Soon To Come

New updates on the off-season moves and potential moves to come before training camp.

Three Ways To Improve

The Phoenix Coyotes have a lot of work to do to become a Stanley Cup contender. No one in the hockey world is knocking the young talent in the organization, but this team will need more than youth to get to the playoffs next season. With a new owner set to be in place for next season, it is time for management to surround the youth with a few talented veterans. The youth has developed nicely in the last two seasons, and the Coyotes have added some players ready to have career seasons. All this stacked with a talented, and experienced goaltender will always make the Coyotes an exciting team. But times are tough in the desert for hockey and exciting may not cut it anymore. This organization and sport needs a winner in the Arizona area. Let’s be honest, the fans need to see a winner! Well with some limited moves, and money to spend this team will be looking very strong come September camp.
It appears that the Coyotes have built the depth down the middle in Lombardi, Turris and Hanzal. I personally would like to see Turris move to the wing like Mueller did, but I can live with them sticking with the same lineup. The one key thing missing out of the top 6 forwards is a pure goal scorer. The Coyotes are not prone to spending the big bucks on a top free agent, but I think Mr. Gaborik is a unique case. Gaborik has always been a tremendous talent, but has struggled with staying healthy at times. It seems to be almost certain that Gaborik will be leaving Minnesota this summer, and what better place to go than warm Phoenix. He is coming off a season that he missed the first half of the season and then some. It could be a chance for the Coyotes to give him a nice one or two year deal with incentives to regain his reliable star status. Now Gaborik will still not come cheap but the Coyotes have the room to spend some money, and drop 7 to 7.5 for Gaborik. Gaborik would compliment the young centers, and take the focus off some players who are waiting for a break out season, not to mention a pure finisher to pass the puck.
The next two moves will be on the defensive front. The first is something that has been brought up in the media recently. Signing back veteran leader Derek Morris will be a huge bolt to this defense in the off season. We all know what Morris brings out their on the ice, and more importantly what he brings to the Coyotes. The team could use him back with Jovo on the top pairing, and provide some much needed depth. Now Morris will command close to 5 million, which again the Coyotes should be able to spare. With a potential Morris signing, the top two pairings will be intact. Now it seems that Yandle has done enough this year to take up the full time spot on the third pairing, but his partner is needed. If the Coyotes can fall to a top two pick, drafting Hedman would be the smart choice. Hedman is ready to play in the NHL and provide some size and offensive skill. He would be a welcome addition to any team’s third pairing. Paired with Yandle, Hedman can have a chance to play an offensive role and a stay at home role because Yandle also likes to jump into the play. Obviously there is no guarantee that the Coyotes will get the 2nd pick in the draft, so I think it would be fine to re-sign Ken Klee to help further bring along Yandle on that third pairing. Having Klee will provide depth and veteran leadership all while having Hale to spare any defenseman when needed.
The Coyotes are closer than everyone thinks to a playoff birth and these 3 small moves would allow them the depth to make a strong run past the first round. Of course even after these 3 moves, the team still has some weaknesses and over flow of players. But the main basis for the off season should focus on these holes first then move on to the other depth moves.

Chemistry Much?

Could it be Don Maloney has found his top line center and winger? Lombardi and Upshall have impressed since joining the Coyotes in early March at the trade deadline. Upshall has been knocked up and down the lines playing with different center men, but has been playing very well. Lombardi has been helping out a great deal in the face off circle, but has taken some time to get going on the score sheet. Lombardi and Doan seemed to be the best fit since they played together in the past, but the chemistry of Lombardi and Upshall has been obvious from the very first game they were put on the same line. On Long Island against the Islanders, Upshall and Lombardi contributed the first goal of the game. Ever since that day, the chemistry has been obvious in practice and game days. I have not seen a Coyotes line click as well as they have against the Stars all year. These are two players with phenomenal speed, and a ton of potential. The analysts put it best, the Coyotes picked up players at the deadline who are coming into their prime. It seems that this is complimenting the youngsters very well. I give the veterans like Shane Doan some credit of late because its not easy losing ice time for experiments. Even with the lesser roles, Doan should surpass his career highs in goals. It seems like you can pencil in Lombardi and Upshall next year on the top two lines, and Doan will find his place up their obviously. Things are looking better for this core, and I will have my free agent predictions tomorrow.

