Bleacher Report - Articles by Chris Hoeler

Phoenix Coyotes Alive and Well at Halfway Mark

Chris Hoeler — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 04:32:19 -0500

First of all, I hope everyone had a very Happy New Year. Looking forward to a better year in 2009.

Teams are approaching the halfway point of their seasons this upcoming week and mid-season grades will be out from almost every media outlet that covers hockey. Let's take a look at the Phoenix Coyotes.

At the beginning of the season, anyone looking at the Coyotes roster would never have believed they would be in the position they are today, myself included.

They boasted a very young core up front with rookies such as Kyle Turris, Mikkel Boedker, Viktor Tikhonov, and Kevin Porter who were all expected to be sources of offense for the Coyotes along with another young forward, Enver Lisin, who is in his first full season.

Sophomores Peter Mueller and Martin Hanzal were expected to improve on the offensive outputs of their rookie seasons. Throw in veterans Shane Doan, Steven Reinprecht, and new comer Olli Jokinen and this was a team relying on young players contributing early.

The defense was seen as a weakness as Nick Boynton and Keith Ballard had departed to Florida. Ed Jovanovski and Derek Morris led a group of defensemen who had no big names with Kurt Sauer, Zbynek Michalek, Keith Yandle, and David Hale.

Ilya Bryzgalov was starting his first full year as a starter with veteran Mikael Tellqvist behind him.

However, this team finds itself tied with the Anaheim Ducks for sixth in the conference with 43 points. How has this happened? A couple of things have gone right.

Captain Shane Doan is improving on his career year last year and is looking to be a point per game player this year. He has 38 points in 39 games so far this year and is on pace for 79 points. Probably the most underrated captain in the NHL, he is leading the Coyotes to a playoff birth and leading by example with hard play every night.

Zbynek Michalek has come out and is the most underrated defenseman in the NHL. He leads the league in blocked shots and has quietly become a reliable part of the shutdown pairing for the Coyotes along with Kurt Sauer. Having him step up this season is a huge asset to an organization starved for young defensemen.

Also on the defensive side of things, Martin Hanzal has shown he has more than offensive abilities. He has scored this year, but it is the big man's defensive play that has earned him respect from head coach Wayne Gretzky.

Being in a division with powerful centers like Joe Thornton, Ryan Getzlaf, Anze Kopitar, and others, the Coyotes had brought in Olli Jokinen to deal with them. However, Hanzal has shown he can hang with them and shut them down. His 20 points isn't exactly what the Coyotes wanted from him at this point offensively, but he is making up for it with his great two way play.

One more player on the offensive side of the puck has been Enver Lisin. The kid's speed is unbelievable, but he can also make plays. Speed is an asset, but it is only useful when it can be combined with skill and Lisin has certainly done that this year. His 12 points have come at critical times for the Coyotes and he will be relied on to score more. Being on a line with Olli Jokinen and Mikkel Boedker will play to his speedy game.

A couple of surprise acquisitions, such as Ken Klee and Joakim Lindstrom, have given the Coyotes more experience and depth to get through the long grueling NHL season.

Have all things gone right? Of course not.

Ilya Bryzgalov had a rough start to the year, Peter Mueller has been snake bitten lately, and financial troubles cloud the team's future in Glendale. Ed Jovanovski, called the most overpaid player in the NHL by The Hockey News, has not been the offensive defenseman the Coyotes need him to be...not to mention the fact he has been abysmal on the defensive side as well.

But it is a new year and these players will be looking to get things going. Jovanovski has gone back to the physical game that got him his nickname "Jovocop." Kyle Turris was predicted by some to be in the running for the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year. I am sure he would love to get in that race. Bryzgalov has started to find his form as well.

The Coyotes schedule is a tough one. Starting with their division, quite possibly the best in the NHL, they still have a tough time ahead. The Sharks and Ducks are always tough teams. Despite a bad start, the Stars have come alive and never make it easy for opponents while the LA Kings are always looking to make an upset happen. Throw in the Red Wings, Blackhawks, Canucks, Flames, and more and you have a very tough schedule. Oh yea, the Bruins are in there too.

What do the Coyotes need to do? They can't worry about what the score is. If they want to make the playoffs, either the young players are going to have to explode offensively or the team will have to out work their opponents and be physical. I am of the belief that they will need to do the second option because as much as I would love for players like Turris, Boedker, and Lisin to explode offensively, Gretzky and the Coyotes cannot rely on that.

They need veterans like Doan, Jokinen, Reinprecht, Jovanovski, and Morris to step it up along with Peter Mueller. Role players such as Lindstrom, Klee, Fedoruk, and Winnik will not necessarily be offensive dynamos, but need to have solid two way games and create energy for the team. Mikael Tellqvist has been solid thus far and will need to continue that in his spot starts throughout the year.

Will the Coyotes make the playoffs? It is still too early to tell, but they are on the right path. This is the most promising team that the Coyotes have had in a very long time. Stanley Cup to the desert this year? Probably not, but a playoff birth is certainly not out of the question.

NHL Quarterly Round Table

Chris Hoeler — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 10:42:52 -0500

This past week, I gathered some of the great hockey minds here at Bleacher Report for a little first quarter report. Thanks to Brett Bodner, Bryan Thiel, Derek Harmsworth, Miah D, and Greg Caggiano for participating.

Brett Bodner

My biggest surprise is the Boston Bruins. Coming into the season, no one expected this team to be good or even have a chance at making the playoffs. Now look at them, first place in the Eastern Conference.

My biggest disappointment is the Dallas Stars however. This team has way too much skill and talent to be dead last in the Western conference. It just doesn't make any sense.

My MVP would have to be Joe Thornton because of how much he's contributed to this San Jose Sharks team, who is 22-3-2. That record is unheard of and he's a big part of the reason why this team is that good.

The Vezina without a doubt would have to go to Henrik Lundqvist. He is very important to the New York Rangers and without him this Ranger team would not be in first place or even a contender.

I believe that the San Jose Sharks will win the Stanley Cup. They've had enough talent to do so over the past couple of years and I believe this is the year where it has all come together for them, and they will win the Cup.

My dark horse team is the Minnesota Wild. This team is having a lot of success and are under the radar. Backstrom has been outstanding and Mikko Koivu is having a great year. They've been very good over the years, so do not count out this team as a Stanley Cup contender.

I'm going to start with the biggest disappointment because this one is obvious: the Dallas Stars. So many people (including myself) had the Stars pegged as contenders in the Pacific Division (I had them winning it), but the season seems to have fallen apart.

Whether there's inner turmoil due to the Avery incident (and by incident I mean his Dallas career) or the horse-shoe wedged up Marty Turco's butt has suddenly gone rusty and he needs a tetanus shot, something needs to happen in Dallas to turn the Stars around.

I think the biggest surprise for a lot of people is Boston. The Bruins were bound to be competitive this season (I had a tough time placing them in my Eastern Conference preview) and players like Marc Savard and Milan Lucic are making people take notice of this team. Tim Thomas has also been a lot better than I expected him to be, but there's something people overlook: the play of the defense.

Think about this: the Boston Bruins have currently allowed the same amount of goals (56) on the season as Minnesota. Now that's defense.

Vezina and MVP are always tough because streaks can end and begin at any moment. If a player has a four-point night like Andrew Ladd did on Sunday, then all of the sudden he could jump from 15th to fifth in scoring. That being said, I think Marc Savard could really be a dark horse for the award if Boston stays hot.

People talk about the B's hurting after losing Joe Thornton, but replacing him with Marc Savard isn't exactly the worst thing in the world, especially given the way he's performed with some of those youngsters.

I'd also like to see it go to either Joe Thornton or Ryan Getzlaf get some consideration, but at the top right now it's Malkin, Ovechkin, and Crosby. My vote goes to Ovechkin.

The prospective Vezina winner is a crapshoot though. Tim Thomas again is having a monster season, so it'll be interesting to see if he can swipe a few more starts to boost his win totals, but keep his save percentage high, plus his goals-against low. Roberto Luongo's injury has eliminated him for now, but if he comes back hot (he's already leading in shutouts) and tears up the league, his name will be right back up there.

Nabokov has come back from injury and has been a wall, so he's my choice now. A guy to keep an eye on however is Nicklas Backstrom of Minnesota—I nearly killed Ken Armer when he dealt him to Greg Caggiano for Kari Lehtonen—seeing as it's a keeper league, I would've dealt him my first and second picks next year for Backstrom (Which brings up another question: Can we trade draft picks?).

My choice for the Cup winner remains the same though: the Detroit Red Wings. If it wasn't for Boston (who has an identical record to that of the Wings) and San Jose (who've lost all of three games in regulation and two in overtime) then the Wings would be the story.

A Dark Horse? Well, grab your black paint and hit the barn at about one in the morning because you aren't getting any darker than this: the Toronto Maple Leafs. With all that's happened lately, I don't even know if I'm kidding any more.

On a slightly more serious note, the Buffalo Sabres. And just for you, how about the Phoenix Coyotes Chris—two teams that I liked the look of in the preseason and I still like today.

Derek Harmsworth

Biggest Surprise: Boston Bruins

Now don't get me wrong, I knew Boston had something good going on, I even declared so in an article on Bleacher Report last spring. I simply couldn't have guessed that they would be out of the gate as hot as they are. The early success is doing wonders for their attendance in a very tough market, and they are my surprise of the season so far.

Biggest Disappointment: Dallas

While early in this season Ottawa is a close second, Dallas is by far the biggest disappointment in the NHL this year. While Sean Avery and his antics have grown stale on his teammates (come to think of it, they were never fresh with those guys were they?) it's hard to blame it all on Avery. He isn't the goaltender, and the Stars haven't gotten the effort they need from Turco, or the defense. With Avery gone, the Stars can forget about the circus and start playing some hockey. They better hurry.

MVP: Sidney Crosby

While I still maintain Ovechkin as the better all around player, Sidney Crosby is having a lights-out year. Despite missing time to injury, he is still second in points in the NHL, and has 16 powerplay goals. A close second (and a little off the board perhaps) has to be Shea Weber. This guy is appreciated, but not enough while somewhat hidden in Nashville.

