At what point do the Arizona Coyotes take any infraction simply to go on the penalty kill?
While that's an absurd notion for any team, it's amusing to consider because Arizona has now notched nine short-handed goals this season through only 14 games, including two on the same minor penalty during Thursday's overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Coyotes now have a shot at the short-handed goals record. The 1983-84 Edmonton Oilers are the current record holders after scoring 36 short-handed goals.
The Coyotes' penalty kill is a rare offensive threat, and the team is also shutting down the opposition in that situation, as Arizona is killing off a league-best 91.1 percent of its penalties. The Coyotes have the best penalty kill success rate since the New Jersey Devils finished the 2011-12 campaign at 89.6 percent.
"It's a combination of everything: system, execution, players, courage, and following instruction. They all play a part and I wouldn't say there is one particular thing that matters most," Coyotes assistant coach Scott Allen, who runs the team's penalty kill, told The Athletic's Craig Morgan earlier this month.
"Aggressive with purpose is my philosophy," he added. "There are reasons behind it and how we do it. It's not on a whim. It's structured aggressiveness."
On Thursday, the Flyers couldn't find the back of the net on their two power-play opportunities. Scoring has been a rare occurrence this season against a Coyotes penalty-kill unit that's allowed just four goals, and the club is plus-five with a man in the box, the NHL's best showing in more than 40 seasons.
Dave Tippett is enjoying life in the front office and isn't interested in making a return to being behind the bench.
"I didn't come here to coach," Tippett told theScore's Puck Pursuit Podcast. "If I wanted to coach, I could probably be back coaching. I came here with the mindset of helping build an organization and working with great people."
In June, Tippett was named senior advisor to the potential ownership group that hopes to bring an expansion franchise to Seattle.
"It's been a really interesting and fun process for me. Different from coaching," Tippett said. "I look back, I was a player for a long time, I was a coach for a long time, and having the ability to be involved in the startup of an organization that could end up being a legacy organization in the league, that's a pretty neat project."
Tippett last coached the Arizona Coyotes in 2017, but also doubled as the executive vice-president of hockey operations in his final season.
Montreal Canadiens forward Joel Armia will miss six-to-eight weeks with a right knee injury he suffered during Tuesday's tilt with the New York Rangers, the team announced Thursday.
Armia has tallied three goals and four assists in 15 games during his first season in Montreal.
The 25-year-old Finnish winger was traded from the Winnipeg Jets to Montreal this offseason along with goaltender Steve Mason, a 2019 seventh-round pick, and a 2020 fourth-round pick for prospect Simon Bourque.
Could the NHL find a permanent home in Europe? Deputy commissioner Bill Daly seems to think so - at least eventually.
"Do I see it happening someday? Yes," Daly said Thursday on TSN 1050. "Do I see it happening in the short term? Probably not. ...
"The number of our players who are born and trained in Europe and add to the talent level of the NHL, the interest in the sport in a number of countries in Europe, make it almost inevitable that at some point the NHL will have teams in Europe."
Nearly 30 percent of NHL players are from Europe, according to Quant Hockey.
Daly noted that it's not a short-term priority for the league and added that many logistical issues would need to be addressed, including NHL-caliber arenas, travel capabilities, and willing owners. He also questioned whether some of the markets could support NHL franchises.
The NHL has played regular-season games in both Finland and Germany this season, but the idea of putting teams in European cities has never gained serious traction.
"I don't think you can expand by just one or two teams in Europe," Daly said. "I think you'd have to have some medium number of teams that can play each other and make travel and schedule far more efficient than it would be with one or two teams."
The idea of adding enough teams to form some sort of European division makes overseas expansion more challenging for the NHL than it is for the NFL, which could potentially put a single team in London, England thanks to football's comparatively limited travel.
Byron sat out the Canadiens' last four games with a lower-body injury and did not travel with the team on their latest road trip.
The injury was sustained in a home contest versus the Dallas Stars on Oct. 30. Byron left the game and did not return.
Byron sits eighth in team scoring with seven points in 11 games.
In other injury news, forward Joel Armia underwent an MRI after leaving Tuesday night's game with a lower-body injury. The team is currently waiting on the results, Julien said Wednesday.
Byron sat out the Canadiens' last four games with a lower-body injury and did not travel with the team on their latest road trip.
The injury was sustained in a home contest versus the Dallas Stars on Oct. 30. Byron left the game and did not return.
Byron sits eighth in team scoring with seven points in 11 games.