Crowded Party

The Coyotes right now have 16 healthy forwards and 7 healthy defenseman on the roster. This team has had a few years to build up some nice young players, and trade for quality players. It appears that after the trade deadline, Don Maloney set the team up in a good cap situation with many players fighting for spots. The Coyotes, having a potential high draft pick, will have to decide this summer who is ready for the NHL and who is not. Right now the players looking to earn playing time and contracts next year are Lindstrom, Lisin, Winnik, Reinprecht, Prust, and Hale. All of these players seem to be in a rotation from here on out for the season.
Enver Lisin is a player that is too good for the AHL and needs a full season in the NHL to find out what he can do. Lisin has tremendous speed, and NHL hands. Lisin is a player that can create some scoring opportunities, and has a knack of scoring around the net. He is better off playing with a big forward who can create some space for Lisin. Lisin possesses a good sense around the net, but has not shown off a overly powerful shot at this point. Enver has had brief success in some of the stints with the Coyotes this year. It was surprising to see that Lisin did not open the season in the NHL, and when he got his first call he really thrived. Mentally, Lisin needs to know he is playing a full season and will have a chance to stick with the big club through the rough patches. Lindstrom had some early success with the Coyotes, but did not show that much after the first few weeks. It was a big mistake putting Lindstrom on the point for the power play; he just does not possess the power play skills. I see Lindstrom has a nice fourth liner with skill. It was a nice story trading for Lindstrom and seeing some success, but it is time they move forward and give the better prospects a chance. Lindstrom could be a nice addition in a package trade.
Steven Reinprecht is obviously playing for a contract next season, whether with the Coyotes or some other NHL team. Reinprecht has been a tremendous locker room presence and been the Coyotes best center at times this season. I think at this point Reinprecht just does not fit in with this team’s direction. He is a highly skilled center, that shows signs of greatness, but just is not the explosive center that the Coyotes need right now. The system has plenty of centers that have potential and will not cost much. Right now the best thing Reinprecht can do for himself is to be the great locker room veteran, and give NHL teams just another reason to bring him on their roster. Brandon Prust is a nice depth player for the Coyotes. The toughness that Prust brings to this team will be very valuable this season and next season. Prust will have every opportunity to step up and become the enforcer that the Coyotes need after trading Daniel Carcillo to Philadelphia. Prust needs to work on his defensive zone play, and breakout passing for him to really get on Gretzky’s good side.
Every team needs a solid third or fourth line player that can contribute in many aspects of the game. Daniel Winnik is a player that brings speed, intensity, toughness, and great penalty killing ability. No one is calling this player a star sniper, but he is the type of player every championship team needs to win in long playoff series. Winnik had a rough start to the season, spending time with San Antonio. Winnik has gotten an opportunity to play the majority of the last few months, and he is really running with it. Gretzky always changes the line combinations, and Winnik provides him a player that can play from the fourth line to the first line, while playing wing or center. He needs to polish his game down the stretch, and stay consistent. The combination of these two will provide him a roster spot next season. David Hale has made some big mistakes this season with turnovers, but has been able to stick up for his teammates and pitch in with some goals. I think Hale has a lot to work on for next season, but he is a tremendous 7th defenseman. Time will tell if he can slip in as a 6th defenseman, but nothing would surprise me.

Edmonton Game In Progress

Been a real solid game so far for the Coyotes. The one huge thing I can see from this game is the line combinations. Some guys are starting to play with some jump in their game and meshing well with their linemates. Lombardi is looking more and more comfortable in a Coyotes uniform. Mueller is having some tough luck this year, Roloson just robbed him on a hard pass from Upshall. Speaking of Upshall, he is such a shot of energy to every line he is on. Sauer is wearing the "A" with very good reason. I will have a few blogs coming this weekend finishing up the young players finishing up strong, free agency talk, and the Coyotes direction from here on out.

It's Mueller Time

This season has been a series of ups and downs for the talented forward, Peter Mueller. Besides a few injuries for Mueller, he has really struggled on the ice. Coming off a very impressive rookie year, Mueller is in the famed sophomore slump with only 12 goals. Throughout the season Mueller has shown signs of breaking out, but nothing consistent. This year will be a good learning lesson for Peter, but time will tell whether he actually learned anything.
At this point in the year, Mueller needs to settle down and find his comfort zone. Playing him on a top line, possibly back with Doan more consistently will give him the space he needs right now. Mueller needs to use his strong shot more and not think “pass first” all the time. Many times this year, Mueller would give up a shot to make the perfect pass. Like the rest of the Coyotes this season, one too many passes were made in offensive zone failures. Another confidence booster, and need for Mueller, is to man the point on the power play. This will allow Mueller to gain more confidence in that shot by forcing him to take shots at the point. Mueller is the type of player that can dominate one stat for a season. Last year I thought that Mueller would turn into a nice assist winger, the likes of Ales Hemsky. After the struggles this season, Mueller’s shot has been impressive despite the problems of hitting the net.
With a nice vote of confidence by coach Gretzky, Mueller should get a very good opportunity to finish the season strong. The real key is putting Mueller back with Doan, and letting him get to a comfort zone with Doan for the remainder of the season. Doan will take some of the focus off of Mueller, while making some room from his size. That is step one, then the confidence will lead to some nice power play points. I love the Turris, Mueller, Doan line but we all know that Gretzky does not like to keep lines together for long.

Predictions?

