ASU students.
"Hopefully, the fans come out and it's sold out every night and they're loud, and it's a good atmosphere for us and for the team," forward Clayton Keller said.
Keller is 24 years old and the centerpiece of the offense after scoring an NHL career-high 28 goals in 67 games last season before breaking his leg against the San Jose Sharks on March 30. He's expected to be ready for the season opener at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 13.
The Coyotes are looking for more consistency from Keller's linemate, Nick Schmaltz, who last season had 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in a three-game stretch from March 3-8 and finished with 59 (23 goals, 36 assists) in 63 games after scoring two goals in his first 21. Crouse scored 20 goals in 65 games after he had four in 51 games in 2020-21. Nick Ritchie scored 10 goals in 24 games after he was acquired in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 19.
Arizona needs a turnaround season from Jakob Chychrun, a 24-year-old who scored seven goals in 47 games after leading NHL defensemen with 18 in 2020-21. It's also a big season for 22-year-old forward Barrett Hayton, the No. 5 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft who'll be asked to play a bigger role in the offense after he had 24 points (10 goals, 14 points) in 60 games last season.
The Coyotes hope forwards Zack Kassian and Nick Bjugstad, and defensemen Josh Brown and Troy Stecher, contribute as much as defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere did in 2021-22 (51 points; 14 goals, 37 assists in 82 games). Forward prospects Jack McBain, Nathan Smith, Matias Maccelli and Jan Jenik, and defenseman prospect Victor Soderstrom, need to evolve after they all played in the NHL last season.
"They have such a bright future with Keller, future draft picks, draft picks they had in the past. They're heading in the right direction," said forward Logan Cooley, the No. 3 pick in the 2022 draft.
The most pressing issue is in goal. Karel Vejmelka (13-32-3, 3.68 goals-against average, .898 save percentage, one shutout) is the clear No. 1 after starting 49 games in his first NHL season, but there is little depth behind him. Until the draft picks develop, and the prospects mature, the Coyotes are preaching patience.
And more patience.
"When you come watch us in the next few years, you're going to see some talented players and some hope in the organization," Armstrong said. "Then when you kind of get over that hump in the fourth and fifth year, you get a chance to make the playoffs."
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