Vezina Trophy: Tim Thomas

While traditional goalies who spend years refining their style may have just gagged, Tim Thomas has been nothing short of spectacular in Boston. Every time there is a challenge, be it in a game or in his career, Thomas has shown the resiliency to fight back, and become better than ever. He leads the league in GAA and is second by .1 in Save Percentage.

Stanley Cup Champions: San Jose Sharks

Having believed in the Sharks for a few years now (and being burned in playoff pools by my faith) I truly believe this is a team that can snatch the title from the Detroit Red Wings. They have no glaring weaknesses, and pun intended, they smell blood. They have something to prove and they look unstoppable early.

Dark Horse: Anaheim Ducks

With all their talent, and recent Stanley Cup, its hard to call them a dark horse, but I will anyway. not too many people are talking about the team from So-Cal, yet led by Getzlaf, Perry, and Giguere, this team looks like it has its swagger back, and as the season rolls on, I think they could really turn heads.

Miah D.

Biggest Surprise: Boston Bruins

The Bruins’s show during last year’s playoffs was just the appetizer for more to come. Despite a few injuries, the Bruins and Claude Julien showed great resistance to the Montreal Canadiens during the first round.

It is no surprise this year, with the return of Patrice Bergeron, the addition of Michael Ryder, the red hot Tim Thomas, and Marc Savard still keeping up with the amazing work that they look behind when watching the Eastern Conference. It shouldn’t be named a surprise though, it is more a logical continuing of events!

Biggest Disappointment:

The Dallas Stars have been dealing with injuries on their key players this season. Despite Mike Modano’s hard work, the team has a hard time finding a way through the Western Conference; while the San Jose Sharks are high in the Pacific division.

Marty Turco’s strange play hasn’t been a stranger to this situation either, with struggles to get a consistent wining streak; allowing three or more goals in 17 of his 25 games this year. And into those 17 games, he had eight games facing 25 shots or less.

MVP: Jarome Iginla

Into the top five pointers of the NHL, with 33 points, Captain Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames is leading in every way he can, both in goals and in assists. He now has at least a point in nine of his last 10 games; a sequence during which the Flames are 7-3-0. Could he be more inspiring?

Roberto Luongo might be a great candidate for the Vezina Trophy. Before his injury, Luongo made the headlines so many times for the Vancouver Canucks.

With only 39 goals allowed on more than 500 shots, the new Canucks Captain has been showing his leadership through his statistics. And should we add more on the 200 minutes (three games and one period) without allowing a goal? Simply wow!

The Stanley Cup

For a third year in a row, it looks like the ultimate prize will go to the Western Conference again, the San Jose Sharks. It looks like this might finally be their year!

Coming on top of the Pacific division for the second year in a row, with a great duo of goaltenders, they can get hotter than the conference semi-finals!

Dominating the league in goals per game, coming as the fifth best powerplay of the league, if they keep up, it might be interesting.

The Pittsburgh Penguins would be my other team to watch. Without some of their players, they still can run an amazing scoring machine; with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Will it be the year?

Greg

Biggest Surprise: New Jersey Devils. I only pick this team because after Martin Brodeur went down, many people felt the season was lost. Who expected that the tandem of Kevin Weekes and Scott Clemmensen could be propelling this team to where they are right now?

They both have played well when called upon, especially Clemmensen who has shown flashes of Brodeur. The offense has also gotten stronger with Elias and Parise coming through big. With Brian Rolston and Bobby Holik coming back from injury, they will only get stronger.

Biggest Disappointment: Dallas Stars. Who would have thought that virtually the same Dallas team from last season, a team that reached the conference finals, would be sitting in last place in the western conference? Marty Turco hasn't played well at all and offensive catalyst Mike Ribeiro has struggled. The Avery fiasco didn't help matters either as his gigantic contract will come back to bite the Stars. I'm just counting the days until Brett Hull is fired.

MVP: Evgeni Malkin. He continues to be Pittsburgh's dominant force while also outshining Sidney Crosby. The guy is intimidating and his shot is one of the deadliest in the league. Why doesn't he get more attention?

Vezina: Henrik Lundqvist. He leads the NHL in wins and is the sole reason why the Rangers are in first in the Atlantic division. The team plays awful in front of him on a nightly basis and he continues to keep them in the game.

Stanley Cup: Detroit Red Wings. Despite San Jose's phenomenal start, I believe the mighty Wings will win their second straight Cup victory. They have the same team as last year only with the addition of Marian Hossa who has played very well. As long as Osgood can stay healthy, the Cup is theirs.

Biggest Surprise: Some may be thinking I am going with the Bruins, but I am not surprised by their run right now. Last year I saw this team as a serious threat for the Eastern Conference crown. My biggest surprise so far has been the San Jose Sharks. While I did expect them to be a force in the Western Conference like they always are, to get off to the start they have is unpredictable.

Biggest Disappointment: For disappointment, I am going to go with the Oilers. Sam Gagner has had an absolutely miserable second season so far. The Oilers defense has a few names that can be huge offensively, namely Lubomir Visnovsky, Sheldon Souray, and Tom Gilbert. They need more scoring if they want to have a chance in the West.

MVP/Vezina: Henrik Lundqvist has been sensational. Without him, the New York Rangers are in the basement of the Eastern Conference. Every game he makes phenomenal saves and bails out the defense of the Rangers who have turnover machines in Michal Rozsival, Wade Redden, and Dmitri Kalinin. He leads the league in wins and I believe he will end it as such.

Stanley Cup: The Red Wings. Yes San Jose has gotten off to a great start, but they have done nothing but choke in the playoffs. Until that changes, I will be hesitant to pick them. Detroit is still unbelievable.

As for a Dark Horse, and maybe they aren't anymore, but the Boston Bruins. Yes Boston fans, jump on the bandwagon of fair weatherness (I know its not a word) for the Bruins. As a friend of mine predicted during the summer, the Bruins will lose to the Wings in the Stanley Cup finals. Still think they are going to lose? I don't think they would if they make it to the finals.

I will have another edition of this at the All Star break with the questions altered slightly.

Thanks again to the contributors.

Coyotes-Wild: Holy Jumpin'! Phoenix Finally Figures Out Minnesota

Chris Hoeler — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:58:00 -0500

I am taking a break from studying.

Okay, I haven't started yet, so maybe this can be classified as a continuation of my procrastination—a student's best friend.

Last week NHL.com had an article about how the Coyotes sophomores, specifically Peter Mueller and Martin Hanzal, were struggling.

The color commentator for the Coyotes, Darren Pang, apparently read it, and was none too pleased about the content of the article. You can read his take on the Coyotes website.

But more important is the Coyotes game last night.

If anyone has been following this team, they know the Minnesota Wild have been kryptonite for Phoenix. Going into the game last night, the last time the Coyotes had defeated the Wild was on November 16, 2006.

Niklas Backstrom has been an absolute fiend in net coming into this contest, going 8-0 with three shutouts and a 1.13 goals-against average against the Coyotes throughout his career.

However, all streaks come to an end. Backstrom let in three goals last night—including two in the final 30 seconds of the second period.

The first came from Zbynek Michalek, who continued his unbelievable play as he ripped a shot from the point.

Then, just 25 seconds later, rookie Mikkel Boedker stole the puck, and Peter Mueller came down the wing with Olli Jokinen on the other side. He made a beautiful pass across the slot and over the stick of a Wild defenseman to Jokinen, who put it by Backstrom. Just like that, it was 2-0.

The third period saw the newest addition to the Coyotes make an impact. Joakim Lindstrom was acquired earlier this week from the Anaheim Ducks for young defenseman Logan Stephenson. He scored his first goal, as he redirected a beautiful pass from Steve Reinprecht into the net.

While it was disallowed at first, review showed the puck had hit the white bar inside the net and bounced out.

Jokinen has continued his hot streak since coming back from injury. He now has three goals in two games. Steven Reinprecht is also on a hot streak, as he now has six points in his last five games.

Ilya Bryzgalov had his best game of the season, stopping 30 of 31 Wild shots. The Coyotes will need him to continue his stellar play if they want to succeed.

Was this game the turning point of the season? Quite possibly. The Coyotes had not beaten the Wild in over two years.

Maybe this is how the Coyotes start moving up.

They will face a stiff test on Saturday, when the Detroit Red Wings come to Phoenix.

Mad Hatters-Bears: Hank "The Hulk" Carisio Lives Up to His Name

Chris Hoeler — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 12:18:00 -0500

Last night the Danbury Mad Hatters hosted the Hudson Valley Bears in a Saturday night match up. While the EPHL is barely two months old, the frequency of teams playing each other is building rivalries. However, the rivalry between the Bears and the Hatters runs deep.

There is absolutely no love loss, as the teams were chatting and yelling at each other on the ice. At one point, there was almost a repeat of last Saturday, as it seemed the benches would clear for another bench brawl.

General Manager Brendan Tedstone was behind the bench for the Hatters as Coach Dave MacIsaac sat in the stands serving the first game of his suspension which should be announced early this week along with other punishments from the league office for last Saturday's "extra-curricular" activities.

But back to this game. The Hatters came out flat. They were going up against a team that has a few good players but many who are not. Yet, they found themselves down two goals within the first 10 minutes of the game.

Len DiCostanzo, the Bears goalie, was stopping everything in sight and some that were not, doing his best Patrick Roy impression as the Hatters rained shots down on him. This continued into the second period, baffling the Hatters.

At the end of the middle frame, DiCostanzo had turned away all 40 shots by the Hatters.

Needless to say, the Hatters needed a spark to get the crowd into the game. The Bears were hanging on for dear life, with only DiCostanzo keeping them in the game.

It could be argued that Igor Karlov's goal just 32 seconds into the third period was the spark and it probably was until Hank Carisio began being a man on a mission. Having already fought once in the game Carisio was looking to make an impact again. However, it was on the score-sheet that the impact would be made.

Devin Guy of the Bears took a tripping penalty at the 5:43 mark. With Carisio on the powerplay, he powered his way from the corner to the front of the net and stuffed the puck past DiCostanzo to tie the game. The crowd of 1,294 exploded as the game was tied.

What Carisio did next has to be the most innovative goal celebration I have ever seen, and quite possibly the funniest. After celebrating on the ice with the players he picked up the puck he had just scored with and gave it to Bears "tough guy" Phil Esposito.

