30 Teams in 30 Days: Phoenix Coyotes

Posted by Adam in Columns,Phoenix Coyotes,Season Previews on September 24, 2008 — 5 Comments

The Coyotes will once again enter this season with aspirations of qualifying for the post-season, a feat that they have yet to accomplish under head coach Wayne Gretzky. After some retooling during the offseason through free-agency, trades and the draft, the Coyotes now possess a very talented mix of youth and veterans up front. More importantly, they have a legitimate starting goaltender to start the season, which they have not been able to claim since the days of Nikolai Khabibulin. The Coyotes certainly have a bright future, but you may not even have to look past this season to see their potential. While they likely won’t be competing for a division title, with another year of coaching under his belt, Gretzky will certainly ensure that his team will be prepared to play every game and slipping into one of the final playoff spots in the West is a real possibility for the former Jets.

Forwards
Don Maloney has assembled arguably the most talented group of forwards the team has had since they moved to Phoenix and with only 2 of the team’s forwards over the age of 30 (Reinprecht, 32 and Doan, 31), there are plenty of reasons to be excited about this franchise. Gretzky also loves to work closely with young players, so he will certainly help this team reach their potential.

Gretzky will have the luxury of rolling three lines that he can rely on to provide some offensive power. 20 year old Peter Mueller, who enjoyed a breakout sophomore season last year with 54 points, will look to rekindle the chemistry he displayed last season with Shane Doan. Newly acquired, Olli Jokinen will be the team’s top centreman and he will alleviate the scoring pressure off the younger players.

The team’s “third” line will feature two rookies the team hopes to build around. The 2006 2nd overall pick, Kyle Turris, has been centering a ling during the preseason with Danish rookie, Mikkel Boedker and newly acquired Todd Fedoruk as his wingers. Fedoruk’s toughness and feisty play should open up the ice for Turris and Boedker and with their natural ability to find the back of the net, this line will cause troubles for opposing coaches looking to match their defensive pairings.

Martin Hanzal can also play centre and he will look to build upon a very successful, yet under the radar, rookie campaign. Dan Carcillo is a very energetic player that plays a similar in-your-face style of hockey to Sean Avery, although he is not as skilled.

Gretzky will also be able to rely on Fedoruk and fellow tough guy, Brian McGratton, to make sure the younger players are protected.

Defense
The Coyotes gave up two dependable defensemen in Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton when they traded for Jokinen on draft day. David Hale and Kurt Sauer were both signed during the offseason to fill their spots on D, however, few would consider them to be replacements for Ballard and Boynton. Hale and Sauer are both stay-at-home defencemen and will provide a physical presence on the blueline.

Veteran Ed Jovanovski will be relied on even more this year to play substantial minutes in all situations, particularly on the power play. The Coyotes are hoping that he can duplicate his success from last season where he played 80 games and amassed 51 points.

Derrik Morris, Zbynek Michalek and either Matt Jones or Keith Yandle will likely round out a weak defensive corp. Fans better hope that Gretzky can get enough offense out of his forwards.

Goal
Ilya Bryzgalov welcomed the mid-season trade to Phoenix last year, because he was tired of playing behind Giguere in Anaheim. Bryzgalov certainly proved his worth as a starting goaltender in the NHL as he picked up 26 wins and posted a 2.43 GAA for the Coyotes. Bryzgalov will likely improve on those stats this year as he enters an NHL campaign for the first time as the undisputed starting goaltender.

Prediction
Ceiling: 7th in the West
Floor: 12th in the West

Bob Roberts

I also really liked what I saw from Winnick in a rookie season last year, and have been impressed with Tikhonov so far.

The D is a question for sure, but in his short first season in a Coyote uniform last year Bryzgalov seemed to be a real catalyst for team enthusiasm while proving himself as a #1 goaltender (steal of the waiver wire this century so far?). Teams really like to play hard for a goalie like him. He reminds me a lot of Grant Fuhr.

This team is a definite candidate to be the biggest surprise of the season. Everyone is saying they’re looking good for the future with all their young guys, but could the future be now?

They’re a team that could really scare a lot of people in the playoffs — a lot of really talented young guys, some top established players, a hot goalie…
Mikos

Is this 2008/09 or early 1990′s?? Every year the Jets and now Coyote’s were/are supposed to do something shocking (like make it past the 2nd round) and every year since the WHA days they’ve continued to let down their fans. While I hope for Wayne G’s sake they can do something soon, the history of this franchise suggests that it will likely continue to disappoint. A very glass half empty approach but with this team not a bad approach to take.
Bob Roberts

So where are the “half full” observations there, Mikos?

Sure you’re not confusing being negative with being critical?

Granted, it is easier to point out one of the just under 90% of teams which don’t play in the third round each year.

Really looking forward to your comments on the Sharks tomorrow.

You do know how many times they’ve made it past the second round since the 1990′s, right? (Hint: SJ is much better in this category than the Coyotes: they lead Phoenix 1 – 0 here.)

