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The Arizona Coyotes’ regular season is drawing to a close, but despite that, there is still plenty of news to cover. Most prominently, there is the talk of their new potential home in northeast Phoenix. While many don’t know that facts and rumors spew daily, the truth is that if owner Alex Meruelo can win the highly anticipated auction, he could put an end to that conversation for good. That would cement the team in Arizona for the foreseeable future, guaranteeing their future in the Valley of the Sun.
Along with arena talk, we’ll discuss Dylan Guenther’s ceiling and the 2024 NHL Draft, which offers the Coyotes many opportunities to expand their ever-growing prospect pool.
The Latest With Arena Talk
It’s no secret the Coyotes have dealt with arena problems since the team relocated from Winnipeg in 1996; it’s been an ongoing issue. However, the rumors and swirlings could end with the upcoming auction, which can secure the Coyotes’ future in the Grand Canyon state. Despite that, several obstacles must be hurdled before construction or anything of that nature begins.
First, the Coyotes and company have to win the auction. That may sound like a simple task, but that’s far from the truth, as it will be a long, ten-week process. The land the Coyotes seek will be posted for approximately ten weeks before the best bid is selected. It’s fair to note that it’s not the highest bid; it’s the best possible land development with a minimum purchase bid of $69.5 million.
Now, we wait and see what the outcome will be. This could be the Coyotes’ last kick at the can in Arizona, so Meruelo can either be a hero or the opposite, but only time will tell.
What is Dylan Guenther’s Ceiling?
Guenther was general manager Bill Armstrong’s first selection as the lengthy rebuild was just starting. At the time of the pick, he was deemed a sharpshooter who arguably had the best shot in the draft. Needless to say, with the Coyotes, he’s shown he can do that and more. His 11 goals and 22 points in 33 games show that, and since being called up from the Tucson Roadrunners, he’s been phenomenal.
That now begs the question, what is Guenther’s ceiling? It’s exciting to make assumptions and player comparisons, especially when things are going well, but it’s still likely too early to determine where he will be in five years or even one year. However, it’s a good guess that he’ll be one of the critical parts of the power play for years to come. His chemistry with fellow youngster Logan Cooley has also been a treat to watch, as both of their play styles complement each other well.
Guenther has been one of the many bright spots on the team this season, and it’s only up from here, as the 20-year-old is just getting started.
2024 Draft Has Exciting Opportunites for Coyotes
Armstrong stressed that the Coyotes were not built from free agency but from the draft. The draft is one of many steps in the process, and it’s what all Stanley Cup contenders have to go through. The Coyotes have 13 selections in this upcoming draft, including three in the second round and three in the third round. With that, they have a chance to bolster their prospect pool big-time.
While the 2024 class doesn’t have a Connor Bedard or a Matvei Michkov, it still offers plenty of players who fit the Coyotes’ needs. The first is defensemen, which has been classified as a defense-heavy draft. After taking Dmitri Simashev sixth overall last year, they could look at adding yet another one come this summer. There are many intriguing options, such as Artyom Levshunov from Michigan State and Anton Silayev from Torpedo of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
The Coyotes like to keep things under wraps, especially regarding the draft, so it’ll likely be unknown what direction they take until they announce the pick. However, it’s safe to say they’ll add someone with plenty of size, as they’ve done in the past.
Plenty to Look Forward To
The tail end of the 2023-24 season has plenty to look forward to. As mentioned, the 2024 Draft will offer the Coyotes a chance to add plenty of pivotal players to the organization. The Cooleys and J.J. Mosers of the world, who the club drafted, have already made a big difference in the team’s outlook, and the upcoming draft should provide the same. They also are hitting a seven-game homestand, which will see plenty of playoff contenders, including the New York Rangers and Dallas Stars. Only a handful of games are left, and they will try to finish things off on a high note.
More must-reads:
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TODAY'S BEST
Did the New York Rangers improve this summer?
