Bill Armstrong is proud of what the Coyotes have accomplished thus far as they continue to push for the playoffs.
The Arizona Coyotes are 48 games into the 2023-24 season and currently hold a 23-22-3 record while they are five points out of a wild card spot in the Western Conference.
With the NHL-All Star Game taking place this weekend, general manager Bill Armstrong caught up with Coyotes’ team reporter Patrick Brown and reflected on the season thus far and how he feels the team has performed.
“We've been a pretty resilient team, and, and a team that's come out fighting every single night to scrape and call and get points,” Armstrong said. “We put ourselves in a pretty good position heading down the stretch, and now we're going to see what we can do. It’s a great test for our group.”
Leading the charge for the Coyotes is forward Clayton Keller who is all set to participate in his fourth All-Star game this weekend. The 25-year-old has 20 goals, 25 assists and 45 points in 48 games.
“Keller’s competitiveness is what leads our club every single night in trying to take the next step,” Armstrong said. “He’s put together some really good years, and he's only getting going. He's still a young man and has a lot of growth ahead of him. We love how he leads our team.”
Another player on the Coyotes that has been drawing a lot of attention is that of rookie forward Logan Cooley.
The 19-year-old was drafted with the third overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and is in the midst of his rookie campaign. He’s been through some ups and downs over the course of the year, but Armstrong believes that he is on the right path for success.
“One thing that he doesn't get enough credit for is his competitiveness in the D zone, and how he's modified his game and improved on the D side of the puck,” Armstrong said. “At the same time, he's still producing offense and his game continues to grow.”
Armstrong is in uncharted territory as the general manager of the Coyotes with the team in a playoff push. For years, Armstrong has prepared for these kinds of moments and so far, he is enjoying every second of it.
“I just love it for our club,” Armstrong said. “You're under pressure to win. You can't put that in a bottle, you have to go through it and experience it, but it's way better for our club and our young guys to have that pressure. Pressure helps you grow. Pressure makes you a better player, and a harder player in the NHL. We need that pressure to take the next step.