I figured it's almost time for the big dance in April, so what better than to make some predictions. We have some very good races in both Conferences, and some power houses at the top. I'll quickly list a few of my predictions, and put down your predictions!

Eastern Conference Champions - New Jersey Devils
Western Conference Champions - San Jose Sharks

Eastern Conference Odd Team Out/In - New York Rangers/Florida Panthers
Western Conference Odd Team Out/In - St. Louis Blues/Edmonton Oilers

Unexpected Eastern Conference Playoff Run - Carolina Hurricanes
Unexpected Western Conference Playoff Run - Columbus Blue Jackets

Lottery Winner - New York Islanders

He's Back! Game In Progress Coyotes 3 Sharks 1

What a game so far! As much as I hate to say it, where has this been? Your ruining that wonderful draft pick! Nevertheless this has been a great game for the Coyotes against a very tough, but struggling team. Shane Doan said after their last practice that things will be better, well so far so good Shane. This could get Turris and the power play going. These teams are playing like they do not like each other very much. With all this talk about the young players, a guy like Brian McGrattan is showing some real guts. Brian has gone through a lot this year in his personal life. He has made it all the way back to the NHL, and he certainly held his own with heavy weight Jody Shelley. I for one, hope to see him take on the enforcer role for the future. Enjoy the rest of the game!

Lucky 13

Well with just less than a month left in this season, it is time to break down what needs to be done. Yes, the playoffs are out of reach, but that doesn’t mean this team doesn’t have something to play for the rest of the way. From the recent poll, it is an important tryout for some players with these 13 games left. The most important thing to watch these coming games will be the amount of ice time Gretzky gives the young guns. With some potential big minutes coming for the younger players, it will give them a chance to cap off the season positively. In the next few days I will put some focus on the players that need to give the coaching staff reason to be excited going into the summer. The first player will be Kyle Turris.
The third overall pick has had a rough start to his NHL career. He has gone through some ups and downs very quickly this season. We all remember when Gretzky scratched him late before the Coyotes played Kyle’s hometown Vancouver Canucks. Turris got off to a get start this year scoring his first NHL goal in Anaheim, but a series of bad play developed into a minor league stint. Since returning to the team a few weeks ago, Kyle still has yet to find his game. It is time for Gretzky to put Turris with some of the big guys for the rest of the season. It would be good to have Turris play with some veterans and get some big minutes. There is no doubt that Turris has the skill to be a great NHL player, but he needs to understand the NHL level. For the remainder of the season Turris needs to show some more confidence with the puck in the offensive zone. A big part of Kyle’s game is his speed, and he needs to start using his speed to create more space for himself. With more ice time, and some veterans like Doan to play with, it will allow Kyle a chance to find these opportunities. Next year the team will be counting on someone to step up at center and play some key roles. Turris has the skill to take on some roles, but only if he shows improvement down the stretch to start.

Looking Forward to the Draft?

It is a depressing thing to talk about when the regular season isn’t over, but he NHL draft will not be held until late June, and it is probably the most important date for the Coyotes until next October. Once again the Coyotes find themselves in the thick of things with the NHL lottery. Despite having such a strong and promising first half of the season, the Coyotes will be battling with the bottom feeders for the rights to the John Tavares sweepstakes. Now I am not necessarily saying that Tavares will be the first overall pick, but all analysts seem to think so. I will be highlighting a few draft prospects that could fall to the Coyotes this June. It is safe to say that the Coyotes will have a top 10 draft pick, so I will be as realistic as possible with the players I choose to describe.
If the Coyotes fall down to get the top pick in the NHL draft or even the second pick, it may be smart to make the surprising pick. No, I am not being sarcastic, the surprising pick being Victor Hedman.
It is extremely tempting to think of John Tavares in a Coyotes uniform, but there are other things to think about besides the name on the back of the jersey. Tavares is a phenomenal player and will make the Coyotes second guess not picking him, but this team needs a rock at the blue liner for the future and present. It is nice having the likes of Jovo on your defense, but he makes many mistakes and is getting up their in age. Hedman has the size of an NHL defenseman and the skill to follow that. Despite Hedman’s mammoth size, he can skate very well. This guy has a mean streak, and the offensive talent of Lidstrom. This type of defenseman would add depth at this point, but fierce talent and strength in the future. He could be a worthy replacement to the losses of Keith Ballard and Derek Morris in consecutive years. The skating ability and ability to join the rush would give Gretzky some more flexibility in the offensive transition, and dare I say this will finally help the putrid Coyotes power play. Another big reason to draft this player is the fact that the Coyotes have spent a lot of time developing potential star forwards. The Coyotes need to spend the money in the offseason to take care of forwards to help bring along Turris, Mueller, Boedker, etc. Evening out the prospects in this lineup will further show the big picture, while competing for a playoff spot right now.
Working with the same philosophy, Jared Cowen is a nice young defenseman from the WHL. There is not as much drop off from Hedman as some scouts have said in the past. Cowan is another big boy at 6 feet 5 inches, weighing in at 218 pounds. Like Hedman, Cowan is a very mobile defenseman who is very solid all around in his game. Cowan would be a nice 3 to 5 pick, should the Coyotes fall to those spots. I know the defenseman talk can get a little boring so I’ll give you a few keepers at the forward position. Lets face it the Coyotes have a ton of young talent at the forward position, but unfortunately I do no see any 40 plus goal scorers in the crop. The Coyotes have their speed and playmaking up front for the future, but who will be the finisher for years to come? One can only hope that modern medicine will provide Doan 10 more years of play, but again only hope. When you look at the Coyotes, it’s hard not to just mentally check off talents needed to help this club. The top three issues that need to be addressed are toughness, physicality and scoring. These three attributes fall under one player in this draft more than any other player.
Named after the great boxer Evander Holyfield, Evander Kane brings all these aspects and then some. Kane has great hands, and brings the energy and toughness that any of the finesse Coyotes could use as a linemate. Not only would he compliment the other smaller forwards, but he would take some pressure off of players like Doan, and Jovanovski in the physical department. The top ten in this year’s draft have great talent, and Coyotes fans should be excited about June.