The New York Rangers surprised a lot of folks last season, and not in a good way. An Eastern Conference Finalist in the 2023-24 season, the Rangers failed to make the playoffs last year, falling apart in the second half of the season amidst a string of controversial roster moves and underperforming veterans. The poor play and negativity surrounding the team led to a string of roster moves that saw New York move on from several long-serving veterans and pivot to younger players and new veterans, as well as a new voice behind the bench in head coach Mike Sullivan. All of the moves point to the Rangers trying to compete for the playoffs this season and get back to the top of the Eastern Conference standings, but have they done enough to get there? The Rangers are effectively hoping to redeem themselves this upcoming season after letting last year get away from them due to a litany of factors, and it’s always difficult to bet against a group seeking redemption, especially when a two-time Stanley Cup Champion is leading them. The Rangers swung for the fences in their coaching search and landed one of the best in the business in Sullivan. The former Pittsburgh Penguins bench boss is a proven winner and has always garnered the respect of his players, especially his stars. Sullivan effectively navigated some prominent personalities during his time with the Penguins, but was able to get the best out of almost all of his players. The Penguins were a dumpster fire when Sullivan took over in 2015, and it appeared as though Pittsburgh was well on its way to squandering the primes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Phil Kessel. However, once Sullivan took over, the Penguins went on an unprecedented run of dominance that saw them win two Stanley Cups in his first 19 months on the job. Sullivan can hardly be blamed for the ending of his time in Pittsburgh, as the Ron Hextall years took the Penguins from legitimate Stanley Cup contenders to a team that has missed the playoffs for three straight seasons. Those final three seasons saw Sullivan nearly guide some bad Penguins rosters to the playoffs, only to fall just short of the postseason. However, in New York, the Rangers are built to win now, even if they have spent the last nine months moving on from many veterans. Sullivan will be tasked with getting the most out of Mika Zibanejad and several other Rangers who had a down year last season. The coaching change was hardly the only move New York made this summer, as the Rangers shipped out longtime veteran forward Chris Kreider and a 2025 fourth-round pick for Carey Terrance and a 2025 third-round pick. Kreider was an effective forward for a lot of years in New York, but the writing was on the wall for the past year that he would be shown the door. He could flourish again in Anaheim alongside some of their young stars, but the Rangers did well to get back two future assets in exchange for the aging veteran. The move didn’t do much to improve this season’s roster; however, it opened up valuable cap space that allowed the Rangers to make other moves. Aside from Kreider, the Rangers also moved on from defenseman K’Andre Miller in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes. Miller figured to be a top-four fixture in New York, but the Rangers opted to cash in on the two-way defender and did okay to get back defensive prospect Scott Morrow in the trade, along with a conditional first-round pick and a second-round pick. While the trade weakened the Rangers for the next season, they did immediately turn around and sign Vladislav Gavrikov to a seven-year deal, which should improve their shutdown defense and help on the penalty kill. Now, the move to essentially replace Miller with Gavrikov will improve team defense. It does come at an offensive cost as Miller is the far superior offensive contributor; however, his defensive game leaves a lot to be desired. Overall, it’s hard to call the Rangers’ defense improved, given that they are currently constructed to deploy Carson Soucy and William Borgen as their second pairing behind Gavrikov and Adam Fox. Now, no disrespect to either man, but that pairing isn’t likely to scare too many opponents, and it could allow teams to matchup favorably against that second pairing, exposing what can best be described as an average defensive core. Upfront in the forward group, the Rangers didn’t do anything other than re-sign Matt Rempe, Adam Edstrom and Juuso Parssinen. The Rangers do have Gabriel Perreault in the fold now, but it’s hard to say whether or not he is ready to make an impact at the NHL level. The Rangers do still have a solid top line with Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere. Still, outside of that, it’s hard to say what they will get from J.T. Miller, Zibanejad and the second line. If Miller and Zibanejad play the way they have in the years leading up to last year, the Rangers should see improvement as a team. However, if Zibanejad and Miller can’t reach previous levels, it will handcuff the Rangers and put a ton of pressure on their top line. In the end, Igor Shesterkin’s play will likely decide the fate of the Rangers as it did last year. If Shesterkin can get back to his Vezina Trophy-winning level of play, the Rangers will probably be good enough to come out of the Metropolitan Division. But if he plays the way he did last season, the Rangers could fall to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings in a hurry. New York is not built to win with average goaltending and will likely require a Vezina-caliber season from Shesterkin to get a sniff at the playoffs. Ultimately, the Rangers are banking on significant internal improvement as well as the rub from Sullivan’s coaching and a bit of youth being injected into the lineup. It’s not what you would call a foolproof plan, but there is a remote possibility that the Rangers are better thanks to the minor tweaks and Sullivan’s coaching. That being said, there is also a possibility of a learning curve for Sullivan in New York, and perhaps the pressure of the Big Apple brings a more challenging environment for Sullivan to pad his resume. In any event, the Rangers roster is worse than the one that left the ice at the end of last season, and Sullivan is going to have to find a way to light a fire under the holdovers who performed poorly last season. He’s done it in the past and gotten career years out of many players, so it remains to be seen just how much Sullivan can extract from this poorly constructed roster.
