Paola Boivin

azcentral sports

Did you hear that? It’s the sound of opportunity knocking on the Coyotes’ Plexiglas.

Carpe Domi. Seize the day.

A franchise that has advanced past the first round of the NHL playoffs just once in two decades has a chance to change the narrative. With details of a location for a new facility close to breaking and a young lineup that could be the core of a successful team in the long haul, a patient fan base says respectively: Don’t screw it up.

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The team is 5-7 but winners of three of its last four heading into Thursday’s visit from the Winnipeg Jets. Injuries, an infusion of youth wreaking havoc on the defense and a slow start by some of its offensive stars have clouded the promise of this team. It’s there, and for the first time in a while, the franchise has a blueprint worthy of our attention.

A key is the finalization of a new arena deal. The organization is deep in talks with Arizona State about the land at Karsten Golf Course which would house a joint facility. ASU -- which launched a Division I hockey program last season -- will not comment and the Coyotes, out of respect for ASU, have been quiet, other than president and CEO Anthony LeBlanc’s proclamation at the team’s kickoff luncheon last month that he would have information soon.

A new facility in Tempe would be an important boost for the organization. The location is better, near the intersection of the 101 and 202 freeways, and accessible by light rail.

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An organization long plagued by relocation rumors and unsatisfying arena deals would benefit from a more fan-friendly location.

It is a good time to turn the corner.

The national perception of the Valley as a hockey community improved when Scottsdale’s Auston Matthews was the top pick in this year’s draft. He is an elite talent – scoring four goals in his NHL debut – and has said the Coyotes’ Shane Doan was one of his favorite players growing up.

He has enhanced the area’s hockey street cred.

Next season, the league will add a team in Las Vegas, which will unveil its name and logo in two weeks, bringing more attention to hockey in the Southwest.

Winning is the next important step.

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How appropriate that Thursday’s opponent is Winnipeg. The original Jets became the Coyotes 20 years ago, and there was genuine enthusiasm in the community with personalities like Jeremy Roenick, Keith Tkachuk and yes, Doan was on that team. (The current Jets are products of a different franchise.)

In that postseason, the team introduced fans to a White Out. They beat Anaheim 4-1 in Game 3 of the Western Conference quarterfinals. It was rowdy. It was fun. And it set an exciting tone.

A tone that lost its mojo quickly.

The Coyotes advanced to the playoffs five of their first six seasons here before a drought of six years. A promising stretch from 2009 to ’12, highlighted by a 2012 Western Conference finals meeting with the Kings, was followed by four consecutive seasons of no playoffs.

Those fun times are distant memories.

Fans can handle another inconsistent season if it’s the start of something better. The Coyotes have spent the past few years stockpiling young talent, including five rookies on the team this season, ranging in ages from 18 to 21.

Jakob Chychrun, the youngest, has excelled at defenseman. The team astutely traded up four spots to secure him with the No. 16 pick, a move many in hockey are now applauding.

Lawson Crouse, 19, Christian Dvorak, 20, and Laurent Dauphin, 21, have displayed promise at a time when the Coyotes’ young stars from last season are beginning to step up, including Max Domi, who had a goal and two assists in Wednesday’s 4-2 victory over Colorado, a game coach Dave Tippett believed was the closest to a complete one the team has had.

It was very much a game that displayed the team’s youth.

Goalie Louis Domingue, 24, posted 25 saves. Defenseman Anthony DeAngelo, 21, scored in his NHL debut and forward Jordan Martinook, 24, scored a pair.

Not having goalie Mike Smith, forward Martin Hanzal and defenseman Michael Stone healthy have hurt, but giving the young players time may pay off in the long run.

Smith, who sustained a lower-body injury on Oct. 18, has played only two games but could return to the lineup next week.

This season has a lot of question marks.

Can the youngest general manager in NHL history, 27-year-old John Chayka, deliver?

And can fans be patient with a talented but inexperienced group of young players?

If they develop, and team continues to show vision, including securing a new arena, the answer is a resounding “yes.”

Reach Paola Boivin at paola.boivin@arizonarepublic.com and on Twitter at Twitter.com/PaolaBoivin. Listen to her streaming live on “The Brad Cesmat Show” on sports360az.com every Monday at 10:30 a.m.