In other injury news, forward Joel Armia underwent an MRI after leaving Tuesday night's game with a lower-body injury. The team is currently waiting on the results, Julien said Wednesday.
Boeser missed Tuesday's contest against the Detroit Red Wings - the first leg of his team's current six-game road trip - with a groin injury.
The 21-year-old will miss Thursday's matchup with the Boston Bruins, but the Canucks haven't ruled out the possibility of Boeser re-joining at some point during their current road swing, which won't conclude until next Thursday.
"He's gotten better, but he isn't over the hump yet," head coach Travis Green said.
Boeser had begun to turn things around after a slow start to the season, notching two goals and four points against the Colorado Avalanche on Friday.
Tkachuk has been limited to just four appearances early in his first NHL season, as Thursday's contest will mark his first since Oct. 15. The 19-year-old has been incredibly productive when healthy, having put up three goals and six points in four games.
After suffering through more off-ice distractions earlier in the week, the Senators will be looking to build off Tuesday's commanding 7-3 win over the New Jersey Devils.
Like sands through the hourglass, prospect rankings are fluid - especially early in the season, when we're still learning who these players are and what they can do with their opportunities. While the top two prospects on our board have stayed the same from version 1.0, there's been plenty of movement down the rest of this list.
Here's the second edition of theScore's 2019 NHL Prospect Big Board:
1. Jack Hughes
C | 5-foot-10 | 161 lbs | U.S. National Team Development Program Age: 17 | Previous Rank: 1
GP
G
A
P
14
3
17
20
Someone might try, at some point this season, to say Hughes isn't the No. 1 prospect. Don't buy it. His vision and hockey IQ are off the charts, allowing him to create plays that many of his peers can't even conceive of. That being said, Hughes' combination of speed and acceleration is probably his biggest asset, and could still get better. He also has a great chance of breaking Auston Matthews' USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP) single-season points record after falling one short last year. If there's a quibble to be had, it's that Hughes should shoot more often.
2. Kaapo Kakko
RW | 6-foot-1 | 181 lbs | TPS (Liiga, Jr. A SM-liiga) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: 2
GP
G
A
P
16
3
7
10
Don’t brush off Kakko just because he shouldn't or won’t pass Hughes. He’s still in a class by himself compared to the other prospects on this list, and he's started the season strong while playing against men in the Finnish Liiga. Kakko's puck-handling ability is high-end, and he can use it at top speed. Add in his intelligence and patience, and you have an irresistible combination. One interesting thing to watch: Though Kakko's listed as a right winger, he has experience playing center. If he can continue to play the latter position at a high level, it makes him more versatile and valuable.
It'll be interesting to see if Dach can sustain his hot start across a full season. While his blistering scoring pace will likely level out at some point, his high-end hockey sense should allow him to keep producing. If he does, he'll be an early pick in June. Dach combines size with an excellent skill set, and his passing is terrific - crisp, accurate, and able to get through traffic. He has a very high ceiling.
4. Bowen Byram
D | 6-foot-1 | 192 lbs | Vancouver Giants (WHL) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: 3
GP
G
A
P
17
5
9
14
Cam York and Matthew Robertson are hot on his heels, but right now Byram's still the top defenseman on this list. His exceptional skating, puck skills, and vision make him the type of dynamic defender that NHL teams are salivating over right now. While he has room to grow, it’s not difficult to project him quarterbacking a power play at the next level.
Turcotte hasn't played much this season due to injury, so he's one to keep an eye on as things progress. When he's at the top of his game, Turcotte's fast, consistent, and reliable at both ends of the ice. He's got excellent offensive instincts that, when combined with his work ethic and skill set, make him an effective playmaker. One of the best descriptions of Turcotte is that he doesn’t have an off switch. He's strong with the puck, and his hockey smarts make him dangerous without it, too.
Dach may have passed him for now, but Cozens is the kind of player who could move up as the season progresses. Last year’s WHL Rookie of the Year plays with (well-earned) confidence, racking up points thanks to his great passing and excellent shot. His skating is strong in all areas - quickness, acceleration, agility - and he appears to enjoy the physical aspects of the game. When you put it all together, you have a strong contender for a top-five pick come draft time.
Boldy climbs four spots into the top 10, and has the potential to go even higher depending on how the season goes. He's a highly skilled playmaker thanks to his terrific vision, and he's noticeably improved his shot, which wasn't exactly terrible before.
Some pundits have Podkolzin ranked as high as No. 2 after his excellent performance at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, but it’s too soon to know whether he can play a full season like that. That being said, there’s a lot to like about his game, and it seems like he belongs inside the top 10. He’s tenacious and effective in all three zones, and makes intelligent plays at top speed.