We Got One!!!

It’s only one point, but you have to start somewhere. The Coyotes played a very spirited game against a very good team. The Detroit Red Wings are a very powerful team, but the Coyotes managed to show some dominating points in this contest. It showed a lot of character come right back against the defending champs. Trading power play goals late in the game gave the Coyotes a chance to grab a much-needed point. Bryzgalov had another solid performance, clouded by a weak third period goal. Upshall played another up-tempo game, and had a few scoring chances. At several points in the game the Coyotes were able to open things up and connect on some nice passes to finally get out of the zone. I watched the game from the Detroit feed, and the announcers put what I have been saying for weeks now perfectly. When the defensemen are getting the puck out of the zone, it may not be pretty but use the boards. This team is prone to giving up the puck in the defensive zone, and it seems almost half the times the opposing team scores. Other than that point, the rest of the broadcast was awful. I never realized how cocky the Wings announcers are on their broadcast. They focused on how the Coyotes talked about making the playoffs all off-season, and now they are just looking to the future for the entire first period. Well no one else really did much winning tonight in the West, so the Coyotes live to play another day. Next up on the schedule will be the Devils at the Rock in Newark, New Jersey. I will again be making the trek to the arena to see the boys play. Have a good night!

The Future

Obviously the theme for the rest of the season is the future. This team has plenty of youthful talent, and it’s only a matter of time before we see it flourish or collapse. While it is important to develop this youth, it is more important to surround the youth with some proven NHL talent. This idea is easier said than done, and even harder when your team is going through ownership issues. Spending money wisely will be the key to the off season, as it is in all our lives these days. In the next few days I will highlight some potential free agents that could fit this team well. From the poll, it is pretty apparent the Coyotes need help on defense This is a team that has some depth, but still could use an NHL veteran in each position. One way the Coyotes have saved money by bringing talent to the team is the draft. Well there is a way to by pass the draft, and help the team with a young puck moving defenseman. The young man’s name is Matt Gilroy.
Matt Gilroy is a senior defenseman at Boston University. Because he is older, Matt is a complete free agent. Players like Matt tend to go under the radar, but let me fill you in on the Terrier captain and fellow Long Islander. Gilroy is a player that has battled through tough times on and off the ice. When Gilroy was searching for colleges, he was told by the BU coach to look elsewhere for hockey. Gilroy walked on his freshman year and hasn’t looked back. But off the ice Gilroy faced tragedy, as his brother passed away at a young age. Gilroy will always wear number 97 in his brother’s honor. After having solid sophomore and junior seasons, Gilroy was expected to leave for the NHL. In fact, his coach told him to go take the NHL offers. Well in the end the BU coach actually gave away Gilroy’s scholarship to another player in anticipation of Gilroy’s exit to the NHL. Matt came back because he felt things ended badly the year before.
This season BU is a team favored to win it all. Gilroy has 8 goals and 21 assists, having a phenomenal season. Gilroy brings a lot to the table for a potential suitor. Gilroy is a smart player, but his best asset is his skating ability. Gilroy can move quickly in the defensive zone, and then making a solid first pass. This is something the Coyotes desperately need from any of their defenseman. Gilroy is going to be tough to grab because every NHL team is going to be making an offer. This is where Maloney needs to shine and convince this young man that he will be able to play right away under Gretzky, while competing for a playoff spot. Phoenix is one of the few teams in the NHL that can offer Matt a chance to play with players his age, while having the playoffs a realistic goal. Gilroy would be a much cheaper option than the free agent market. Cheap is something we all know will open Maloney’s eyes. But in all seriousness, Matt Gilroy can become a solid puck moving defenseman in the desert and the Coyotes need this man for the present and future.

