Arizona Coyotes Need To Part Ways With Dave Tippett

This past Saturday, the NHL Draft Lottery determined that the Arizona Coyotes would pick third in the upcoming draft. No Connor McDavid. No Jack Eichel. After those two names fall of the board, the rest of the draft is a wash. That’s bad news for a team desperate for marquee talent.

The Edmonton Oilers were awarded their fourth top pick in the last six seasons. The Buffalo Sabres will pick second after being guaranteed a top-two pick as a result of posting the league’s worst record.

By failing to capture the crucial name in the draft, the Coyotes now have a huge void to fill. The team’s future in Glendale, Ariz. will of course come into question again, but a more important query is who is going to be the next head coach?

It should not be Dave Tippett. Tippett is notorious for his inability to coach a young squad. It happened when he coached the Dallas Stars, and it has happened again in Arizona, recently shown when he pushed out premier young talent in Kyle Turris and Blake Wheeler. Tippett came to Arizona with a squad full of veterans who played a solid system and led them to the playoffs.

Despite failing to acquire McDavid or Eichel, the Coyotes are packed-full of young guns waiting to take over. Max Domi, Anthony Duclair and Henrik Samuelsson are all top NHL prospects. With a young team, it is important that they receive the proper guidance and development.

Most likely, the Coyotes’ average age will be below 25 by opening day. Tippett and the youthful roster don’t create a recipe for success.

It is possible that Tippett will be packaged in a draft day trade to a team desperately looking for an offensive push. With the draft class taking a dramatic hit after the first two picks, the Coyotes can afford to trade down without sacrificing a successful pick. Package the No. 3 overall pick with an experienced coach and it becomes a pretty enticing deal.

There will be too many tempting openings and available coaches that will fit the Coyotes’ needed scheme. With the team’s future in such youthful hands, it’s time for the two to part ways.