Six Raiders Who Owned the 49ers in Today's Joint Practice
HENDERSON, Nev.—The Las Vegas Raiders played host to the San Francisco 49ers today for what was a highly productive and intense time of work. It was a good day of work for both teams, but six Raiders in particular owned the field versus their opponent, and I will tell you who they are and what they did. You don’t want to miss this insider take on how the day transpired. The Condor Is Hunting The music was blaring, and the crowd was cheering, but from the first rep of practice against the 49ers, Maxx Crosby was, as always, entirely focused. You could feel his relief at being able to go up against someone not wearing the Silver and Black. Although the practice didn’t allow tackling, this was his territory, and he wanted everyone to know he wasn’t there to entertain. With the ease of a warm knife cutting through butter, Maxx Crosby spent just as much time in the 49ers' backfield as their quarterback, Brock Purdy. He made it clear to everyone on the opposing team that he would do what he wanted, to whom he wanted, whenever he wanted. I’ve said this all camp, and today was no different: he is the best player on the field every time he steps onto it. Kyu Making the 49ers Blu(e) No one on the Raiders team had as much to gain or lose today, especially during the game on Saturday, as Kyu Blu Kelly. Today, he performed outstandingly—no, he was excellent. He played with confidence and fluidity, making multiple plays against the top-tier 49ers. Without any ego, the Raiders' rising star not only looks the part but also plays the part, showcasing a significant improvement from the younger version of himself earlier this year. Carroll couldn’t help but rave about his performance. "I'm glad you noticed it because I'm noticing it, too. He's had plays every day for about the last five or six days out here. Mock Game Two, he's just been really active. Seems like he's really settling in, and his aggressive style of play has really shown up. So, I'm fired up for him. If you've noticed, I don't know if it happened today, but yesterday, he got work with the ones just to see how he fits in and all of that. Just a great example of a guy competing his butt off and try to make a statement." Brock Bowers Doing Brock Bowers Things Brock Bowers, the NFL's best tight end and one of the truly elite players in the game, has somehow managed to improve even further. While the addition of a new quarterback may play a role, it doesn't diminish Bowers' exceptional ability to manipulate defenders, make impossible catches, and perform physically extraordinary feats that leave onlookers in awe during every practice. It's almost as if Bigfoot has a poster of Brock Bowers on his wall; this young man possesses skills that seem practically divine, playing his position at a level never seen before. During today's practice, he once again showcased his talent with several touchdowns and impressive catches, but one play, in particular, stood out as otherworldly. Running full speed toward the sideline with a 49ers defender in perfect coverage, Geno Smith threw an impeccable pass into a six or seven-inch window. Bowers leaped to make the catch, and despite the momentum that would have carried any other player out of bounds, he somehow got his feet down and, defying the laws of physics, burst upfield. Isaac Newton would be turning over in his grave at what Bowers can do. Although he hasn’t even played a game in his second year yet, he is poised to completely redefine his position by the time his career comes to a close. This was just one of the many outstanding catches he made today. Please don’t feel bad, 49ers fans. No one can guard him. No one. Book(er) It Thomas Booker joined the Raiders in a trade for Jakorian Bennett, and John Spytek deserves recognition for successfully acquiring a starting defensive tackle from the Super Bowl champions. With his exceptional motor and drive, Booker has quickly emerged in the desert and is now the second-best defensive tackle on the team, poised to start alongside Adam Butler. His enthusiasm is a joy to watch, and he complements a defensive line led by Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce, alongside the impressive Adam Butler. The Raiders' defensive line is shaping up to be elite with their starting four. Today, Booker particularly stood out against a 49ers team that appeared disorganized. Carroll didn’t mince words praising his new defensive weapon today, "He's done really well. I mean, quick learner. Just pick stuff up right off the bat. He's right now battling to play a lot and that means he's going with ones quite a bit. He deserves to. He's already