The entire Bears bench exploded in rage but did not get on the ice. While Carisio got an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which he should not have because that was the best thing I have ever seen at a hockey game, he however won over the fans of Danbury.

However, his night was not done just yet. Apparently, he got marked by the Bears. Later in the period he came through the neutral zone with his head down. Just after he dished the puck off to Erik Kent to bring into the zone he was run over by Dan Malloy of the Bears.

Kent went in and scored the goal to give the Hatters the lead but Carisio was down on the ice and did not seem to be moving.

Let me start by saying that the hit was absolutely clean. If any video should be made about why you should keep your head up at all times, this would have been the perfect hit to show. See Scott Stevens on Lindros or Kariya for a reference point.

A hush descended on the crowd as Carisio looked to be seriously injured. Scott Horvath of the Bears called for the paramedics while the trainer, Tedstone, and some players for the Hatters came out to help. They got him to his knees, with Carisio having a cut on his face and looking coherent as he was talking and moving which was a great sign.

When the neck brace was put on he ripped it off, stood up and skated off the ice on his own power to a standing ovation from the crowd. He wanted to stay on the ice but instead took a seat behind the Hatters goal to watch the rest of the game.

Most players would not have gotten up after a hit like that. But skating off the ice, Carisio had won the hearts of the Danbury faithful and is definitely the fan favorite.

The game was not over, however. The lead was short lived as a breakaway for John Geverd just over a minute later tied the game at three.

A bad penalty by the Bears with just under two minutes left in the game lead to their undoing. With 32 seconds left, Obi Aduba scored a power play goal that would seal the deal.

Hank Carisio has earned the name "The Hulk" from me because of one thing, whether he is driven to fight or score, you would not like him when he is angry. He finished with a Gordie Howe hat trick.

If you have not had a chance to check out a Hatters game yet, I strongly recommend you do so. These games are an absolute blast and are very affordable. Hope to see the stands draw more every night.

Coyotes Back on the Prowl: Was I Wrong?

Chris Hoeler — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:00:00 -0500

In one of my earlier entries I mentioned how Phoenix's six-game losing streak was the end of their playoff hopes. Was I premature in this assumption?

Since I wrote that article on November 25th, the Coyotes have won four of five games...most of them without star center Olli Jokinen. More importantly, the Coyotes are beating teams that they will need to if they hope to make the playoffs.

After losing to the Rangers, the Coyotes went to Columbus and beat the Blue Jackets. They returned home for a home stand and topped the Avalanche before narrowly losing to the Sharks. They then beat the Kings and then the Maple Leafs last night.

So what has changed? For all of these game, Mikael Tellqvist was in goal and played very well until last night's game. He was pulled after two periods after giving up three goals on nine shots. Of course Tellqvist is not a starting goalie and it was time for him to get a rest.

Ilya Bryzgalov has had a few games to figure out what is wrong and needs to be on top of his game for the Coyotes to battle for a spot in the tough Western Conference. Last night was a good start as he stopped all nine shots he faced.

Martin Hanzal continues to show his brilliant flashes of offense as last night he had a hat trick and had scored four straight goals for the Coyotes over two games. While it is his defense that is making a name for him, his offensive skills are very high and the Coyotes cannot wait to see the big guy begin rumbling along and producing offense.

He only needs two more goals to tie his total from last season and has almost half the points as well. If the Coyotes want to make the playoffs, Hanzal will need to turn up the offense while keeping the defensive play at an excellent level.

The most underrated defenseman in the entire NHL is on the Phoenix Coyotes. Not Ed Jovanovski or Derek Morris. Zbynek Michalek leads the league in blocked shots and continues to become an unbelievable defenseman.

When Keith Ballard left, Coyotes fans were wondering who was going to take his role as a young defensive specialist. Michalek has certainly filled that role.

Along with Kurt Sauer, Michalek is helping to make one of the best shutdown pairings in the entire NHL. Of course not very many people have heard of this young man who is making a name for himself. Being a +5 isn't a bad quality either.

Kurt Sauer is another defender who is helping to make the Coyotes blue line formidable. One must wonder if Maple Leafs Cliff Fletcher mixed up Jeff Finger and Kurt Sauer, as Sauer is one of the steals of the free agent market so far this season. The Coyotes will need him and Michalek to continue their stellar play.

Continuing with the blue line, the play of Keith Yandle has put the Coyotes back on the map when it comes to offensive defenseman. At the moment, Yandle has 13 points and is growing into his own as a puck moving defenseman.

His defensive play has been questioned at times but with steady improvement, he could become a top pairing offensive player.

Another surprise has been forward Enver Lisin. The speedy winger has been in the Coyotes organization known for his speed and offense but almost useless on defense.

After being sent down last year he even left the Coyotes and it was thought he would never play in North America again. However, he has come back and improved on his play without the puck and it has done wonders. In nine games he has six points.

Along with Mikkel Boedker, Lisin is the fastest skater on the team and has used it to show his worth in drawing penalties and creating offense. His continued improvement will certainly help an offense that has young players such as Peter Mueller and Kyle Turris having a hard time scoring consistently.

The Coyotes will be tested in the coming weeks, as December is a tough month for them on the schedule. They play the Avalanche, Kings, and Stars two times each, not to mention the Red Wings, Wild, and Blackhawks as well. Will they prove me wrong?

Image found via Google Image search here

Wounded Dog: What Is Wrong With The Phoenix Coyotes?

Chris Hoeler — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 07:31:26 -0500

Last night the Coyotes lost to the New York Rangers 4-1, their sixth straight loss.This confirmed to me one thing I had been thinking about, but was hoping was wrong. The Coyotes are not a playoff team.

General Manager Don Maloney, at the beginning of the year, said this team is a team that will be fighting for a playoff spot. Things certainly looked that way as Shane Doan, Olli Jokinen, and others had some good starts to the year. But the youth factor is very high on this team and that is ultimately what will bring this team down.

It would be wonderful to see the Coyotes youngsters start lighting the lamp and being a factor in the offense but they haven't picked up the load I am sure Don Maloney was looking for.

Should they be shouldered with all that responsibility?

Probably not.

These kids are barely older than me, yet are expected to be immediate offensive talents in the NHL, when in reality they aren't. I am not saying some of these guys won't turn into great players, but immediate greatness is not in the cards here.

There is one other problem I know will not be addressed, simply because of politics.

Coaching.

Yes, Wayne Gretzky has a stake in the Phoenix Coyotes organization as a managing partner and alternate governor. However, that should not give him untouchable status in terms of his job as a coach.

The Coyotes have a very young team which needs a coach who can teach players how to play at the NHL level. You would think that Wayne would be the best person for that, but being a coach is more than that. The Coyotes need a system that works and a coach who has been a coach. Someone who can keep the development of the young players going while inputting a system that will be hard to beat every night.

I understand Gretzky just signed a five-year extension as a coach, but this is what I think. Put Gretzky as an assistant coach for awhile...maybe he can figure out this abysmal power play of the Coyotes. When Ulf Samuelsson is your power play coach, it isn't going to work. Get a real coach in there for a couple of years.

If Wayne is itching to be head coach again, that's fine but for a team that is rebuilding a coach is important in getting a system of play down that will inspire younger players and help them learn the nuances of the NHL game. Afterwards Gretzky can take things back if he is so inclined.

Phoenix Coyotes at New York Rangers: The Predicament

Chris Hoeler — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 12:18:51 -0500

As many people here know, I am the Phoenix Coyotes Community Leader, making me a die-hard Phoenix Coyotes fan. However, at the same time, I am a die-hard New York Rangers fan. How can this be? What happens when the two teams play each other?

That question will be answered on November 24th when the Desert Dogs visit the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. To answer it straight out, I am going for the Coyotes.

While the Rangers and Coyotes are at opposite ends of the spectrum in the standings, recent play has them in the same boat. The Coyotes are on a five game slide, while the Rangers have lost their last two.

What needs to be done? Here is a little run down for the Coyotes to follow tomorrow.

Don't worry about taking penalties

For anyone who has watched the New York Ranger power play this year, or pretty much any other year since Brian Leetch left, you know it is a weakness.

It has been especially horrible this year as they have given up seven short-handed goals and is ranked 21st in the NHL. With the speed of the Coyotes, they can take advantage of this poor play by pressuring the points on the power play...not that they are going to shoot the puck.

Speed Kills

The Phoenix Coyotes have a lot more speed than the New York Rangers. Players like Enver Lisin, Mikkel Boedker, Olli Jokinen, Kyle Turris, and others all have the speed to burn this New York Ranger team. The Coyotes have to use it to their advantage.

Bring the Pain

The New York Rangers are not an overly physical team. Bring on the physicality. Players like Michal Rozsival do not react well to physical play and have a tough time with it.

The Rangers aren't afraid to drop the gloves with players like Colton Orr, Paul Mara, and Brandon Dubinsky. But in terms of hitting, they are very low on the spectrum.

Overall, the Coyotes need to use their speed and outwork the New York Rangers. Last year Phoenix came in and beat the Rangers to a pulp, and eventually woke them up to get them going. Hopefully they can do the same thing for the Rangers this year.

Shane Doan: Leader of the Pack

Chris Hoeler — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:22:26 -0500

When it comes to the Phoenix Coyotes organization, there is one person who exemplifies consistency and dedication: Shane Doan.

The only remaining Winnipeg Jet on the team, Shane Doan has quickly become one of the best players in Coyotes/Jets history and has a few more years ahead of him as a Phoenix Coyote.

His dedication showed when he signed a five-year extension in February of 2007 for a bargain price of $4.5 million a year. Doan could have left Phoenix and easily have gotten much more than that. But he was dedicated to the Coyotes organization and stayed.

After being drafted in 1995 (first round, 7th overall), Doan has risen to the top of the Coyotes and is now the captain. Despite sub-par offensive seasons, Shane took off last season when he had 28 goals and 50 assists for 78 points in 80 games, a career high.

This season, the offensive onus is still on Doan. But he has help with the new arrival of Olli Jokinen, who may be the one type of player to elevate Doan from good to great.

Through 14 games this season Doan has nine goals and seven assists for 16 points and is on pace to break the 50 goal plateau. Whether he gets there or not remains to be seen, but he is earning the C on his shoulder right now. If he continues to play like this, can anyone spell M-V-P?

