As season winds down, here are 5 reasons to keep watching Coyotes despite win-loss record

As the Coyotes’ season winds down to a handful of games, the on-ice product hasn’t been easy to watch.

It wasn’t when the season started — an 11-game losing streak let everyone know, if they didn’t before, that tough times were ahead — and it isn’t now, with several of the Coyotes' top players out with injuries and a roster full of AHL call-ups trying their best to make an impression on the coaching staff and front office.

The Coyotes could end up exactly where many observers thought when the season ends, however, and that in itself could make them worth following to the end. The worst record in the NHL is in their grasp, and it would give them more chances to win the NHL Draft lottery.

Rebuilds are hard. For teams, fans and for selling tickets. The Coyotes made no secret in announcing their intention to restock the organization with draft picks with the plan of developing young talent into a Stanley Cup contender, but that will take time. Arizona is 22-45-5, its 49 points going into Tuesday night's game against the New Jersey Devils the lowest total in the NHL.

The remaining nine games, including the final five games ever for the Coyotes at Gila River Arena, will be played this month. Here are four more reasons to keep watching the Coyotes the rest of the way, even though they gave up at least five goals in five of their last seven games and were outscored 27-4 in those five losses.

For subscribers: Under the flight path: Proposed Coyotes arena reignites 20-year-old issue between Tempe, Phoenix

The future

The roster figures to look different next season with the departure of perhaps some of those players whose contracts will expire after this season. That opens the door for prospects to play at the NHL level, which is already happening now.

"Still got to do the job. You're playing for a job, you're playing for contracts, you've got to get up and play. It's your job," defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere said. "You can't just wake up one morning and say 'I don't want to do it. There's still stuff to play for and a lot of pride, and we're lucky to be doing what we're doing in the NHL."

Of course, the Coyotes would be easier to watch if All-Star Clayton Keller didn't suffer a season-ending broken leg last month, and if two of their best players who have yet to reach their primes, Jakob Chychrun and Lawson Crouse, were healthy. There's a chance that all will not play in another game this season.

Keller and Crouse figure to be back next season, while Chychrun could be offered up for an offseason trade, but at a high asking price.

Eight players listed on the roster Tuesday afternoon have spent time at AHL Tucson this season and a few more got callups before being sent back down. Then there are forwards Jack McBain and Nathan Smith, who were expected to make their NHL debuts on Tuesday, both right out of college hockey.

Among the former Roadrunners, center Barrett Hayton has seen his most extensive NHL playing time and is only 21, with career highs of 18 points and 50 games played this season. Forward Matias Maccelli was having a big year offensively in Tucson before being brought up, defenseman JJ Moser has turned out to be a good find in last offseason's draft, though he missed 12 games recently due to injury, and defenseman Dysin Mayo has played a lot of minutes this season and was rewarded with a three-year contract.

Karel Vejmelka, a rookie despite major experience in Europe, earned a longer-term contract with his goaltending after not being expected to make the NHL roster out of training camp.

"It's the things that have been there the entire season," Coyotes President and CEO Xavier Gutierrez said. "When you see them on the ice in a game, you can't tell the record. We're going to compete every night. It's a team that gives it their all every night. You have an exciting group of young players that are starting their careers."

Gutierrez noted that the team's marquee players — Keller, Crouse, and the healthy and productive Nick Schmaltz — had or are having great seasons and their production went up in the structure that head coach André Tourigny has built.

Forward Nick Ritchie, 26, was picked up in a trade a month before the NHL trade deadline. He has eight goals and three assists in 20 games with the Coyotes.

"Hopefully I can keep having success, keep playing the same way and keep improving and getting even better," Ritchie said. "Feel good about coming back next year with an opportunity to grow with this team and try to make the playoffs next year."

Saying goodbye

If the hockey product isn’t what gets people to the arena, maybe nostalgia can. There have been some good times for the franchise at Gila River Arena, from NHL mainstays who had lengthy stints as Coyotes players (Keith Yandle, Oliver Eckman-Larsson, Radim Vrbata) to playoff “White Outs” to a run to the Western Conference finals in 2012 to Shane Doan and his long and treasured career that culminated in an emotional jersey retirement.

Time is running out to see the Coyotes in Glendale, and a trip to the arena is chance for a walk down memory lane. The team moves to ASU’s multipurpose arena next season. It certainly hasn’t been a walk in the park over the course of 19 years in Glendale and the organization has gone through a lot, but the building was home.

Gutierrez said there will be a tribute and thanks for all of the time at Gila River Arena.

"There have certainly been many moments, and we want to make sure that we give thanks," he said. "We will absolutely pay tribute to all that."

Related: Arizona Coyotes' Shane Doan to take on key role in new Tempe arena project

The other guys

The Coyotes play some teams with some of the top names in the NHL this month. Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals are in town April 22, which is also Chychrun's bobblehead night.

Carolina Hurricanes All-Stars Sebastian Aho and goalie Frederik Andersen are in town on April 18. The Chicago Blackhawks aren't playoff bound, but they are traditionally a big draw in the Phoenix metro are and will play at Gila River Arena April 20. The St. Louis Blues, bound for postseason, and the Nashville Predators finish things up; the Predators are currently a wild card team.

Nashville will be the last visiting team at Gila River Arena.

"You want to be a proud team and a proud organization and fight every game and make it really tough on your opponent," Tourigny said. "We know we won't be in the playoffs, but at the same time we want to find the same urgency, the same determination, the same pride."

The promotions

—On April 18, those who came to the April 1 game expecting to pick up a Coyotes hat designed by a local artist, Lucinda “La Morena,” can get their hats in person if they selected that option.

—It’s Marvel Night and the Chychrun (as Thor) bobblehead will be a hot giveaway item on April 22 against the Capitals.

—April 23 is another hat giveaway, as artist Stormy Nesbit’s tribute to the Black community is planned.

—And on April 29, it’s Fan Appreciation Night and the farewell to Gila River Arena.

Get in touch with Jose Romero at Jose.Romero@gannett.com. Find him on Twitter at @RomeroJoseM.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Coyotes still have something to play for as end in Glendale nears