Tuesday, March 10, 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
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.
Friday, March 6, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
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!
- 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!
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