Krebs is a smart, well-rounded player, and he uses those smarts to react and make good decisions in pressure moments - important traits in an NHL prospect. He's also creative and elusive with the puck, while his high-end vision allows him to read the ice effectively. He could stand to add a little more muscle, but that's something to consider after you draft him, because he handles physical play just fine.
10. Alex Newhook
C | 5-foot-11 | 183 lbs | Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: 7
GP
G
A
P
45
22
44
66
(*Stats are from 2017-18 season)
It feels like teams are becoming less hesitant to draft guys out of Junior A leagues in the first round, or maybe they’re just getting better at correctly identifying talent in those leagues. One of the things that stands out about Newhook, last year's BCHL Rookie of the Year, is his brain. He's got great hockey sense, which he uses to make quick decisions at game speed. He's also very agile, which is a fun quality in a player who can use it to embarrass opposing defensemen. Combine all that and Newhook's a significant offensive threat. His transition to college hockey should be interesting.
Suzuki has excellent vision, and he’s good at capitalizing on the opportunities he sees. One key issue is that he pretty much avoids physical play. He's no slouch in his own end, but one still hopes he'll become more willing to engage when necessary.
Zegras has enjoyed a phenomenal start to the season, and it doesn't appear to be a fluke. As the USNTDP's second-line center (behind Hughes), Zegras is a creative and speedy center who knows how to exploit his opponents.
High-end instincts, a terrific release, and incredible skating combine to make Caufield's small stature a non-issue - but it would probably be good if he grew a couple inches, anyway.
Kaliyev's a shoot-first forward with an excellent release. He's started the OHL season at nearly a goal-per-game pace, and his puck-protection skills are solid, too.
17. Victor Soderstrom
D | 5-foot-11 | 176 lbs | Brynas IF J18/J20 (J18 Elit/SuperElit) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: 17
GP
G
A
P
14
1
7
8
Soderstrom's a mobile defenseman with sharp instincts who enjoys controlling the pace of the game. He's also a fast skater who isn’t afraid to get physical despite being on the smaller side.
Robertson's a talented defender with solid puck skills and a heavy shot. He’s intelligent, strong in one-on-one battles, and can play in all situations.
Broberg's a powerful skater with a smooth stride who needs to improve his puck skills. He has good playmaking instincts, but he’s still raw and sometimes tries to do too much.
20. Mikko Kokkonen
D | 5-foot-11 | 190 lbs | Jukurit (Liiga) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: NR
GP
G
A
P
18
1
7
8
A solid two-way defenseman who's started the Liiga season strong, Kokkonen's a force despite not playing top minutes. His positioning and work ethic are both top-notch, while his calm, poised game has clear offensive upside.
21. Moritz Seider
picture alliance / picture alliance / Getty
D | 6-foot-4 | 183 lbs | Adler Mannheim (DEL) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: NR
D | 6-foot-0 | 161 lbs | Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: NR
GP
G
A
P
11
1
5
6
44. Tobias Bjornfot
D | 6-foot-0 | 187 lbs | Djurgårdens IF J20 (SuperElit) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: NR
GP
G
A
P
17
3
4
7
45. Thomas Harley
D | 6-foot-3 | 183 lbs | Mississauga Steelheads (OHL) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: NR
GP
G
A
P
17
3
10
13
46. Xavier Simoneau
C | 5-foot-7 | 172 lbs | Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: NR
GP
G
A
P
15
7
10
17
47. Cole Mackay
RW | 5-foot-11 | 185 lbs | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: NR
GP
G
A
P
19
6
14
20
48. Lassi Thomson
D | 6-foot-0 | 187 lbs | Kelowna Rockets (WHL) Age: 18 | Previous Rank: NR
GP
G
A
P
17
7
7
14
49. Matvei Guskov
C | 6-foot-1 | 172 lbs | London Knights (OHL) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: NR
GP
G
A
P
16
3
9
12
50. Dustin Wolf
G | 6-foot-0 | 161 lbs | Everett Silvertips (WHL) Age: 17 | Previous Rank: NR
GP
W-L-OT
GAA
SV%
17
11-6-0
1.84
.924
Hannah Stuart keeps a close eye on both drafted and draft-eligible prospects and can usually be found trying to learn more about hockey analytics. She has previously written for FanRag Sports, The Hockey Writers, and Hooked On Hockey Magazine, and can also be found at High Heels and High Sticks. Find her on Twitter @HockeyWthHannah.