Mad Hatters Drop Opener to Hudson Valley 5-4

Chris Hoeler — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 14:31:37 -0500

The Eastern Professional Hockey League had its first games this Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008. The Danbury Mad Hatters had their UNO Chicago Bar and Grill Opening Night in Danbury, CT in front of a raucous crowd of 1,891.

The Hatters came out flying as Dan Hickman scored the first goal in Danbury Mad Hatters' history. It was on the power play from Duane Whitehead and Igor Karlov. Less than one minute later, former New York Ranger, Billy Tibbetts, made it 2-0 on another power play. Duane Whitehead scored in the second period to give the Hatters a three-goal lead.

Hudson Valley got on the board as Eric Lind and Ryan Hughes got the Bears within a goal. Eric Lind got his second of the night to tie the game, and the Bears took over the game. Tom Westfall scored, and Brett Aimone scored less than 20 seconds later.

Penalties called on Hudson Valley put them on their heels, including a five-minute power play for Danbury. Obi Aduba scored just over seven minutes into the third, putting the Hatters within one. But, they couldn't tie it up. The Bears' goaltender, Ryan Hull, stopped 44 of 48 shots.

The Danbury Mad Hatters' next game is Thursday, Nov. 6, at 7 pm. They will host the Brooklyn Aces at the Danbury Ice Arena.

Tickets are available online at www.madhattershockey.com, or at the Danbury Ice Arena box office.

Shuffle The Deck: Coyotes Switch Up Lines

Chris Hoeler — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:42:59 -0400

Phoenix Coyotes head coach Wayne Gretzky has mixed up the lines for tonight's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tonight's game will have the following lines on the ice:

Fedoruk-Jokinen-Doan

Carcillo-Hanzal-Mueller

Porter-Reinprecht-Boedker

Winnik-Turris-Tikhonov

The coaching staff is trying to find consistent units of production that will give the Coyotes a chance to win every game. The Coyotes are currently the second-lowest scoring team in the NHL with 15 goals, ahead of only the Tampa Bay Lightning who have 14.

Three out of the four Coyotes' losses have been when they have only scored one goal. That has to change if Phoenix is going to make the playoffs and Gretzky is doing his best to find out what works.

Ilya Bryzgalov isn't Henrik Lundqvist or Roberto Luongo, a guy who can steals games every night.

Tonight is a big test for the team going up against one of the best in the league. They have to avoid penalties and keep pressure on the depleted Penguin defense. Screening Marc Andre Fleury will be key to beating him.

Phoenix plays tonight and will wrap up their home stand when they host the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night.

Too Much Too Soon? High Expectations for Young Coyotes

Chris Hoeler — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 13:42:00 -0400

Coming into this year, Coyotes general manager Don Maloney believed this year's team would challenge for a playoff spot and get in. There are a couple of reasons why.

The acquisition of Olli Jokinen at the draft resulted in the first time a legitimate No. 1 center had been in Phoenix for a long time. He was brought in to be the spark for Shane Doan and Peter Mueller, who both had good years last year, and make them better.

So far, he has played well with six points, one goal and five assists, in only five games. I'm sure they would like for him to put up some more goals, but Jokinen knows that.

Having a No. 1 goaltender to start the season was another reason. Getting Ilya Bryzgalov off waivers about a third of the way through last year was a divine miracle for the Coyotes, who are now looking at a great future in net.

Bryz had a good year last year with the Coyotes, going 26-22 with a 2.43 GAA and a .921 save percentage, and was a reason that Maloney and Co. were excited about this coming year. Having a legitimate No. 1 goaltender for the first time since Nikolai Khabibulin was in net for Phoenix is important, especially in a tough division like the Pacific.

Other reasons include young players like Kyle Turris coming in along with returning players like Mueller, Doan, Dan Carcillo, and so on.

But have the expectations been stacked too high? The Coyotes started off the season with two good wins over the Blue Jackets and Ducks, but have really lost it on this road trip, falling to the Blackhawks, Senators, and Canadiens.

Of course, those are three very tough teams, and losing to them is not a shame. However, the Coyotes were seriously run over in these games, losing 4-1, 6-3, and 4-1, respectively. The lack of offense is something that needs to be addressed, as well as the defense. Teams are getting way too many good chances against the Coyotes defense, and that is making it very hard for Bryzgalov to keep them in games like he did last season.

One thing that has certainly picked up is the physicality and toughness of this team. Doan has been an animal recently, and physical play from guys like Kurt Sauer is destroying the notion of the Coyotes as pushovers (yes, Habs fans, Sauer's check was clean).

The point here is that management needs to understand that this team is very young and it will take time to gel. The season is still very new, so the panic button should certainly not be in sight, but if things continue the way they are going, look for Maloney to be angling toward the draft by acquiring some draft picks for veteran players like Steven Reinprecht, Derek Morris, and Mikael Tellqvist at the deadline.

The tough schedule continues for the Coyotes, as they come home for the Capitals, Flames, Penguins, and Wild. I hate to be a negative Nancy, but the season for these young guys could be over by the All-Star break at this rate.

Coyotes' Roster Looking Young

Chris Hoeler — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:11:00 -0400

The Coyotes have put up their official roster for opening night on their website. It's a very interesting roster that includes both first round picks from the 2008 draft...for now.

As hockey fans know, a player like Mikkel Boedker can play up to 10 games in the NHL and still be sent back to juniors for that season. Viktor Tikhonov, who has been receiving high praise from Coach Wayne Gretzky, made the team. Rookie Kevin Porter is on the team as well as Kyle Turris, who was pretty much a lock since the end of last year.

Right off the bat, the Coyotes have four rookies in the forward lines. Now throw in young players like Peter Mueller, Martin Hanzal, Enver Lisin, Dan Carcillo, and Daniel Winnik and you have nine out of the 14 forwards on the roster 23 years old or younger.

The average age of the 14 forwards is about 24. Talk about a youth movement. Ranger fans think they have a young team; they should look at the Phoenix Coyotes.

On defense, the team is going with six defensemen who are the six most people expected. Ed Jovanovski, Derek Morris, Kurt Sauer, Zbynek Michalek, David Hale, and Keith Yandle are the starting six for the Coyotes' blue line.

Of course, the pairings are still unknown, but there really aren't any surprises on the part of these selections. The Coyotes have a few young defensemen like Jonas Ahnelov and Chris Summers, but both need more playing time in the AHL and in the NCAA, respectively.

Ilya Bryzgalov will be starting his first full season as a full-time starter with Mikael Tellqvist backing him up. However, that could soon change depending on how the goaltending battle down in the minors plays out between Al Montoya, Josh Tordjman, and Joel Gistedt.

Tellqvist is a great team guy and a very good backup, but he will have to watch his back with those three young goalies fighting for playing time.

Among Coyotes fans, Wayne Gretzky is known for shaking up the lines. It should come as no surprise, then, that he has already shuffled the lines after the last preseason game, but I disagree with what he has done.

Since about the third preseason game for the Coyotes, the lines have been like this:

Doan-Jokinen-Mueller

Carcillo-Turris-Boedker

Winnik-Hanzal-Tikhonov

Reinprecht, Porter, Lisin, Fedoruk, McGrattan

This mostly concerns the top two lines. Since draft day fans have been drooling over that first line posted above, and during the preseason it was really starting to come together. The second line was also developing some nice chemistry.

Kyle Turris and Mikkel Boedker already developed chemistry from prospect and rookie camps during the summer. Adding in Dan Carcillo, who will be looked to for more offense, makes for a young but interesting line.

Gretzky has now moved to this:

Doan-Turris-Carcillo

Boedker-Jokinen-Mueller

It is unknown which one of these will be the No. 1 line, but the real problem is that the Coyotes have lacked a legitimate top line since Jeremy Roenick, Keith Tkachuk, and Mike Gartner were the top three.

Why would you break up Doan, Jokinen, and Mueller who have really made some chemistry during the preseason and who have developed into a potentially dangerous offensive line?

The young guys like Turris and Boedker weren't put on the top line so they wouldn't have to go up against the really big bodies in the Pacific division and Western Conference.

Put the old lines back together and see what happens. They have been working pretty well to this point, so there is no reason to disband them and start all over.

However, I will give these lines a shot. It may not be much of one, but they have a chance to work.

From the Blues to the Desert: Episode Five

Chris Hoeler — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:28:00 -0400

Episode five of From the Blues to the Desert will be airing at 12:30PM EST on Wednesday September 3rd. Make sure you tune in at Youcastr via the link. Mike and I will be talking about the news, shootouts for the Rangers and Yotes, look at the Battle of Alberta, and much much more. Make sure you send emails to bluestothedesert@yahoo.com with questions, comments, or whatever to be read on the show.

Also, we will be setting up a Skype account where you, the listeners, can call in and give us your opinion during the show!! We will announce on the show how to use Skype to get us. You can get it here. It is free. Just click 'Download' in the right hand corner and go from there. It is as easy as using AIM or ichat. Just make sure you have a microphone you can use to talk to us.

It is going to be fun! I won't sound like a tin can and the listeners can call in!

http://www.youcastr.com/shows/420toPhoenix/From%20the%20Blues%20to%20the%20Desert

New York Rangers Locked and Loaded for Shootout

Chris Hoeler — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:01:00 -0400

The Rangers participated in 17 shootouts last year going 8-9. Nigel Dawes was the top shooter going 5/9 while making Martin Brodeur look like a 5-year-old goalie while Brendan Shanahan was a staple for the shootout. But Dawes can't be the only person that will be relied on to be a good shooter for the Rangers if Shanahan doesn't return.

Other major candidates for the shootout include two of this year's offseason acquisitions. Markus Naslund has a wrist shot that is as good as Shanahan's. The difference between Shanahan and Naslund is that Naslund has some speed and some moves as well which makes him much more unpredictable. He will be a good addition to the shootout lineup.

If anyone has seen videos of what Nikolai Zherdev has done during actual play to score goals, imagine what he can do in the shootout with no one around him. His skills are above and beyond anyone on the team right now when it comes to undressing the goaltender. Jaromir Jagr was supposed to be the biggest skill player for the shootout, but didn't ever want to do it. Zherdev will take that role and will participate in the shootout for sure.

Other candidates include Petr Prucha, Fredrik Sjostrom, and maybe Brandon Dubinsky. But there is no doubting the fact that the Rangers have a good shootout lineup for this season.

