The Associated Press
ARIZONA COYOTES
LAST SEASON: 37-30-15, 89 points. Ninth overall in Western Conference.
COACH: Dave Tippett, fifth season with Arizona, 156-96-42; In 10th NHL season as coach, 427-252-107.
ADDED: C Sam Gagner, C Joe Vitale, RW B.J. Crombeen, G Devan Dubnyk.
LOST: RW Radim Vrbata, C Mike Ribeiro, D Derek Morris, LW Paul Bissonnette, G Thomas Greiss.
PLAYER TO WATCH: C Antoine Vermette. As Ribeiro struggled late last season, Vermette surged to the forefront as Arizona’s top center. He led the Coyotes with 24 goals last season and is a superb two-way player — a perfect fit for Tippett’s defense-first system. A bigger season could be on the horizon as the Coyotes lean on him more.
OUTLOOK: The Coyotes should contend for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Arizona lost captain Shane Doan for 12 games due to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and goalie Mike Smith was out the final 10 games with a knee injury. Even with the injuries, the Coyotes finished two points out of the West’s final playoff spot. Stay relatively healthy and get back to their defensive ways, they might be in the mix again this season.
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