Tough Loss

This afternoon the Coyotes played an exciting, but frustrating game. The match up of the two bottom feeding teams ended up a fast paced contest. Goaltender Tordjman had his first NHL start. He played a good enough game to give the Coyotes a chance to win, but still showed some nerves. On the other side of the ice Yan Danis played a very steady game. But in the end it seemed the same old story for the struggling Coyotes.
The defensive pairing of Jovo and Kalinin was absolutely atrocious all day in their own end. The pairing was responsible for two goals in this contest. One glaring mistake was a fast break by the Islanders where Tordjman directed a juicy rebound in front of an open net. This was not any help, but Jovanovski followed his man without the puck, and then decided to pull up and stare at the shooter as the rebound passed him to Josh Bailey, the young Islanders player. The Islanders were very quick on the fore check, and the Coyotes defenseman had no time to make smart decisions. The toughest thing for this team, seems to be escaping the defensive zone with a crisp connecting pass. Once again, this problem turned into a huge momentum shift for the Islanders. The Coyotes squad is too fragile to give up one goal, not to mention three in one period. The Coyotes had a strong first period, moving the puck well and battling through. Although they came out of the first period with the games first goal, failing on a 5 on 3 power play took the wind out of their sails. As soon as one fluke goal was let in, the floodgates opened to three goals.
Despite another loss, the Coyotes had a few positives that came out of the game. Tordjam was able to get out the butterflies of his first NHL game, and can now begin his career. The Coyotes have had no luck whatsoever this past month. Today’s game was no different. The Coyotes seemed to have a goal late in the third period, but the refs decided it was not a legal goal. Although this was defeating, they picked themselves up and got one more goal to cut the lead to one. Things will come around with the hard work they have put in these few weeks. The line of Upshall, Prucha and Lombardi seems to have some nice chemistry. Upshall has been impressive in his three games as a member of the Coyotes. The two goals are nice, but the fact that he has a lot of energy and speed has brought stability to whatever line he is on. Upshall also has shown a little grit to his game, and has a knack for sticking up for his teammates.
After hearing Don Maloney’s comments of preparing the cap for next season, you would think he has a few free agents in mind for July. Defense is a position Maloney will look to address, but I think this off season is a crucial one for the future of the organization. The crop of free agents are deep this year, and the Coyotes need to grab at least four players that can contribute regularly to the squad in 09-10. I will be following up the game summary with these four to six players necessary for a white out in 09-10.

Good Bye Olli

Olli Jokinen and a 3rd Round Pick for Lombardi, Prust, and a 1st Round Pick

I had mixed feelings on this trade because of what the Coyotes had to give up for Jokinen. It would have been nice to see Jokinen ride it out for a year or two and become the star center they need. But I think the Coyotes did a good job of picking up some necessity in the trade while preparing for the future. The first round pick speaks for itself, but Prust and Lombardi bring different dimensions to the team. One common talent of the two is that they can win faceoffs better than anyone the Coyotes have right now. Obviously this will help late in games for a young, easy to break team.
Matthew Lombardi is the most developed piece coming back to the Coyotes in this trade. Lombardi is a player built on extreme speed. This is a common factor in most of the players that the Coyotes received on deadline day, but Lombardi has the best of the bunch. In Calgary, Lombardi has started to develop some playmaking skills. He started to rack up some pretty good assist totals. This is the player that will benefit greatly from Gretzky’s run and gun system to the fullest. In Calgary he was held back a bit, with the Coyotes he can emerge as a top line center. I see a lot of breakaway goals from Lombardi, and 50 plus assist years. I think that the obvious pairing is with Shane Doan because they have a bit of a history together. I think it will take a bit to get on the same page with each other, but could be dangerous next year.
Prust is going to be a spare for the rest of this season, but in the future he can be very usable. I see Prust for the near future playing a similar role to Mike Rupp with the New Jersey Devils. Prust will be called upon to play some 4th line minutes and to use his size to the fullest. The Coyotes lack some size, but with Prust in the lineup he could provide a consistent shift of help on the boards. Prust will play minutes with the 4th line players depending on the game. Knowing the way Gretzky changes lines, Prust may not want to get familiar with any two specific wingers.

Bottom Line: This trade was one that seemed to be necessary for the Coyotes budget. It makes sense for now and the future, but still hurts to see your first line center leave. But Lombardi will turn into a very solid second line center for the future. He will be on the top penalty kill and chip in on the power play. Prust will be a nice change of pace player to throw in the lineup here and there. These two players will provide excellent depth for the future, and hopefully pick up a top line center to make these two players that much more worth it.

Potential Man Crush

Daniel Carcillo for Scottie Upshall and a Second Round Draft Pick:

Carcillo really leaves everything he’s got on the ice and that is why it’s tough to see the positive in a trade that means Carcillo is leaving. The bottom line is that Carcillo could not control his temper on the ice and caused distractions. The skill and intensity that Carcillo brings to the ice is the reason the Coyotes could get a pretty good player and a pick for him. I wish Carcillo the best in Philadelphia, he will be a great fit to their style.