In goal, they have Henrik Lundqvist who thrives on these pressure situations. Every year, he has made big saves in the shootout and kept the Rangers going during these competitions. He will need to continue that kind of play. Steve Valiquette has done well also.

So the verdict? The Rangers have a very good shootout team with 3-5 guys who have the skills to be formidable shootout opponents and two goalies who are very tough to beat. Hopefully they won't need to go to the shootout too many times this year, but at least they will have a decent chance each time.

Shootout Preview: Phoenix Coyotes

Chris Hoeler — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 19:08:00 -0400

When it comes to close games, a coach has to think ahead to the shootout that could be played. Of course, a coach like Gretzky would rather win on hard work during regulation or overtime—but to contend in the Western Conference, every point counts.

Wayne Gretzky and the Coyotes staff will have plenty of players willing to go on the shootout—but which ones have the skill to get the tap on the shoulder every night?

Starting in goal, Ilya Bryzgalov is a very good shootout goalie. The Yotes were 5-6 in the shootout this past season. Bryzgalov and the rest of the Coyotes goaltenders gave up 12 goals in the shootout this past year. With a full year of Bryzgalov, that number will certainly go down.

On the scoring side of things, it will be different. Radim Vrbata was the go-to guy for Gretzky, as his quick forehand-to-backhander gave goalies nightmares, as he went five for eight during the season. But who will replace him?

Certainly, American sniper Peter Mueller will get his chances after going three for 10 in 2007-08. All three of those goals were decisive. Kyle Turris participated in the shootout once last year, and used his unbelievable wrist shot to beat Jonas Hiller of the Ducks. He will get a shot in future shootouts.

Martin Hanzal is a skilled player and will have a couple of chances. The young guys like Mikkel Boedker, Enver Lisin, and Viktor Tikhonov will also get their shots.

Of course, they have to make the team first. Veteran players like Shane Doan and Olli Jokinen will certainly be at the top of the list when Gretzky is choosing his shooters.

The Coyotes will have a decent shootout team this year—but in a tough conference, shootouts will definitely test this team.

From the Blues to the Desert: Episode 4

Chris Hoeler — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:00:26 -0400

The fourth episode of "From the Blues to the Desert" airs today at 12:00 PM (EST) on Youcastr. Mike and Gootz will hit all the news from the past week, wrap up their division previews with the Atlantic and Pacific divisions, talk about the worst trades of all-time for the Rangers and Coyotes, and much more.

Bleacher Report writer Greg Caggiano will be joining Mike and Gootz to talk about his Gomez rumor. Send your questions to bluestothedesert@yahoo.com to be answered on the show.

Also, participate in our all-time team segment by sending us your all-time team for a specific NHL team. Remember, when considering players, only consider their career with that specific team and not their entire career. You can send these to the email mentioned above.

Follow the link here and listen to the show as Mike and Gootz take you from the Blues to the Desert!

http://www.youcastr.com/shows/420toPhoenix/From%20the%20Blues%20to%20the%20Desert

Canadian Hockey League Looking to Drop Import Draft

Chris Hoeler — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:37:00 -0400

When it comes to the development of players for the NHL, the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is right at the top.

Most of the players in the CHL are North Americans playing in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), and the Western Hockey League (WHL)—but the import draft held every year allows junior teams to select foreign players (a majority of which are European) to play on their teams in the CHL.

Whether or not the Europeans decide to actually come over and sign with their junior team is a decision for the players and the players alone, but the option has always been there for them.

However, after reading an article from The Hockey News, I learned that the CHL is looking to abolish the import draft. I just can't see why they'd do this.

Now, if you look at rosters across junior hockey, you don't usually see a lot of European players on CHL teams to begin with—but why not?

For one, each team is limited to two Europeans on the roster at a time. That is a league rule and an argument for another time, but needless to say, that is one way—and a big one at that—that Europeans are limited in the CHL.

Second, there is a very big decision to make when a player gets drafted in the import draft. For arugment's sake, let us make up a player. His name is Gootz and he is from Sweden (I wish).

Gootz gets drafted in the import draft to the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL. From that point on, Gootz has a decision to make: If he decides to follow the path to the OHL, he will be leaving his home, family, and everything he knows to move to Plymouth, Michigan.

He'll move in with a boarding family that he does not know. He'll be in a very unfamiliar place and on a team that he may or may not have a very good shot at making. He will consistently be playing against junior players who have a serious shot to be NHLers someday.

On the other hand, he can stay in Sweden and play for Frolunda in the Elitserien. He will be home with his family and not have to worry about learning a new language, or the intricacies of a new culture. Life will be much easier for him, and he will be playing in a professional league against high-caliber players.

Obviously from that, it sounds like Gootz should stay at home.

But when it comes down to the hockey aspect, Europeans are willing to take the chance of coming over to play in the CHL because the style of play is different than it is in Europe. Many players would be willing to come over if they knew the CHL would be a better place for them to get used to the North American game—the style of which is heavily influenced by the NHL.

And if you want to make the NHL, why not start with the league it impacts the most from a gameplay standpoint?

So why does the CHL want to get rid of the import draft? Their main reason for trying to get rid of it is because players usually don't come over. It's a common problem, but that is something that can be changed by the CHL teams.

They have to convince these guys to come over and play on their team, and once they get here, give the player a shot before giving up all hope on him.

The second, and dumbest reason, is that the CHL doesn't see many good European players coming over. Is this true? Absolutely not.

Look at the Coyotes. Martin Hanzal came from the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL. Mikkel Boedker, a rookie Dane, came to the Kitchener Rangers and absolutely shined there—enough to be a top 10 pick.

One of the players drafted before him, Nikita Filatov, wants to come to North America. While he has the skill to probably join the Columbus Blue Jackets right now, the contingency plan is to let him play for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL and gain experience within the North American style.

New York Ranger draft picks Tomas Kundratek and Evgeny Grachev will be coming over to play in the CHL as well. Kundratek, the top Czech prospect at the draft, was picked by the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL while Grachev will go to the Brampton Batallion of the OHL.

While it sounds crazy at this point, Kundratek believes he could make the NHL right now! Obviously no one knows yet—but that kind of confidence is pretty good to have on a CHL team as it makes for one dangerous player.

Even Luca Cunti of the Lightning will be playing in the QMJHL with Rimouski Oceanic this coming season.

But what about current success stories? Well Europeans in the NHL now who played in the CHL include Sergei Kostitsyn, Andrej Meszaros, and Alexander Radulov. Yes, Radulov is now gone—but that isn't the point.

The point is that Europeans can play in the CHL and they can be great players in the Canadian leagues. Does it always work out? Of course not, and with it being only two spots on the whole roster, it is a small gamble to bring a European over and put him in a game that may be different from what he is used to.

But the idea that a player may bust in the CHL or not come over at all are certainly not reasons to abolish the CHL Import Draft.

Keep the import draft. Keep bringing Europeans over. The guys across the pond are some of the best players in the world. If they want to come over and play, then let them.

The foreign leagues have turned out great players for a long time, which may persuade some to stay home. But to get rid of the draft because of that is bad reasoning—and saying that Europeans who come over aren't good enough is simply ridiculous.

Image found here via Google Image search.

NHL: All-Pacific Division Team

Chris Hoeler — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 12:04:38 -0400

Ken Armer and myself have worked together to try and make one team out of the many great players here in the Pacific Division.

Out of the five teams in the division, each one has players that are great now, and guys that everyone should watch out for in the near future as they reach for stardom in the NHL:

Forwards

Line One: Morrow (A) - Thornton (C) - Doan (A)

A tough line that will certainly wear the opposing defense down. These three big guys aren't afraid to get nasty and would certainly make a formidable line in the NHL. All three are leaders on their respective teams, and would lead this all-division team.

Line Two: Ribeiro - Getzlaf - Perry

Ken says, "The chemistry that Perry and Getzlaf have at a young age makes this line dangerous immediately. Ribeiro will certainly be able to keep up with these two young guns, while his playmaking abilities will certainly only make this line much more potent".

Line Three: Marleau - Jokinen - Kopitar

These three guys, like the first line, are big forwards who aren't afraid to get nasty. Marleau and Jokinen are veterans who would be able to help Kopitar to reach his potential as an elite forward in the NHL. Jokinen is new to the division, but he is belongs on this team.

Line Four: Carcillo - Avery - Ott

What is there to say about this line? This would be the most annoying line to play against in all of hockey. Sean Avery alone is a handful. Adding in Carcillo and Ott just sweetens the pot.

Honorable Mention

Watch out for Dustin Brown and Peter Mueller, two young guys who have been turning it on lately. Brown, seemingly out of nowhere, has found his scoring touch on LA, while Mueller showed tremoendous goal-scoring skills in his first year. Look for these two to continue in their successful ways.

Defense

First pairing: Niedermayer - Pronger

These two have been great defensemen throughout their careers. Niedermayer is a player with good offensive abilities who knows how to defend against the best players in the game. Pronger can lay down the physicality, and his shot from the point is one of the best.

Second paring: Zubov - Morris

Zubov has been one of the best offensive defenseman in the league his whole career, but has been stuck in the shadow of Nick Lidstrom. He still has plenty of offensive touch and could run a power play blindfolded.

Derek Morris would be a great compliment to Sergei. He isn't afraid to get physical, and would be a great defensive partner for Zubov, even if he isn't flashy.

Third pairing: Boyle - Blake

Dan Boyle comes to the Sharks after making his mark as one of the best offensive defensemen in the Eastern Conference with Tampa Bay. His offensive abilities rank right up there with the best of the them.

Rob Blake is still a defensive stalwart on the back line, whose shot allows him to continue to lurk as an offensive threat from the point.

Honorable Mention

Matt Niskanen, Jack Johnson, Zbynek Michalek:

Matt Niskanen came into his rookie year with the Dallas Stars relatively unknown, but has certainly made his mark after showing his confidence with the puck in Dallas.

Jack Johnson's physical play will certainly soon him someone to reckoned with in the Western Conference. He is a big piece to the future of the LA blue line.

Zbynek Michalek showed he can play offense in his rookie year in Phoenix, then spent last year covering for defensive mistakes made by Ed Jovanovski (the reason he isn't on here), and lost some offensive time.

