(A blog by A.J. Gonzalez)

A couple of months ago, I produced a blog about the Coyotes' situation and their new owner, Alex Meruelo. The points I made were simple to turn around the franchise. One of those points was winning. The Coyotes ended last season with promise and hopefully, this could transfer into the upcoming season.

Well, a month into the season, the Coyotes are on top of the Pacific Division. It's a slim lead, but it's a lead nonetheless. Hockey fever is slowly consuming the Valley and according to Azcentral.com, the Coyotes announced that they were staying in Glendale for another year. Funny how winning changed people's perception on things? Then the Yotes did something that has been rare for them........they went all in on a superstar to hopefully propel themselves in the playoffs.

Taylor Hall, the #1 pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, was not living up to the moniker in Edmonton, where they don't exactly develop top prospects unless you are Connor McDavid. In 2016, Hall was traded to the New Jersey Devils for Adam Larrson. Then something happened. Hall blossomed into a superstar and was the winner of the 2018 Hart Trophy (NHL MVP). However, the Devils are beginning of a rebuild as they build around 2019 #1 pick Jack Hughes and what's left of P.K. Subban (Side note: I predict Subban will be moved before the deadline). So New Jersey needed to move Hall for a chance to stack up prospects and picks. 

Enter Arizona. GM John Chayka has constructed a roster full of young prospects mixed with the right amount of veterans spliced with some analytics. Remember, this team's plan was to keep adding young prospects for the future. That changed with the run that ended last season and in the summer when they traded for Phil Kessel. 

So Hall joins a team filled with talent and hope. Along with Kessel, Hall brings a scoring punch and can help the others on the squad like OEL and Clayton Keller flourish. It showed in Hall's debut with the Yotes that he fits perfectly. It also turns Arizona into a, shall we say, a playoff threat.

It is too early to say that?

( For more content check out our Facebook page and our website @www.realsportsaz.com)