The same applies to the Coyotes this season.

I’m thinkin (hoping and prayin) based on the moves made in offeseason theat CLS/MIN/PHO and STL are gonna be the pivotal battles for the final spots in the west. (cant quite count out NSH but they look like one of the weaker links in terms of improvement.

MIN did nothing spectacular in the offseason to improve and I am hoping that they have a ‘new coach/new system learning curve’ that slow them down, they will be scoring by committee just like us and only if ST Nick goes monster in their net do they have an advantage.

CLS is perhaps the greatest threat (Nash is always a pain in the rump)

STL last year bent us over a bit but the last couple of years we’ve hung with them just fine and I am confident that we can bump them off.

We aren’t as young as we were, there were some real key tweenies added to the mix. Lombardi, Pucha, Upshall, Vrbata can all contribute handily. The key rookies are all now used to an 80+ games season so that 40 game wall doesn’t loom quite so menacingly for 09.

We’ve started holding our own w/ the Wings n Nucks, swappin beatings with the Ducks & Sharks… friggin Hawks are a problem still but over all we aint the doormats we used to be.

I’m not expecting Tippett to perform miracles, but if Gretz can get a motley-er lineup to 5th in conf for a brief period, I not only expect Tip to get us over the ASG break runnin in the midrange of the pack but to be able to push/drag/motivate them into one of those bottom rungs.

While the team has added some good pieces, specifically on defense, I still believe they are a little too young to compete in the Pacific or the West. While the coaches will make them competitive, I don’t see who they are going to leap frog to make it in.

Playing the hypothetical game, lets say Detroit, Chicago, Vancouver, San Jose, Calgary, Anaheim, Columbus and Anaheim make it. That still leaves bubble type teams such as St. Louis and Minnesota to maybe get into the top 8. Who does Phoenix knock off here?

Not saying it can’t happen, just saying they have a long ways to climb.

The team is actually stronger than 08. Don’t expect that mid seaon wall to take us out of contention this season.

The Tippett/King coaching combo (along with some upgraded in talent) will be tough to play against and dangerous to underestimate add the fact that Fuhr is no longer screwing up Bryzgalov’s head should mean a faster, more potent and no longer defenseless Coyotes team.

See you all in the playoffs

I think the Coyotes will succumb to the drama surrounding them. Its hard to focus with all of that going on.

Agreed on Turris.

Rusty, great preview.