Goalies

Evgeni Nabokov

Marty Turco

Right now these are the top two goaltenders in the Pacific. Nabokov had an unbelievable year last season, while Marty Turco brought his team to the Western Conference Finals.

Honorable Mention

Ilya Bryzgalov gave the Coyotes new life after he was picked up off waivers from the Ducks. This upcoming year will be his first full season as a starter. He has been looking to snag a starting job in the NHL, and this is his big chance.

Some names were omitted, but we feel that this would be the best team that could be made out of the Pacific Division. It is tough to narrow it down with so many great players. Who would you have added? Taken away?

Image found here via Google Image search

All Time Lineup: Phoenix Coyotes

Chris Hoeler — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:00:00 -0400

Here is the all time lineup for the Phoenix Coyotes. You don't want to mess with this lineup.

Note: This is only for the Phoenix Coyotes. No Winnipeg Jets

Tkachuk-Roenick-Gartner

Quite possibly the three best players to ever don the Coyotes' jersey. Not necessarily the best Coyotes, but in terms of ability to play and their careers, these three guys lead the way. An unbelievable line that could rival any line when these guys were in their primes.

Drake-Ronning-Doan

These three were/are gritty players with underrated offensive abilities. Cliff Ronning is one of the most underappreciated players in the league. Dallas Drake just finished his career, but he was the definition of a power forward when he was with Phoenix. Shane Doan is still playing and has plenty of time to become a great player.

Johnson-Janney-Tocchet

All three of these guys were great checking forwards in their time, and definitely had the skills to be offensive producers in the NHL.

Carcillo-Langkow-"WILSON!"

A good banger line at the bottom to round out the forwards. Why Landon Wilson? Let's just say college had something to do with it.

Defense

Numminen-Jovanovski

The two big names in Coyotes history. Both of them are good defenseman with offensive skills that could really help any team.

Mara-Morris

Both of these guys are very similar players and would have made a great pairing. Both have offense, but are even better on the defensive side of the puck. Paul Mara's shot is one of—if not the—best in Coyotes' history from the blue line.

Michalek-Tverdovsky

Two players who made impacts on the team as youngsters round out the defense. Michalek will certainly climb this depth chart as he gets older and more experienced. Tverdovsky was a good young defenseman who really showed promise while in Phoenix, and was one of the best offensive defenseman in the Coyotes' short existence.

Goalies

Khabibulin

Bryzgalov

Khabibulin would be the starter for this team, but Bryzgalov has a serious chance of becoming the best goalie in Coyotes history. Look for him to leapfrog the Bulin Wall in the future—but for now, Nikolai is holding down the fort.

That is my all-time Coyotes lineup. Any omissions or changes you would make?

Temmu Selanne Rumors: The Finnish Flash in Phoenix?

Chris Hoeler — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:55:00 -0400

The likelihood of this happening is slim to none. I am not going to make it sound like this is actually going to happen considering it probably won't. But a rumor was whispered that the Coyotes may be in the hunt for the services of former Winnipeg Jet Teemu Selanne.

Yes, the man who set the franchise for goals and points in a season, and the record for most points and goals by a rookie in NHL history with 76 goals and 132 points. Selanne has scored 40 or more goals in a season seven different times, and has broken the century mark in points on four separate occasions.

So why would Phoenix want him? Don Maloney has a self-imposed age cap on the team of somewhere in the low 30s—which Selanne is way past, at 38. If signed, he would be the oldest player on the team.

But an even bigger question would be—why would Selanne want Phoenix?

Teemu has won his Stanley Cup so it isn't going to be for that reason. Does he want to be a mentor to a young team? That is definitely a possibility, and Phoenix is a good suitor in that regard.

A one-year contract for Teemu wouldn't hurt the Coyotes in their salary cap, considering they are barely at the floor. His signing might also put a few more butts in the seats, which is never a bad thing.

Not to mention the Coyotes just acquired fellow Finn Olli Jokinen, who could be some kind of lure for his countryman.

So is this a realistic possibility? If you take in all the conditions above, I could certainly see it happen. I would be absolutely shocked if it did—but thinking about it, the move souldn't be unexpected for Selanne. It would be more of a shock for the Coyotes to spend past their self-imposed caps.

The fact can't be ignored that Teemu would certainly add leadership to one of the youngest teams in the league, where the average player is 26 years old. Obviously Selanne would drive that up a tad, but his value to the team could not be ignored off the ice and on the ice. Before this past shortened season, he had two consecutive 90-plus point seasons, and was almost at a point per game pace in the shortened campaign.

So like I said, I am not expecting anything to happen with this. In fact I am willing to guess that this is never mentioned by anyone ever again. But it is always interesting to look at how players will affect a team if they do indeed sign with them. Selanne would certainly have a profound effect on the Coyotes and would bring his career full circle.

Now if he could break those totals he set in his rookie year...

Ace High or Double Down? The Debate on Scoring in the NHL

Chris Hoeler — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:21:00 -0400

When it comes to the NHL, one of the things that a lot (or at least it seems like a lot) of people want is high-scoring games. Talk of enlarging goal nets and shrinking goalie pads could easily be mistaken for a bad Viagra commercial.

For me, the best kind of game is low scoring. When two goaltenders are playing absolutely incredible, stopping every shot that comes their way, it is like a chess game. It makes teams have to think of different ways to beat the goaltender, other than just getting a simple shot on goal.

Defenses are constantly adjusting to the different strategies that offenses are employing. In essence, these low-scoring games become chess matches because one goal is going to decide things.

Let's look at the playoffs. For the most part, playoff games are tense, exciting, and have a caliber of play that separates them from the regular season. But if you look at most playoff games, they are low scoring.

Only two times in this past Stanley Cup final did a team surpass four goals in a game. In fact, 38 times in the past postseason did the winning team score three goals or less in the game. That is just under 45 percent of all postseason games.

The reason the playoffs are the most exciting is because they are chess matches, where the play with the puck is very important. When teams are scoring five goals apiece, it all comes down to whoever scored last (that is usually the case, anyway).

But with 1-0, 2-1, or 3-2 type games, the excitement level comes out and you sit on the edge of your seat. It is those types of games that show true teamwork. They aren't just trying to score goals like in 5-4, 6-5 type games.

They are trying to hold their opposition down, while trying to break through the intricate play of their defense or the brick wall that their goaltender has built in net.

In a nutshell, a low-scoring game takes much more perseverance and determination to win. You have to outplay your opponent in every zone, not just the offensive. Defensive and neutral-zone play are just as, if not more, important than offense in low-scoring games. That is what makes them better games.

Remember, less is more.

Old Time Hockey: The Danbury Mad Hatters and The EPHL

Chris Hoeler — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:05:50 -0400

A new league, the Eastern Professional Hockey League (EPHL) will be starting up on November 1st. The first team from the league, the Danbury Mad Hatters, will be close to my home town and I will be covering them here on Bleacher Report as they go through their inaugural season.

Other teams included in this league are the Copper City Chiefs (Rome, NY), Brooklyn Aces, New Hampshire Freeze, and the Jersey Rockhoppers. Each team is going to play 50 games (25 home, 25 away).

The Mad Hatters have begun signing players for their team and will also be holding a tryout in an attempt to recruit players. I watched the Danbury Trashers when they were in Danbury a few years ago but when their owner was arrested (he was apart of the Mob) the team was shut down. Bringing hockey back to Danbury is something that I have wanted the city to do since the Trashers left and it seems they finally have.

I will do a big pre-season preview of the team once training camp is under way in October but getting it known that this league exists and will be kicking off this year would be good to help get people interested in it.

Check out the EPHL here and the Mad Hatters here.

Image found here via Google Image search here.

Dan Carcillo Back in Town as He Re-Signs with Phoenix Coyotes

Chris Hoeler — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:08:25 -0400

According to a report on the Coyotes website, Don Maloney has announced that Dan Carcillo has signed a multi-year deal with the Coyotes. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

With Carcillo back in the fold, the Coyotes are set for this upcoming season where they are looking to make a bigger improvement and get into the playoffs for the first time since the 2001-2002 season.

He will join fellow bad boys Todd Fedoruk and Brian McGrattan who are also in the fold now. This will no doubt help let Carcillo develop the offensive skills that he has and focus more on scoring rather than protecting teammates.

Image found via Google image search here.

USA All the Way?: A Look Ahead at the Future of USA Hockey

Chris Hoeler — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:50:00 -0400

Chris Chelios, Jeremy Roenick, Keith Tkachuk, Bill Guerin, Brian Leetch, and Mike Richter. All of these names were the headliners of the USA Hockey team in almost every international competition in the 1990s and early 2000s.

But with a few retirements and age catching up to these guys—despite the fact Chelios refuses to accept it—the old guard of USA hockey is vanishing into the annals of hockey history.

Who will replace these guys? Many of these names were stars in the league and had great NHL careers to their credit—meaning it will certainly be tough to replace them in the coming years.

Players who were considered young, such as Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Mike Knuble, Ryan Miller, Brian Rafalski, and Brian Gionta, are now the veterans of USA Hockey. So who is the future?

Let's start in net. With Miller and DiPietro as the two big names in the goal crease, it may not seem like they will need to be replaced anytime soon. But you never know what is going to happen.

Jeremy Smith is a Nashville Predators prospect who is certainly a consideration down the road. Thomas McCollum is another name to look at. He was ranked by some as the top goalie in this past year's NHL draft.

Jimmy Howard, currently a prospect in the Detroit Red Wings farm system, will definitely get a look someday.

Having a lesser name in goal isn't all that terrible, considering that the defense of the United States is stacked. Young up-and-comers such, as Erik Johnson and Jack Johnson, are two of the big names coming up on the blue line for the United States.

Both men were top-three picks in the NHL Draft. Both of them are getting NHL experience right now, Erik in St. Louis and Jack with the Los Angeles Kings.

Zach Bogosian, who was drafted this year by Atlanta, will certainly play a huge part in the development of the USA blue line when he is ready. Matt Niskanen had a breakout year for Dallas as a rookie this past year, and is certainly making a case to be a future member of the USA Hockey program.

They join Keith Ballard, Jordan Leopold, John Michael-Liles, and Paul Martin as anchors on the blue line. Defensemen to look forward to are Bobby Sanguinetti, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Chris Summers.