Out of all the moves today, this one player has the most potential to do something special in the desert. Upshall brings a lot of speed, physicality and skill to the Coyotes lineup. Scottie will fit Gretzky’s system very well and will contribute on special teams. The speed and vision that Upshall has will create many odd man rushes. He has a knack to go to the net and chip in some dirty goals in big spots. Upshall is approaching a turning point in his career, being traded for the second time. He has an opportunity to really take this team and self to the next level. With Upshall becoming a restricted free agent after this season, he will quickly have an opportunity to earn some more money. If he commits to the system and community there is no telling where his Coyote legacy will lead. Upshall would work well on a line with Mueller. Upshall could really find his scoring touch collaborating with a playmaker like Mueller. The thought of Mueller and Upshall using their speed in the offensive zone will bring a smile to the aging face of The Great One.

Bottom Line: Losing a character player like Carcillo will hurt right now, but Upshall’s up tempo play will earn the trust of Coyotes fans very quickly. This is a player to build around for the present and future teams. I think this could be the man that would replace Doan as the face of the organization in due time. My bold prediction is that Upshall will be a Coyote for life and have his jersey in the rafters one day.

The Dust Has Settled

What a day for the Coyotes! I did not expect this much movement from the team and I’m sure it is was a day of mixed feelings for Coyotes fans. It's hard for me to see Carcillo and Morris go, Jokinen never really settled as a true Coyote which made it little more upsetting seeing the man traded for Keith Ballard leave so quickly (As I wear my Jokinen t-shirt, how ironic). Here's what insight I've got to offer on today's events:

Derek Morris for Nigel Dawes, Petr Prucha, and Dmitri Kalinin:

We all knew what Morris brings to the table and also that he was going to be traded today. Being from the New York area, I have seen a lot of these Ranger players. The quantity brought in for a player destined to leave is the real success in this transaction. Kalinin is just a thrown in defenseman to help sew up the hold lost by Morris for the remainder of this season. Unlike Ken Klee, I think this veteran defenseman will not have a chance to earn a contract for next year.

Petr Prucha is someone to watch for the future. Prucha had an excellent rookie contest and fell out of favor with the Rangers coaching staff. Prucha is a highly skilled player that just needs some confidence built back into him through playing time that wasn't offered with the Rangers. Prucha is not a big man, but he does not shy away from going to the net and throwing the body around. With all the skill Prucha possesses, he completes it with a good deal of speed from the wing. Prucha in a sense reminds me a little of Lisin, both have great skill and just need playing time to polish up that skill. The real key to Prucha is that he knows the Coyotes want him and that he will receive the playing time. This should go a long way in building back his confidence to the point where he returns to his rookie year form, I hope. I think that putting Prucha on the opposite wing with Shane Doan will give him a chance to play up with his skill level. Doan will create some better scoring chances for Prucha, while opening up the ice. I am tired of seeing Lindstrom play big minutes with the captain, he doesn’t have the skill or the smarts to compliment Doan.

Nigel Dawes is a real talent for the Coyotes. Dawes had some decent production in limited minutes with the Rangers the last two seasons. He has a knack for scoring in the shoot out as well. Dawes also has some good speed and on top of that he can be a 30-30 guy. Dawes has the skills to be a successful playmaking winger. His best ability is creating some space for himself and dishing to his teammates. He has a good eye for getting into scoring positions, and will thrive with more minutes. Dawes has been brought along slowly but in a good winning environment. Dawes will bring a little playoff experience to the fellow youngsters, and understand what it takes to get to that point. Dawes could work well with the Hanzal and Boedker line. He could bring a different aspect to the line combing playmaking skill with the speed and size of the line.

Bottom Line: Out of Prucha and Dawes, I see one of them taking the opportunity to the fullest. One of the players will truly thrive in the system and be a long time Coyote. Prucha could be the sniper needed for this group, and Dawes could be the all around playmaking forward. We'll just have to wait and see what the future holds.

Quick Predictions

As the trade deadline approaches, many names are being thrown around for potential trades. From the best of my knowledge, I will give you the most realistic destinations for the most realistic trade candidates. I personally think that a lot of the potential trades need other moves to happen first. You always hear this, but this deadline could be quiet if specific moves are not executed. My reasoning on this would be that next year’s salary cap could be lowered, and some teams are facing cap issues currently. Well I will most likely not have a chance to write another entry before the deadline, but I will be back later tomorrow to analyze the trades.

- Jokinen to the Calgary Flames
- Morris to the Capitals
- Guerin and Weight to the Canadians
- Giguere to the Red Wings
- Bouwmeester to the Rangers
- Gaborik to the Maple Leafs
- Recchi to the Oilers or Hurricanes
- Frolov to the Penguins
- Moore to the Predators
- Spezza to the Devils or Jackets

Have a happy deadline day!

