If there is one thing to watch for the Arizona Coyotes in 2022-23, it would be if it can register its worst season as a franchise. With the online sportsbook giving the Coyotes 65.5 points, most bettors have already steamed the under. This team won just 25 games last season and finished with 57 points, its fewest in an 82-game slate since the 2003-04 season.
The four best players on Arizona could miss the first part, if not all of the season. On top of that, the Coyotes will play 20 of their first 24 games on the road. Thus, the Coyotes are projected to be the worst team in the NHL this season.
If any fan is crazy enough to lay money on them on the outright NHL odds, it may be better to donate that to the team itself as it can’t even afford its own arena.
Arizona Coyotes Odds
- To win Stanley Cup: +50000
- To win Western Conference: +25000
- To win Central Division: +25000
- To make playoffs: Yes +1200 / No -6000
Player to Watch
The Coyotes have plenty of promising talent to list here. We’re just not sure if the likes of Clayton Keller or Jakob Chychrun will make it through most of the season. Instead, Nick Schmaltz has us curious if he can continue his torrid scoring pace from after the All-Star weekend last season.
The 26-year-old posted 43 of his 69 points in his final 37 games. This included a seven-point explosion against Ottawa (which he followed up with four points against Detroit). If Schmaltz can continue scoring at this rate, he may be in for an 80-point season. He’ll certainly have the green light to keep firing as the Coyotes finished dead last in the league in goals scored.
- Player to Watch: F Nick Schmaltz
Breakout Player
Lost in the Schmaltz hype was Barrett Hayton. The 22-year-old had a mini-coming out party last season with 24 points in 60 games. He scored 14 of those 24 points in his final 29 games. If this was indicative of Hayton’s productivity, he should be in for a career year. Reaching the 50-point or even the 60-point plateau shouldn’t be outside of his abilities.
Hayton is currently slated as the team’s second-line center. But Travis Boyd is not some all-world star who the Coyotes will keep at first. There is a chance Hayton moves up to the top line and plays with Schmaltz and Keller. He should also see first-team power-play minutes as the team’s 30th-ranked PP will need all the help it can get.
- Breakout Watch: C Barrett Hayton
Coyotes Outlook
We boldly predict the Coyotes to not make the Stanley Cup playoffs. If you want to whale on it, a cool $6,000 will return $100. It seems like an easy bet online as this team has one of the worst rosters in the league. Arizona finished in the bottom five of the league in most major categories. The team was getting outshot by 10 each night.
It would take a lot for the Coyotes to exceed expectations. First, its top players will need to stay healthy. That’s a tall order as four of Arizona’s top seven scorers played in 67 games or fewer last season. Karel Vejmelka is a highly regarded netminder and he could steal a few games for Arizona.
With all that said, most of the teams in the Western Conference made improvements. Arizona will be able to beat other lottery-destined teams like Chicago and Montreal. But beyond them, the Coyotes are proper “fade” material on the online sports betting lines.