However, the future of USA Hockey lies in the forward position. Joining the likes of Scott Gomez and Chris Drury in the forward trenches are guys that have already made their mark in the NHL and elsewhere.

Patrick Kane was the top pick of the 2007 draft, and made a huge impact this year for the Chicago Blackhawks, winning the Calder Trophy as the rookie of the year. Not bad for a kid who was described as "small."

Peter Mueller had a spectacular rookie year in the NHL, as he helped lead the Coyotes offense on the first line. While he is a center, his sniper abilities are letting the Coyotes put him on the wing, making him a versatile player.

Zach Parise has been around the NHL with the New Jersey Devils for a few years, but he is certainly going to be an integral part of the USA offense in the future. His goal scoring has increased every year in the NHL, with the last two seasons being 30-plus seasons. Look for him to be on USA teams for a long time.

Phil Kessel had a great college career, and is really starting to turn into a great forward up in Boston. His speed is unbelievable, and his shootout abilities have already earned him renown on the NHL stage. Once considered a top pick in the draft, Kessel fell down to the Bruins, who hope he turns into something special. USA Hockey does as well.

James van Riemsdyk—or 'JVR'—is currently up at New Hampshire—with Ridgefield favorite Tyler Scott, another USA goalie destined to stardom—and developing with the Flyers. He is turning into a very big power forward with speed and skill. He dominated the 2008 World Juniors, leading the entire tournament in scoring—despite the fact USA didn't medal.

Lesser-known guys that will certainly make an impact include Brandon Dubinsky (NYR), TJ Oshie (STL), Dustin Brown and Patrick O'Sullivan (both LAK), Blake Geoffrion (NSH), Kyle Okposo (NYI), Max Pacioretty (MTL), Tyler Ruegsegger (TOR), Justin Abdelkader (DET), and David Booth (FLA).

Will these guys win a gold medal some day? It is definitely a possibility. However, the caliber of teams they will play against are unbelievable. Canada has won the World Junior Championships four times in a row, showing how potent and dangerous their future is. The last team other than Canada to win the event was the United States in 2004.

European teams are hard to judge, because their teams not only include NHL players, but also guys from the elite leagues in Europe, where there are many great players. The perennial European powerhouses, like Russia, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. always pose a threat and have great young players already making their marks on the international stage.

But for USA Hockey fans, times are exciting as ever, with so many great young players coming in. Not only is it the quality of these guys but also the quantity—as this great sport seems to be spreading all across the country and players are coming out of every place imaginable, not just the usual USA powerhouses of Minnesota, Michigan, and Massachusetts.

USA as a gold medalist in 2010? It will be tough, but it certainly isn't out of the realm of possibility.

What do you think about USA Hockey's future?

Winter Warriors: The Summer Plight of Hockey Fans

Chris Hoeler — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:30:00 -0400

When it comes to die hard sports fans, there is always a time of year that they dread. For hockey fans, that time is just beginning now as the free agent frenzy dies down into the doldrums of summer.

I have been asked a lot about what my summer vacation is going to consist of. Well it'll probably consist of some of summer's finer points: time off from school and the opportunity to hang out with friends.

But to us die hard hockey fans, summer is the worst. We sit and wait and wait until the doors of our favorite arena open back up to welcome us home (no matter what the price is). We eagerly wait for the familiar voices to come over the radio or television to give us the play by play of our favorite team's first game.

We wait to see our boys on the ice. That first home game where each player is introduced to the raucous crowd that follows your team right along with you.

Familiar team favorites are welcomed back with applause and and a roar as they salute the crowd. Guys that maybe weren't the favorite last year are given another chance—if only for the first few weeks of the season.

The new faces get introduced to the home crowd, usually met with thunderous applause. As the puck drops you begin to forget about the last season because you are so caught up in the moment of the first game thinking about the long season ahead.

Once we get there thogh, the season is anything but long to hockey fans. The season zooms by like a speeding bullet and before you know it, the All Star gameis here and then the trade deadline. Then the stretch run to that second season, all passed by in an instant. Teams move up and down the standings.

And then, it is the playoffs.

When all is said and done, odds are that your team isn't the champion. Even if you are the Detroit Red Wings, there is that inherent fear that your team won't make it all the way, even though it seems like they are destined to do so. And when it happens, it is the worst feeling, knowing you won't see your team again until the fall.

So we come to this point where the real grind starts here in the latter half of July. Hockey news seems to vanish except for a whisper and a murmur here or there. Fans on the internet message boards begin to talk about the most random things to help quell their insanity. And then, when a small scrap of news happens, it is pounced on and looked at from every single possible angle within a matter of minutes.

But then, it is back to the dull existence of a die hard hockey fan in the summer. Sure there is the beach, pools, late night stay ups, and a lot of fond memories made; Holidays are celebrated with family and the smells of a barbeque fill the air wherever you go.

Baseball is in full swing (no pun intended) and is the only thing on ESPN (not that any hockey fans watch it).

To everyone, you can have your beaches, your warm weather vacations. You can have all the barbecues you want. Baseball can take those baseball bats and shove it.

We die hards want to be in a cold rink where years of beer spillage and cheap hot dogs fill the air with the greatest smell ever. We want to sit in our favorite chairs that many of us have sat in since we were just kids. You see old friends who you know only through hockey games but are some of the best friends you have. As your favorite team takes the ice for the first time, its like seeing your best friend for the first time in months.

But for now, we hockey die hards must wait. And wait. And wait some more through the boring baseball days, the warm weather, the sun burn, and the barbecues.

I want bitter cold winter while just wearing a T-shirt and a hockey jersey. Give me weather so cold I can see my breath and when you go outside for the first time, your hair freezes from just coming out of the shower. I want winds that are so brisk, that you have to turn your face away.

Frozen hands and feet are a welcome feeling to me all for one reason. I know hockey season is starting.

You know why the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year? Because its hockey season.

But for now we diehards wait. And I keep saying die hards for a reason. Hockey die hards are everywhere. Some follow other sports during the season and offseason which is great because they become a broader fan of sports. But for those of us that have no real interest in other sports, especially during the offseason, it is worse.

We are the ones who eagerly wait for schedules to come out so we can circle all the games we will be able to go to. We keep track of player numbers and order that new jersey for the new season. And then we wait. Every night we go to sleep is the best feeling, knowing it is one day closer to hockey season. One day closer to going home.

For those of us that write on hockey, this time of year is tough as topics to keep our readers entertained are few and far between as the predictions are written up. But every now and then we do find something good to write about.

So for my fellow die hards, I wish you well in surviving the grueling month of August that is certainly going to be a bear as we wait as our good friend Kari Lehtonen is waiting on top of his goal. If it helps, just go to your air conditioner and put your hands up to it until you can feel that numbing cold and maybe, just maybe, you will get a little bit of that feeling of happiness back as your hands become numb.

Image found via Google Image search here

Phoenix Coyotes: The Road Ahead

Chris Hoeler — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:18:00 -0400

The Phoenix Coyotes' schedule is an interesting one, as the league has changed the format from a division-oriented schedule to a more league-wide format.

Here are a couple of dates for the Coyotes that could be big for the club:

October 11, vs Columbus: The home opener and first game of the regular season is always important. The young Coyotes will look to start the season the right way, versus a different Blue Jackets squad.

October 15, at Chicago: The first of four meetings between two teams that could be at the top of the Western Conference in the future, with so many great young players on their rosters.

October 23 and 30, vs Capitals and Penguins: Ovechkin and Crosby come out to the desert in their only meetings of the season with Phoenix. Look for the Coyotes to try and show their stuff against teams that have found success following the same path they did.

November 15, vs Dallas: Daniel Carcillo vs Sean Avery. Any questions?

November 24, at NYR: Of course this game is important—why wouldn't it be on this list? My two favorite teams go at it, and I'll be sitting in Section 420 not knowing who to root for.

December 13, vs Detroit: The Stanley Cup Champs come to Phoenix and the Coyotes will be looking to make some noise against them. Definitely a measuring stick game.

January 8, vs Tampa Bay: Radim Vrbata and Rick Tocchet make their returns to Phoenix with their new team, while Steven Stamkos—this year's top draft pick—makes his debut in the desert.

March 5, at Boston: The Coyotes visit Blake Wheeler and his new team. Look for a little bad blood between the Coyotes and their former prospect.

Those are the biggest games of the year aside from the usual divisional games, which I decided not to put on here. The Coyotes will be looking to make some serious noise this year and get a serious bid at making the playoffs.

With a lot of young players and improved leadership, they should be able to fo that. But with a schedule like this, it won't be easy. What Coyote games are you looking forward to?

Phoenix Coyotes Build a Stalwart Defense in The Desert

Chris Hoeler — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:57:00 -0400

The Phoenix Coyotes blue line went through a major overhaul this offseason when Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton were traded to Florida as the main pieces of the Olli Jokinen trade.Going into free agency, Don Maloney was certainly going to be looking at a deep defensive crop.

However, speaking to him at the Coyotes Rookie Open House, he said that he would not be going after the big name free agents rather focusing on what he called "value" players. Guys that would be able to replace Boynton and Ballard and eat up the minutes they played and take over their role.

Maloney certainly did that this offseason. The first defenseman he signed was Kurt Sauer. Kurt is a big kid at 6'4 220 pounds and is only 27 years old. He has played with Colorado for the past few seasons where he has excelled as a shutdown defenseman.

In a great article on Hockeybuzz, Daniel Tolensky broke down the number of minutes among Colorado defensemen going up against the big offensive producers in the Western Conference.

Tolensky was trying to show that the Toronto Maple Leafs had signed the wrong defenseman when they signed Jeff Finger to an outrageous contract and that they should have signed Kurt Sauer.

If you don't feel like reading it, it shows that Kurt Sauer was the man out there against those big name players like Iginla, Thornton, and Sedin. The points scored by these players on the ice against Sauer is not told, but the fact that Sauer was out there for these kinds of minutes shows the kind of skill and trust that was placed on him. He isn't a big point producer but he will definitely help prevent points from being scored.

The other defenseman that the Coyotes snagged was David Hale. He is another young defenseman at 27 years old who played for Calgary. While not a big point producer, Hale is a good depth defenseman who will play a safe style knowing that in his case defense is more important than offense. He is still looking for his first NHL goal.

