GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) The Arizona Coyotes knew it would be a difficult season after jettisoning players and contracts for future draft picks. Goals were hard to come by, hard to stop at the other end and losses piled up, often in stretches of five or more in a row.

The rebuilding led to one of the franchise's worst seasons since relocating from Winnipeg to the Valley of the Sun, but there were just enough bright spots to believe a solid foundation has been set for the future.

"Obviously, it's a rebuild for a reason and I think a lot of guys took steps forward not only on the ice but off the ice," said Shayne Gostisbehere, who had 14 goals his first season with Arizona. "Leadership qualities and learning a lot about themselves as players. We've got a lot of young guys who got a lot of opportunity, maybe they don't get that somewhere else."