It was easy to overlook the Coyotes at the outset of the season – a rebuilding team that didn’t load up on high-profile names during the summer and went winless in the preseason.
But even after suffering their first loss to stand 3-1 through Week 1, the Coyotes have certainly grabbed the NHL’s attention and taken a strong first step in restoring their image as a competitive bunch.
“The expectations were so low in the hockey world and rightfully so,” General Manager Don Maloney said. “I’m not sitting here saying, ‘Well, nobody respects us, blah, blah, blah.