Can Keith Yandle Step Up?
He’ll have to and that is all there is to it.
Earlier this weekend, Jim Gintonio wrote the following piece about how Yandle could play a big role on the Coyotes defensive system. I hope he improves from last year and I have no question that he will, but he is not Keith Ballard.
Understand that I get it. Acquiring a guy like Olli Jokinen in the trade improves the offensive punch that the Coyotes will need, but the forwards will have to play both ways to get the job done. Plus, having Ilya Bryzgalov for the entire season won’t hurt either. However, good defense wins championships and Yandle will have large shoes to fill.
There were times last year when Keith Yandle was a solid puck handler, being able to pass up ice to the forwards to generate offense. But he was not as consistent as I would have liked and it might prove to be a problem. He does have help as Zbynek Michalek was the highest rated player with a plus-9 rating, and every defensemen on the squad save for Nick Boynton and Ed Jovanovski were in the plus category for 2007-2008. Though overused and over analyzed, it is a troubling statistic when three of the six defensemen were in the minus category and Yandle was a minus-12 right behind Jovanovski’s minus-13. In fact, every Coyote forward save for Shane Doan could use some improvement with their plus/minus rating.
With the lack of defensive upgrades, many are concerned about the Coyotes’ chances, even going so far of blaming General Manager Don Maloney for not doing more. I think that he did all that he could in today’s and in the Coyotes’ economic climate. Even though they have money to spend per the salary cap, mortgaging the team when revenues don’t support it is not wise business sense. The reasoning goes, if there is a solid top line, the pressure is taken off the younger skaters in their development. Plus, with the added muscle of Todd Fedoruk and Brian McGrattan, there could be more room to skate and thereby could be more chances to score goals.
Playing with the lead is important, and the Coyotes need to do more of that this season.
So, do I think Yandle can do the job? As one of the top 50 prospects rated by The Hockey News two season ago, he doesn’t have a choice - the Coyotes created an opportunity for Yandle and for Jones.
It is up to them to take it.
Discussion Area - Leave a Comment