shown that. I'm really excited about our chance to get him here, and he's an amazing kid. I can't wait for you guys to talk to him, to hear from him; he's really something." Jakobi Meyers, Pay the Man Jakobi Myers is one of the most underrated and, frankly, disrespected wide receivers in the game of football, unlike the drama that surrounded Davante Adams and the success that many expected from him—which ultimately did not materialize—this drama-free superstar knows how to win. Meyers is an egoless talent and the ideal teammate. Every single day, he makes impressive catches and contributes to plays, often selflessly blocking and making the position look easy. In a recent game against some of the best defenders from the 49ers, Meyers truly dominated the field. He executed perfect routes, and when Geno Smith moved, Meyers matched his movements flawlessly, finding open space to make plays. I have no idea where the misguided criticism of Meyers comes from, but knowledgeable football analysts recognize his value and contribution to the team. It's time to put an end to the doubt, Spytek. Pay the man. Carroll praised Meyers today, "He's so sure handed, so steady, so improvisational, that he can get himself open. With he and Brock [Bowers], it's tough to cover those two guys. And so, they complement each other in a great manner, but Jakobi [Meyers] has done a fantastic job every day we've come out here he's making plays." Is Michael Mayer the Incredible Hulk in Real Life? Michael Mayer has had an impressive training camp. Along with his coaching staff, he has found his rhythm and reemerged as the offensive threat the Raiders envisioned when they drafted him as the best tight end in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, during today’s practice against the 49ers, Mayer showcased something we hadn’t seen during camp. He delivered a block on a 49er player that is sure to leave a lasting impression for years to come. Mayer was known for his physicality coming out of Notre Dame, but it hadn't fully materialized in Las Vegas until now. Today, he resembled the Incredible Hulk, demonstrating his comfort in the game with two impressive blocks that showcased his selfless nature in making plays, even when he wasn’t directly involved. Michael Mayer appears to be back to his form from South Bend, and that spells trouble for the rest of the NFL. Geno Smith’s Leadership on Full Display Geno Smith has been, without question, the best quarterback I have covered in my six years as a Raiders Beat writer, and it isn’t close. His ability to spin the ball, throw everyone open, and make every throw has been terrific. On a field with a quarterback on the opposing team making $16 million more dollars per year than him, Geno was without any doubt the best QB on the field. Multiple great throws at this point are taken for granted since he does it every year, but one thing he did shone louder than any of the other amazing things he had done. WR Tre Tucker has had an excellent camp, but started with three critical drops. Plagued during his rookie year with drops, it was the first time we had seen it since, but after the third Geno sprinted down the field, encouraging him. Leadership. All Tucker did was respond with multiple touchdowns and no more drops. It was a terrific example of this team embracing him. It doesn’t matter if you talk to your teammates; if they don’t respect you, they don’t listen. This team doesn’t like Geno; they love him and respect him. Geno Smith owned the field today, but more than what he did to the 49ers was what he did for his teammates. He led, and they followed. He tried to dismiss his actions when asked about his pep talk to Tucker, but the fact is his leadership is impressive. He said after practice about the interaction, “For sure, there's going to be ups and downs in this game, you're never going to be perfect. We strive for perfection, but we're all human. So, the main thing whenever a guy makes a mistake, or anything happens out there that we don't want to happen, it's about showing that we have each other's back. And so, whenever you can go up to a guy and pat him on the back, or give him a word of encouragement, that's what we're here for, and they do it for me as well. So it's not just a one-way street, it's a two-way street. I just want to continue to breathe life into my guys, because we got some really, really good players, and they work extremely hard. So when they mess up, it's okay. We move on to the next play and keep going." We'd appreciate it if you would follow us on X @HondoCarpenter and IG @HondoSr , and let’s talk about the Silver and Black’s training camp and Pete Carroll’s comments.