Much Needed Turris Back

Don’t get me wrong, I am all for a slow development of an important player. In the case of Kyle Turris, if you took the effort to sign him and let him play the season then let him play the full season. This season is turning into a good lesson for the youngsters. Much hope surrounded this team after the prior season’s success and the Jokinen trade. But after a hot start to the season, this team has plummeted to second to last in the conference. Despite the disappointment, I think this will be a good season for this group of youngsters.
Peter Mueller had a phenomenal rookie season, but has struggled through his second year of play. In the end Mueller is going to understand more from this year than he did in his first season. Kyle Turris has gone through some struggles since entering the NHL, but success is right around the corner. Turris is a small player in stature, but he can take a hit and come right back to join the rush. Turris has the talent to help this club right now and in the future, whether Gretzky likes it or not. I think in the end, a similar move to Mueller’s swap to the wing last year will do Turris well. This organization needs to find some better centermen for their young forwards. With the speed and passing skills that Turris possesses, he can do some damage from the wing.
This organization needs to realize that the trend of the Western Conference is no longer soft, speedy winning teams. Teams like the Ducks, Sharks, Flames, and Red Wings have built their teams with some big boys. More importantly these big players are playing big roles on the top two lines. It is painfully obvious that as soon as the current Coyotes get a puck deep in the offensive zone, it is only a matter of time before they are over powered and taken from the puck. This team lacks a big force that can keep the puck on the boards and make a smart pass. Skilled passers like Turris need to be able to have some room on the ice to be creative. Turris needs to be moved from center to wing to improve his progress. Until Turris can match up physically with the rest of the NHL, give the kid a chance to show his true talents on the wing. The one problem will be finding a center that can play a responsible center position along side Turris.
I think a main target for the Coyotes this summer would be Nik Antropov. Antropov is a big center that is just starting to find his game. He can be a powerful force in the offensive zone, and combined with Hanzal create some real size on the top 2 lines. Another center that could fill an important 3rd or 4th line role next year would be John Madden. Madden has the experience of winning and can play in many situations whether penalty kill or late game situations. He would also be a huge help in the faceoff circle to a team which ranks in the bottom of face off categories. Surrounding the young wingers with a responsible center like Madden could enhance development while winning some tight hockey games. If these two centers do not work out, it would be nice to add some size on the wing with a veteran 30 goal scorer like Mike Knuble. Knuble would compliment either Mueller or Turris on the opposite wing, punching in crisp passes for points all around. These men are not the class of the upcoming free agent market, so spending money wisely is a necessity this offseason.

24

It’s getting close to 24 hours until the NHL trade deadline on Wednesday at 3 Eastern. Unfortunately the only news right now for the Coyotes is selling some veterans. Some hot rumors about Jokinen and Morris possibly moving together in a trade have been recently reported. The Coyotes are going to be on their way to a long Eastern road trip in a few days. There is no doubt the team will have a different look before the pregame skate against the Bruins on Thursday.
The Coyotes seem to be working hard at shipping off Morris to an acceptable place. This is going to be tougher than expected. Morris, a native of Alberta, would like to stay in the West for the remainder of this season. Unfortunately the hot takers are coming from the Eastern Conference. I am sure right now the Coyotes are juggling convincing Morris to accept the East, while making the right deal for themselves. This is going to be a sensitive situation considering the Coyotes do not want to irritate Morris before attempting to sign him in the off season. Personally, I think Morris needs to man up here and either help his team from stopping the inevitable plunge out of the playoff race, or agree to go to the East for a mater of three or four months. I think that the possibility of packaging Morris and Jokinen could bring back more talent then trading the two separately, but at this point I think the better fit for Morris is not the best fit for Jokinen. The Coyotes should wait until deadline day and see if the interested teams become desperate. Morris sitting out right now puts the Coyotes in a situation where the Morris suitors have all the cards. Waiting longer might also give them an opportunity to either convince Morris to head East, or to create a deal with a more desperate Western team such as Columbus or even Vancouver depending on trades they make in the mean time. Both teams have stated that they are buyers and are going hard for the playoffs this year.
Now for a little talk from around the league. With the league hosting only one game this evening, I am sure all the general managers phones will be busy. I would anticipate a trade or two this evening. Even as I am writing this blog, the Devils have just completed a deal with Atlanta for Havelid. I think that Ryan Smyth might be heading back to Alberta as soon as…tonight. If a trade were to happen tonight, my money is on Mr. Burke in Toronto shipping someone out. One interesting thing in tonight’s game, besides the fact Guerin is sitting out again, is that the Islanders called up a prospect who they have said in the past is not ready for the NHL. Joensuu is a very promising young prospect for the Islanders. He’s a nice power forward, who needs to fill out a bit before any consistent NHL time. Joensuu is in his first pro year with the Isles and got off to a hot start in Bridgeport of the AHL. He is at least a year away, and with just less than 20 games left in the season I am sure the Islanders could have found a different Bridgeport player to replace Guerin. I know from inside sources with the Islanders that they think a lot of Joensuu, and if he is up it is an audition for another team. This being said, if he is up for an audition, the Islanders must be getting something good coming back. My last hit from around the NHL is that with Sean Avery possibly returning to the Rangers this week, look for some movement from them. They most likely will be trading a useful forward to bring in a skill forward combining with the “grit” of Sean Avery. Good luck with that Mr. Sather.
I am off to the Islanders game, keep checking for updates after the game. I am sure there will be some news to talk about aside from a win or loss.