Of course, the Sharks have either lost in the first round or missed the playoffs altogether 50% of the time.

And it is true they have lost 87% of the second round series they’ve played.

So, your history suggests that tomorrow you’ll adopt a very glass half empty approach in your comments on the Sharks, but with that team not a bad approach to take.

Right?
Mikos

So far you’ve based your assessment of my “negativity” on comments directed towards Phoenix. You state that this is some sort of representative history of my feelings towards most NHL teams. Not very scientific.

Having lived in Winnipeg and supported the Jets I think my scepticism is fair. Yes clearly my antipathy towards Phoenix is based on resentment for the Jets leaving. But ask any Nordiques, North Stars, Whalers and Rockies fans and I’m sure most have this same level of dislike for their former teams. (Trivia Question: What’s the major difference between the Jets & all these teams? All won a Stanley Cup).

Now to be completely forthcoming I haven’t given this years Phoenix team a complete assessment, which is why I said in my post that this was based on history not the present team. From what I saw at last night’s game they didn’t look too bad.
Bob Roberts

Hmmm…

Looking for the term “negativity”…it must be there…nope, don’t see it. Clearly that’s the term that comes to your mind, though…

Poking fun at you with the use of some sarcasm, sure.

But based on 100% of your comments regarding Phoenix and its lack of advancement to the third round of the Stanley Cup playoffs since the “…early 1990′s…” as expressed in response to Illegal Curve articles, it looks pretty much likely that expecting “…a very glass half empty approach in your comments on the Sharks…” is reasonable.

The observation is based upon and is in response to “Mikos September 24, 2008 at 2:57 pm” beginning with “Is this 2008/09 or early 1990′s??…” and concluding with “…approach to take.”

What else could it possibly be based upon?

Using 100% of the information available is “not very scientific”?

Given the parameter you set of “…early 1990s…”, and the Sharks starting play in the 1991-2 season, how could it be more valid?

But a tremendous hole there where the Sharks have made it to the third round once — no, wait a minute: Sharks to the third round once, Jets/Coyotes to the third round never — 1 to 0 is a pretty close comparison isn’t it?

The fact that the next team profiled after the Coyotes was San Jose was pure happenstance, it’s true, but given the time frame you chose and your single comment to respond to, where is it “…not very scientific…”?

And how did it you get to “…most NHL teams…?” It clearly says “…on the Sharks, …with that team…”, doesn’t it? Where are the others? How many is “…most…”, anyway — 16 or more?

Had your first comment began with “Having lived in Winnipeg and supported the Jets…” , “…clearly my antipathy towards Phoenix is based on resentment…” no reply would have been forthcoming. Why bother? But where was that? Oh, in the second post. Not visible at the time, then?

Not very scientific, basing observations on “resentment” and “antipathy”, eh?

Scientific observation is based on objectivity, you know.

Also, when you comment on former “…Nordiques, North Stars, Whalers and Rockies fans…”, how can you be “…sure most have the same level of dislike for their former teams…” as you have for the Coyotes? Can you say “sweeping generalization”?

Man, that’s four times what, conservatively, thousands or even tens of thousands of fans? And you are “…sure most…” have an attitude like yours? By “most”, you’re meaning more than half, right? Scientifically speaking?

Maybe another time you could consider employing a phrase like “and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if” in place of “…I’m sure…”?

By the way, “scepticism” means “a questioning attitude or state of mind”; not displaying “resentment” or “antpathy”.

Critical, eh, not negative?

Good try, though, slipping in the “Now to be completely forthcoming…” bit at the last there. Sounds so reasonable and honest, doesn’t it?

Trouble is, it means none of the preceeding in either of your responses had that quality, eh? Hence the use of the word “Now…”?

Why not start by being “…completely forthcoming…”?

By the way, is “…they didn’t look too bad.” the best you can do? Wow, don’t go overboard there!

I thought that dinger off the iron by Turris was a wicked shot and an incredibly fast release especially for a kid who just turned 19 in August, didn’t you?

Maybe Gretzky knew what he was doing going out on a limb and picking him 3rd overall against the advice of so many (NHL Central Scouting, for example). We’ll see. Maybe Wayne has some wisdom about other topics related to the NHL, too.

And that Lisin showed us some skill, eh? Will he develop into a complete player? Time will tell, but then that’s why we watch, isn’t it?

Doan is as primo as ever — what a puck control clinic he put on there. Nice play on that goal as well. (Was that Phaneuf he frustrated on that rag?)

Hey, if you want to dwell on the past and be bitter, fine; but why not be optimistic and say Phoenix is “…a team that could really scare a lot of people in the playoffs…”?

Isn’t that the reason to follow hockey; to see what will happen?

Maybe an idea though to 86 that resentment and enjoy the fine hockey you can see even in exhibition games. Be a HOCKEY fan, not a “the Jets personally did me down” guy. Let it go. How long ago was that? Life’s too short.

Pick a new team and cheer for it. Maybe it won’t win it all. Maybe it will.

Savour the game.