Lakers Insider Provides Update on LA’s Pursuit of $87 Million Frontcourt Duo
The Los Angeles Lakers have done all they can to build the best possible team without giving up any of their assets, including their draft capital. More news: Lakers Hiring Former Mavericks Award-Winning Coach The Lakers lost one player to the Houston Rockets, Dorian Finney-Smith, at the start of free agency, but have gained three players, two of whom were off the buyout market. Los Angeles has been methodical in their approach as they prepare for the summers ahead, specfically the summer of 2027. While that is the case, the Lakers were expected to make a big move this offseason. That hasn't and will likely not happen. There were a ton of pieces out there that could have made sense for the Lakers, including a potential trade with one of their rivals, the Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers have pieces that the Lakers could benefit from, including center Robert Williams III. A trade for Williams is not out of the question; however, a trade also involving Matisse Thybulle to go along with Williams may not be an option. According to The Athletic's Dan Woike, a trade for LA centering Williams and Thybulle is not likely. "I have a hard time believing a team that’s so close to the first apron that it can’t currently sign a free agent would gamble on not one, but two guys that have no track record of availability." More news: New Lakers Signing Recalls Moment He First Defended Kobe Bryant in NBA The chances of that happening, according to Woike, are not high. However, those two are the types of players who could make the Lakers legitimate title contenders. The Lakers have had Williams on their radar for what seems like forever. The 27-year-old center is an injury-riddled player, but he is just the type of player the Lakers need. Williams is a defensive-minded player who can protect the rim better than anybody in the league. He was limited to 20 games this past season and has failed to play more than 61 games in his seven-year career. Thybulle falls under the same category, at least that was the case last season. The 28-year-old was limited to 15 games this season, but when he is on the court, he is one of the more tenacious defenders in the league. He's earned two NBA All-Defensive nods while averaging 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. The Lakers could use both Williams and Thybulle, but that seems unlikely as things stand. Latest Lakers News For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.
Taylor Swift's New Song 'Ruin the Friendship' Sparks Blake Lively Speculation Amid Legal Drama
Before series with Brewers, Cubs host lowly Pirates
The Chicago Cubs return home Friday for a pivotal week-long, eight-game homestand that includes a series with the red-hot Milwaukee Brewers. Before the National League Central leaders pay a visit, however, the Cubs will host the slumping Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs on Thursday completed a 2-4 road trip against the St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays, ending with a 2-1 loss in Toronto on Thursday when a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. two-run home run in the seventh erased the Cubs' lead. Colin Rea (9-5, 4.09 ERA) hopes to carry over his strong outing from last Saturday as he takes the mound for the Cubs in the Friday afternoon series opener. The right-hander allowed one run over six innings in a 9-1 victory at St. Louis. He gave up three hits and two walks while striking out six in the only game Chicago won in that series. The 35-year-old journeyman sports a 3-3 record and a 5.49 ERA in nine career games (seven starts) against Pittsburgh. However, he has fared better of late. In two starts against Pittsburgh earlier this season, Rea held the Pirates to just two runs on four hits over six innings in each game. He earned the win in an 8-3 victory on May 1 but garnered a no-decision six weeks later as the Cubs won 3-2 in 10 innings. The Cubs have lost six of their last nine games primarily due to the team's struggles at the plate. They have scored just seven runs and managed only 32 hits in those defeats. Four of those hits were homers, including one by Michael Busch in Thursday's loss. "We had a bunch of warning-track balls, but just couldn't get an inning going, really at all," Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after Thursday's loss. Pittsburgh comes to Chicago having lost five straight. That includes being swept by the Brewers in Milwaukee in three games earlier this week by a combined score of 33-6. The offense did show signs of breaking out in Wednesday's 12-5 loss, however. Five players had multiple hits as part of the team's 12-hit attack. The Pirates managed only seven during the first two games. Designated hitter Bryan Reynolds blasted a pair of homers and drove in all five runs as part of a 3-for-4 performance on Wednesday. Pirates interim manager Don Kelly said after Wednesday's defeat that he appreciated the effort from his batters. "We continue to battle, continue to have good at-bats -- even there into the ninth inning, we had good at-bats," he said. "We need to carry that over to Chicago. It's going to be a tough series there, but I'm looking forward to playing at Wrigley." No official starter has been named by the Pirates though multiple outlets indicated Braxton Ashcraft (3-2, 3.19) would make his third start this season. The rookie, 25, started Saturday in a 2-1 home loss to Cincinnati. His 3 1/3 innings were a season high. He gave up a run on three hits and a walk while striking out five. Ashcraft did pitch in Wrigley Field when the Pirates last visited two months ago. He threw two perfect innings in a 2-1 loss on June 14. He did not get a decision in the game. Chicago has won five of the first seven games in the season series. After this weekend, the Cubs will play the Pirates three more times a month from now at Pittsburgh.
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