Quick Hit

It’s ridiculously early, but I felt the need to write something quickly on the buzzing trade rumors. Last night I wrote about the possibility of a Montreal connection with Guerin and Morris. This morning it is apparent that the Guerin deal is going to take a bit longer than expected. This leads me to believe that the player coming to the Islanders is someone that the Islanders are trying to re-sign long term before the deal is completed. Mike Kimisarek from the Montreal Canadians is a possibility. He's a Long Island native, unrestricted free agent and the Islanders covet him. I could see the Canadians turning around and acquiring Derek Morris for what will most likely be picks or prospects. The one wild card move for the Coyotes could be Chris Higgins. He's a well rounded, young center that could help the team now and in the future. Stay tuned for more as things start to move.

A True Team Player

What more can you say about the main stay on defense for the Coyotes? Derek Morris has been the definition of consistent since joining Phoenix in the 2003-04 season. Morris has given the team grit and both defensive and offensive play when needed. Not many players come around with the style of game Morris brings. He was an excellent acquisition and a tremendous assistant captain for the duration of his stay. For these reasons, I'm writing with a heavy heart, which I'm sure all Coyotes fans have been feeling as of late.

Tonight's game began poorly in the locker room and finished worse on the ice. Derek Morris was pulled from the starting lineup minutes before game time. Although it was a shock, I think all fans knew what this meant. The end of a chapter in Coyotes history. The team has been facing some up-hill battles as of late and this one could be the toughest. The players had to play a crucial home game before a long road trip all while knowing a fellow mate will not join them. Although no announcement has been made, Derek Morris will be traded by tomorrow morning. To where? Only speculation at this point.

Morris has been rumored to many teams, especially from the Eastern Conference. With his contract up after this season, the Coyotes have to make a tough decision before the March 4th trade deadline. They could risk losing Morris for nothing in free agency or they could get something in return for him. Times are tough with the Coyotes and it appears that all they can offer Morris is a one-year contract. This is an insult to a player that has developed into a go to guy on defense. Although Ed Jo brings the offensive flash, Morris is the back bone to this defensive corp. Morris would like to stay in Phoenix, but who knows what the state of the Coyotes ownership will be come July. Picking up something for an unrestricted free agent makes sense, obviously, but if there is intent on a re-sign in July the trade can look perfect come next season. Time will tell.

Some may have already heard that that this evening another player has been a mysterious healthy scratch. Bill Guerin of the New York Islanders missed tonight’s game against the Buffalo Sabres and is rumored to be traded as well. Something seems to be holding up these two trades from being completed. Guerin seems to be headed to a team in the Northeast, and Morris has been pursued by plenty of teams in the Northeast area. For both players to be healthy scratches on the same night leads me to believe they are connected in some way. Cap space could definitely be an issue for these two players to wind up on the same team. A few teams come to mind for destinations of both players.

The New York Rangers are desperately in need of some character and a defenseman. Morris and Guerin are both known for character and obviously Morris brings top defense to any club. I believe that Guerin to the Rangers could be on hold because of the specifics of a Morris trade to clear up some final cap questions. The Rangers could be sending a player with a decent contract to either Phoenix or Long Island. Possible players on the way out of the Garden could be Gomez, Prucha, or Rozsival.

Another team that would make sense to be involved is Montreal. This is a team desperate to win this year with the 100th anniversary celebration. The fact that they already landed a good offensive defenseman in Schneider may take them out of the Morris sweepstakes. Montreal is looking for some scoring depth which can be found in Guerin and could offer up potential free agent and Long Island native Chris Higgins. Montreal is a more likely destination for Guerin, but at this point nothing would surprise me.

One more wild card team that could be in the running is the Washington Capitals, looking to sure up some holes with veterans to make a serious cup run. Morris could hand Mike Green some backup on D in our nations capital and Guerin would provide scoring depth on the wing. The Capitals have strong prospects at the AHL level in Hershey and also at the NHL level. One hold up with the Caps could be dumping Nylander’s contract at this point.

No matter where Morris goes, he sure has provided some good memories in the desert. He’s made the city of Phoenix proud many nights on and off the rink, and I for one wish him the best on his travels. Hopefully his path will lead back to the rink at Jobing. With the way this team is headed on defense, we will need him for next year.