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10 NHL fan bases tortured more than the Carolina Hurricanes’

By Andrew Miller

RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 21: NHL referee Wes McCauley (4) gets berated by a fan during a game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC on January 21, 2018. Vegas defeated Carolina 5-1. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 21: NHL referee Wes McCauley (4) gets berated by a fan during a game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC on January 21, 2018. Vegas defeated Carolina 5-1. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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NEWARK, NJ – OCTOBER 28: The Arizona Coyotes react to a 4-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on October 28, 2017 in Newark, New Jersey. With the loss the Coyotes have a 0-10-1 record this season. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ – OCTOBER 28: The Arizona Coyotes react to a 4-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on October 28, 2017 in Newark, New Jersey. With the loss the Coyotes have a 0-10-1 record this season. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

121. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Stanley Cup: N/A. EST: 1996. Arizona Coyotes. 8. player

It’s been a while since the Coyotes were competitive in the West. Moreover, the departure of former starting goalie Mike Smith put the Yotes in even more of a rut. One sign of hope is former Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks goalie Antti Raanta coming up huge in the mid-season stretch.

There was a good portion of time where Arizona (formerly Phoenix) was a consistent contender in the West. Their old offensive core, with players like Shane Doan and Daniel Briere, put them in playoff position for nearly a decade.

The aging of Doan and the rebuild that’s lasted throughout most of the 2010’s dwindled the fan base’s hope in any positive results in the near future. It does not look like the Yotes are going to compete in the West anytime soon, with Raanta and forward Clayton Keller serving as the main sources of optimism.

A team does not always have to get close to the Stanley Cup Finals, and lose, to stress out their fans. When you’re in a city that’s not accustomed to hockey, like anyhwere in Arizona, it’s a fight to keep fans engaged. This is not a good period of time for the Yotes.

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