The Hall trade shows the team's willingness to double-down on an already successful yearGETTY IMAGES
The Coyotes' trade for LW Taylor Hall from the Devils is a "clear indication times have changed in the desert," according to Ken Campbell of THE HOCKEY NEWS. New Coyotes Owner Alex Meruelo "really wants to make things work in Arizona and build some momentum for the new rink this franchise so desperately needs in order to survive." With the Cardinals in last place in their division and the Suns "middling and probably not making the playoffs, the time is ripe for the Coyotes to make some inroads with the casual sports fan" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 12/16). In Arizona, Matt Layman wrote the trade "signals to the fanbase that the team is willing to double-down on what's already been a successful year." It also shows players already on the roster that the front office "believes in the group as a serious contender" (ARIZONASPORTS.com, 12/16). TSN.ca's Frank Seravalli noted yesterday's trade "sent a clear signal to the rest of the NHL that Arizona is in it to win it." Front offices often "fail to capitalize on the window that's open to them, not realizing the opportunity until it's over." That "won't be a complaint" about Coyotes GM John Chayka (TSN.ca, 12/16).
IT'S NOW OR NEVER: SPORTSNET.ca's Mark Spector wrote with the "injection of excitement and legitimacy" that Hall brings, NHL observers will "finally learn about the Coyotes, their fan base, and if the hockey world has a place in the Arizona desert." Chayka has "made the biggest deal of the NHL season, a splash that previous GMs in Arizona just never made before." Spector: "We have arrived at the moment where the hockey world learns everything we need to know about the Coyotes. Where the attendance excuse of never having a competitive team dies. Where the product becomes worth the drive to Glendale." The team averages 14,244 fans per home game, "fourth from the bottom of the league." Hall is the "perfect player to sell tickets around." If the Coyotes cannot fill Gila River Arena "with this team and this player, then we'll know, once and for all" that Arizona "simply is not a hockey market" (SPORTSNET.ca, 12/16).