It would be nice to see him get it this year but as long as he does his job as a lower pairing defenseman I will be happy with this acquisition.

These two players join Ed Jovanovski, Derek Morris, Zbynek Michalek, and Keith Yandle (maybe) on the blue line. Jovanovski finally played a full season this past year and set a career high in points with 51 (12 goals, 39 assists).

He finally looked like the defenseman that the Coyotes signed to that big contract. This year he will be looking to not only improve on his point total but also provide leadership on a blue line that is relatively young with an average age of 27 when the season starts.

Derek Morris is coming into a contract year this upcoming season and will also be providing leadership as one of the alternate captains to captain Shane Doan. His defensive play improved greatly this year even though his offensive production has been better than recently.

The Coyotes will be looking for that same defensive play along with a bit more offense to help stabilize the defense.

One of the most unknown yet best young blue liners in the game is Zbynek Michalek. He spent much of last year playing with Jovanovski primarily as a defensive partner rather than in an offensive role.

He is a young guy who is learning how to be a solid defensive force on the blue line while also learning the offensive skills needed to become an effective puck moving defenseman. Hopefully he can move off the pairing with Jovanovski and show his abilities that he showed when playing his first few seasons with Keith Ballard, scoring 20+ points each year.

The last spot on defense is sort of a mystery. Matt Jones just signed a one way contract that could give him the spot if he can earn it. However, young defenseman Keith Yandle is certainly making a run at it. He played 43 games with Phoenix last year tallying 5 goals and 7 assists.

Not much right now but he has the skills to become a very good puck mover in the NHL someday and the Coyotes are counting on him to be that considering their lack of prospect depth on defense relative to the rest of the team (Chris Summers is a name you will be hearing soon).

He had some defensive lapses this past year but if he is paired with someone like David Hale who focuses on defense most of the time, then Yandle should be able to loosen up the grip on his stick and play a simpler game rather than trying to do too much at once.

The Coyotes certainly lost 2 big names on the blue line in Ballard and Boynton. Keith Ballard is a great young defenseman whose hip checks are second to none while Nick Boynton brought grit and a bit of an edge to the back end. But the additions of Sauer and Hale along with the growth of Michalek and Yandle, and the leadership of Morris and Jovanovski will be plenty to let this blue line really improve from last year and be an effective defense for the team to be supported on.

Things are really looking up in Phoenix.

Image found via Google Image search here

Phoenix Coyotes' Crease Set for the Long Haul

Chris Hoeler — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:15:00 -0400

When it comes to the Phoenix Coyotes, one of the bigger question marks over the years has been goaltending.

After Nikolai Khabibulin left, Sean Burke took over, followed by Brian Boucher. And despite the fact Boucher set the record for longest shutout streak in a Phoenix uniform, the Coyotes were still looking for stability.

Following a troublesome time in the Motor City, Curtis Joseph came along and had a few solid years in Phoenix. But even the man they call CuJo wasn't the answer, as his age seemed to be catching up with him.

At the beginning of this year, Mikael Tellqvist was the starting goalie, with Alex Auld and David Aebischer behind him on the depth chart. Tellqvist was (and still is) a good goalie—but he isn't a starting goaltender in the NHL on a night-to-night basis, which still left a void between the pipes for the Coyotes.

Don Maloney needed to find someone who could be the bona-fide number-one goalie. They looked at Anaheim's backup Ilya Bryzgalov, but Brian Burke was asking for more than Don Maloney was willing to give.

However, Burke had promised Bryzgalov he would get him to a place where he could be the number-one guy. Due to a J.S. Giguere's ownership of the crease in Anaheim, Bryzgalov was put on waivers with Burke knowing that someone would take him.

Don Maloney pounced, and the Coyotes had the man they were looking for.

Bryzgalov met the Coyotes in L.A. and played in a game vs the Kings. Not only did he win, but it was a shutout—signaling that the Coyotes had finally found their man.

With Bryzgalov starting and Tellqvist backing him up, the Coyotes made a surprising run towards the playoffs—but ultimately fell short.

So with last year in the books, what does the future hold for the 'Yotes new number-one netminder?

Bryzgalov is a young goalie—only 28 years old. But the Coyotes have always been sure to look to the future, and there are three promising goaltenders that have really caught the eye of this team.

The first goalie is Josh Tordjman. Last year's starter in San Antonio (the Coyotes' farm team), Josh posted a 2.65 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage, along with 22 wins. His stellar play over the last few seasons in the Coyotes farm system has him penciled in as the Rampage's starting goalie for next season.

However, a trade at the deadline this past February brought in a Maloney draft pick from his New York days: Al Montoya was acquired by the Coyotes and somewhat of a goaltending controversy was created in the AHL.

Despite Montoya's sub-par year last season, he is a solid goaltender who, with a little help, could get back to his high potential and really become a great prospect again.

His 2006-2007 season was where he really turned things on, with a 2.30 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage. Look for him to seriously battle with Tordjman for the top spot in San Antonio this coming year.

The third goalie that I am talking about is probably someone not many people know, considering he played in Europe in each of his previous professional seasons.

Joel Gistedt has spent the last 2 years in Frolunda, Sweden, where he has turned into a goaltender with realistic NHL dreams. He really impressed me when I saw him at the Coyotes prospect development camp here in Phoenix.

Any Ranger fan who watches him would say he looks exactly like another Swedish goaltender on Broadway, who received consideration for the Vezina trophy this past season.

He has unbelievable leg speed and really could turn into a surprise for Phoenix. He was one of the best goaltending prospects at the 2007 draft, and really could be something interesting to watch for the Coyotes.

However, with Tordjman and Montoya in front of him now however, look for him to start in the ECHL with the Arizona Sun Dogs, who will be looking to repeat as league champions.

For the first time in a long time, the Coyotes goaltending situation isn't a question mark in the present or for the future—it is actually their most stocked position.

But for now, Bryzgalov could make it something really special, don't you think?

Top 10 Phoenix Coyotes of All Time: 1-5

Chris Hoeler — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 12:28:57 -0400

Here are spots 1-5 of the Top 10 Phoenix Coyotes of All Time:

5. Jeremy Roenick: Yes the article photo is misleading. But my favorite player of all time comes in at number 5. JR came to Phoenix after being traded for Alexei Zhamnov and other assets when the Winnipeg Jets first moved to Phoenix and he was an instant sensation.

His attitude and style of play helped get the Coyotes off the ground in Phoenix and he was the center piece of attention both on the ice and off. He ranks 8th all time in points for the franchise but his impact for the organization during the transition years is what makes him a great Coyote.

4. Keith Tkachuk: He came to Phoenix from Winnipeg and continued his scoring ways. After a 50 goal season in Winnipeg's last year, Tkachuk scored 52 to break his record and lead the team in goals that year. He ranks 2nd all time in goals with 323 and 3rd in points with 623. Tkachuk was a great player in his days with the Coyotes and was eventually traded to St. Louis. He definitely deserves to be on this list in helping the Coyotes get their faces on the NHL map.

3. Thomas Steen: Spots 2 and 3 were the toughest to decide but Steen falls in at number 3 on this list. He ranks 2nd all time in points with 817 points managing to do this even with an injury plagued career. He was a captain for Winnipeg and is one of the few to have his number retired. He is now a scout for the Phoenix Coyotes.

2. Teppo Numminen: At number 2 comes the best defenseman in the history of the Coyotes and Jets. He has played the most games of anyone in a Jet/Coyote uniform with 1098, 15 years. And despite the fact he was on some very bad teams, Numminen's defensive play was absolutely stellar, managing to keep a +42 out of all his years. He is 5th on the all time list with 534 points. His number will certainly be retired once he does.

1. Dale Hawerchuk: As my esteemed colleague Ian Froese guessed in a comment on the last article, Dale Hawerchuk is number 1 on the list. He has the most points and goals all time. He scored 100 or more points in all but two of his seasons with Winnipeg, his best coming in the 1984-1985 season when he had 130 points (53 goals, 77 assists).

He was a captain for Winnipeg and is definitely looked at as the trend setter in the franchise's history. Guys like Peter Mueller, Kyle Turris, Mikkel Boedker, and other young Coyotes should be looking to him as the person they should try to replicate. Although that may change with Shane Doan coming on fast.

It is these 10 guys that make up the best of the best in the history of the Coyotes franchise. They may not all have the tops in points but their impact on the franchise are greater than anyone else who has ever put on the uniform of the Jet or Coyote.

Image of Jeremy Roenick found via Google Image search here

Hope everyone enjoyed. What do you think?

Top 10 Phoenix Coyotes of All Time: 6-10

Chris Hoeler — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:08:53 -0400

The Coyotes have had some great players in their history starting back in 1979 when the organization came into the NHL as the Winnipeg Jets. This is going to be a two part analysis with the second article coming at some point in the near future. Not sure when, but here are 10-6.

10. Alexei Zhamnov: Zhamnov was a catalyst at center for the Winnipeg Jets in their later years and led the team in numerous offensive categories during the 1994-1995 season and had his best years of his career with the Jets.

9. Phil Housley: Certainly one of the best American born players of all time, Housley definitely deserves to be on this list. He only played 3 years but ended up with 259 points in a Jet uniform and was an anchor for their power play for all three years.

8. Nikolai Khabibulin: The best goaltender in Jets/Coyotes history comes in at number 8. His dominating play led the Coyotes in their early years to the playoffs until he was traded to Tampa Bay where he won a Stanley Cup. While he was not a leader in any statistical category, his 126 wins are 2nd all time (1 behind Bob Essensa) and his Goals Against Average of 2.75 is one of the better marks in the history.

7. Teemu Selanne: It is a shame that Selanne left Winnipeg after almost 4 seasons. His rookie year remains the best rookie year in the history of the NHL with 76 goals and 56 assists for 132 points. An absolute remarkable year, and a feat that hasn't been broken yet. While this was his best year with the Jets, it still puts him on this list. It is too bad that he was traded.

6. Shane Doan: The only remaining Jet on the Coyotes roster is now the captain and slowly climbing the ranks as one of the greatest players in Coyotes history. He is 4th on the career points list and 5th on the goals list. He is one of the best captains this organization has ever had and could end up being their best ever, especially if he can lead the team to its first ever Stanley Cup.

Spots 1-5 will be coming up tomorrow. Stay Tuned...