The 2023-24 NHL season marked the final season of Arizona Coyotes hockey in the desert. While the franchise will be put on hold for the time being, there were plenty of interesting numbers to highlight as we approach 2024-25. Let us take a look at several undervalued measures offered by NHL EDGE, which the Utah Hockey Club will carry over into its inaugural season

Team Metrics
Despite finishing with a losing record (36-41-5), Arizona ranked among the top 17 teams in goals with 256. Only two teams with a losing record finished among the top 17 in goals. The New Jersey Devils had 264. How did the Coyotes score so many goals while losing? Last season, they had one of the NHL’s greatest shooting percentages.

The Coyotes had an 11.2 shooting percentage, compared to the league average of 10.2%. They finished in the 87th percentile among NHL clubs due to their remarkably high shooting %.

As you can see, the Coyotes had above-league-average shooting percentages in several offensive zones. The only places that translated the same success in the goals category were the lower area of the left-wing face-off circle and the upper area of the right-wing face-off circle.

The connection of forwards Nick Schmaltz and Clayton Keller proved their worth in these areas. In the right-wing face-off circle, Keller and Nick Bjugstad scored five goals (area highlighted with 29 goals). It should come as no surprise to see the left-handed shot score from his office on Arizona’s top power-play unit. Having Keller on his off-wing at the right circle and Schmaltz in the bumper position helped contribute to the 29-goal total.

Schmaltz led the Coyotes in scoring from the bottom of the left-wing face-off circle (area highlighted with 14 goals) with three goals. The right-hand shot capitalized in close on his off-wing. His most important goal from this spot came on Jan. 9, 2024, against the Boston Bruins in overtime, giving Arizona the 4-3 win.

Player Metrics: Forward Michael Carcone enjoyed a breakout season in the NHL last year in Arizona. The 2022-23 American Hockey League (AHL) First All-Star Team pick led the league in scoring with 85 points while playing for the Tucson Roadrunners. This season, the left-handed shooter scored 21 goals with a lethal 18.9 shooting percentage, putting him in the 98th percentile in the NHL, with forwards averaging 10.3%. While only scoring 21 goals in 74 games may not appear noteworthy, he did so while playing limited minutes in the Coyotes’ bottom-six forward lines.

Logan Cooley, a rookie forward, demonstrated his speed and acceleration several times this season. On January 1, 2024, he reached a peak speed of 23.56 mph against the Florida Panthers. This top skating speed ranked him in the 97th percentile of fastest speeds for the 2023-24 season. The former Minnesota Gopher also logged 194 speed bursts of more than 20 mph, placing him in the 94th percentile in this category. As a result, the 5-foot-10, 174-pounder is quite mobile.

Forward Dylan Guenther was an attacking force for the Coyotes after being brought up from the Roadrunners. He scored 35 points in 45 games during his brief NHL career. The right-hand shot showcased his sniper ability, with high shooting percentages in the offensive zone.

As you can see, the Edmonton, Alberta native made the most of each shot attempt in the light gray areas. His above-league-average shooting percentage in the three regions where he scored more than 30% demonstrates his ability to hit an effective and reliable shot. He was the primary right-handed shooter for Arizona’s first power-play unit in the second part of the season. In the Coyotes’ last two games, the 21-year-old has two power-play goals.

Forward Josh Doan will never forget his freshman season. The former Arizona State Sun Devil appeared in the Coyotes’ final 11 games and did not disappoint. The Scottsdale, Arizona native scored five goals and four assists for nine points. His 21.7 shooting percentage put him in the 99th percentile, about 11% higher than the 10.3% average for NHL forwards. Granted, he only had 23 shots on target, but it is a good sign to see Arizona’s own be successful at 22 years old.

This past season, Connor Ingram, the current goalie for the Utah Hockey Club, had a breakout season in net. He not only improved his game, but also overcame mental health challenges to win the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. The 6-foot-2, 198-pounder went 23-21-3 this season with a 2.91 goals-against average (GAA) and a.907 save percentage. He was also tied for the league lead in shutouts among NHL goaltenders, with six. The Canadian ended in the 89th percentile, with a.833 high-danger SV%. He appears to have taken over as the starting goalie in Utah’s debut season.

Statistics, metrics, and other methods of measuring on-ice performance are still used today. It will be intriguing to watch how Utah head coach André Tourigny and his staff will use NHL EDGE to aid their players prepare for the upcoming season.