History of the Team

The Arizona Coyotes are an NHL franchise that plays in the West Division of the NHL. The team has been playing in Arizona since 1996. The Coyotes originally began their Arizona tenure in America West Arena in downtown Phoenix.

The Coyotes then moved to Gila Arena in Glendale in 2003. Their original name in Arizona was the Phoenix Coyotes before a rebranding effort in 2014 when they became the Phoenix Coyotes.

The franchise was founded in 1972 as the Winnipeg Jets in the World Hockey Association. They were one of four teams consumed by the NHL when the league collapsed. The Coyotes played as the Winnipeg Jets from 1979-1996 before transitioning to Arizona. 

Alex Meruelo and Andrew Barroway own the team. Meruelo became the majority owner on July 29, 2019. The Arizona Coyotes’ minor league affiliates are the Tuscon Roadrunners in the AHL and the Rapid City Rush in the EHCL. 

The Arizona Coyotes have not had too much success in their time in the NHL. The team has won a division title one time during the 2011-12 season. This is the only title that the franchise has ever won. They are the oldest franchise that has never appeared in a Stanley Cup final. In 2021-22, the Coyotes will rejoin the Central Division of the NHL.

2020-21 Update of the Team

The Arizona Coyotes are not having a terrible season, but they have been far from dominant in the NHL’s West Division. The Coyotes are currently in 6th place in the West with a 12-12 record. They have lost four games in overtime.

The Coyotes’ current number of points in the standings is 28. There are eight teams in the West, and the two teams behind the Coyotes are the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks. 

Arizona has identical winning percentages at home and on the road. Inside Gila Arena, the Coyotes are 7-7-3. On the road, Arizona has a 5-5-1 record. There are barely any venues that are allowing fans, so this could be an explanation of why the Coyotes have a similar home and away record. 

The Coyotes have struggled in their goal differential. Even though they are 12-12, they have one of the worst scoring differentials in the NHL. The Coyotes have scored 70 goals and given up 85. 

This line puts the Coyotes at -15 on the year. Phil Kessel is leading the team in goals with nine on the year. He has taken 50 shots on goal. 

Conor Garland is leading the team in assists and points with 14 and 22, respectively. The Coyotes are scoring 2.43 goals per game and giving up 2.96 per contest. 

Betting Forecast of the Team

The Arizona Coyotes are a tough team to bet on because they are very inconsistent. The Coyotes have not taken the next step to becoming a dominant team. They also have not fallen in the standings. 

Since the Coyotes are 12-12, they are one of the worst teams to bet. Additionally, they split between the home and the road. 

A great strategy in hockey betting is to choose away underdogs. Sportsbooks will usually post all away teams as the underdog, no matter the standings. If a home team is an underdog on their own ice, it’s best not to wager this franchise. 

The Coyotes are a pick’em in the NHL. They have beaten every team on their schedule at least once. Against the West Division’s top teams, the Coyotes are usually splitting or taking one of three contests. 

It’s important to note that the Coyotes have not been swept once this season in a three-game series as of March 15th. As favorites, the Coyotes are 4-4-2, and as underdogs, the team is 7-11-1.

Arizona is 13-15 against the spread. They have performed better ATS on the road with a 6-5 road record compared to a 7-10 home margin. 

The Coyotes tend to go over more than under. This makes sense because of their scoring differential. Arizona is 15-12-1 against the over this season. 

Star Players

Right-wing Phil Kessel is leading the team in goals scored with nine. Kessel has 18 total points this season, but he is not the best player on this team. He does not make a lot happen on the ice relative to some of the team’s younger stars.

Kessel has been in the league for 15 years, and he is currently in his age 33 season. He is a reputable wing, but his talent is fading. 

The best player on the Coyotes is Conor Garland. Garland is in his third NHL season. He was selected in the 5th round of the 2015 NHL Draft by Arizona. He has paid off thus far for the franchise in his young career. 

Garland has accounted for 22 points in eight games. He has scored eight goals and collected 14 assists in 2021. 

He has the best +/- on the team. The Coyotes are +3 with Garland on the ice, which is significant considering the whole team is -15. Only three players with over 27 games played have a positive +/- number. 

The team’s primary defender is Jakob Chychrun. Chychrun has 19 total points and helps control the team’s side of the ice. The one issue with the defender is his penalty issues. 

FAQ on Betting the Team

What division do the Arizona Coyotes play in?

The Arizona Coyotes play in the NHL’s West Division. This will be the team’s final year in the West Division. They will move to the Central Division in 2021-22 following the addition of the Seattle Kraken to the league. 

What was the Coyotes 2020 record, and what is their current 2021 record?

The Arizona Coyotes went 33-29 in 2020. They made the playoffs and lost in the first round to the Avalanche. Their current 2021 record is 12-12 as of March 15th. In the past five seasons, the team has only made the playoffs one time. 

What are the Coyotes’ odds to win the Stanley Cup?

The Arizona Coyotes are +8000 to win the Stanley Cup. A $100 bet would yield $8,000 in winnings. 

What are the Coyotes’ odds to win the West Division?

The Coyotes have slightly better odds to win the West Division than the Stanley Cup. Arizona is +7500 to win the West in 2021 at this point in the season. 

How many games will the Coyotes play in 2021?

Each team will play 56 regular-season games, so the season is just over the halfway point. 

Who are the best players on the Arizona Coyotes?

The Coyotes’ best players are Phil Kessel, Conor Garland, and Jakob Chychrun.