Your Phoenix Coyotes

Ok folks, here's the deal: I spent a few posts over the summer, back when i was just starting this lovely little blog, writing about i had lost all interest in the hockey the last few years, did not watch it anymore, and really couldn't see myself getting back into it because the Coyotes have been, historically, really bad. Not exactly a team that draws you back in, right?

Well, not right. In fact, way, way off from being right. This young team, as i'm just starting to discover, is really entertaining. And, they're actually pretty good. They started off just a touch slow, but have been playing really well as of late, putting together a four game and five game winning streak in the last month.

With 49 points, the Coyotes currently sit in 10th place, but just four points separate them from the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. While it might have been ambitious going into the season to shoot for the playoffs, at this point in the season i think you have to be thinking about it and setting it as a goal. They have played well enough of late, showing an ability to put up goals and coming up with big saves.

The Coyotes themselves are an interesting mix when you think about it. They have a big-name (if unproven) coach in Wayne Gretzky. The have some hard-nosed veterans in Shane Doan, Steven Reinprecht, and Ed Jovanovski. They have some great young talent in Peter Mueller, Keith Yandle, and Radim Vrbata. And they have a young up-and-comer, potential lockdown goalie in Ilya Bryzgalov. And not for nothing, but they have one of the best announcers in the game, Darren Pang, as their TV color guy.

This seems like it should be a big-time franchise then, right?

Only it's Phoenix, a town notorious for being indifferent to sports teams unless they are great. And the Coyotes have been anything but great the last few years, finishing below .500 and missing the playoffs every season since 2001-2002.

But the base has been built here in the desert. The Coyotes spent the last few years telling fans they were in a rebuilding phase, and now we are starting to see the progress of that rebuilding. They have good young talent. They have talent in the farm system (Kyle Turris at UW). They have a coach is is coming into his own. And they have a fan base that is beginning to take notice.

The Coyotes may or may not make the playoffs this year, though the way they have been playing i wouldn't count them out. Regardless, what i am excited about, and what other fans here in the Valley should be excited about as well, is that the Coyotes will be good. And soon.

Plus, they have me watching hockey again, and being entertained. And though it's debatable whether or not i need more sports to watch, i certainly enjoy it...