NHL FanHouse

2-on-1: Playoff Pretenders & Contenders

Christopher Botta — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Avalanche, Bruins, Coyotes, Ducks, Lightning, Senators, Thrashers

Every Monday during the season two of our hockey writers will debate one topic. It's the 2-on-1. This week, Chris Botta and Adam Gretz break down who's for real and who isn't at the quarter-pole of the NHL season.

Chris Botta: In dealing with contenders and pretenders, Adam, let's start off with a pair of teams that no one in our business had sniffing the playoffs. I'm talking, of course, about the Colorado Avalanche and the New York Islanders. My position is that we are still at least another 20 games away from knowing if they are legitimate contenders for playoff berths. However, both should be congratulated for already making something of their seasons when everyone thought they'd be playing for Taylor Hall. Do you think the Avalanche and Islanders are for real as playoff contenders?

Adam Gretz: Yeah, I figured the draft lottery would be the only thing these teams would be playing for this season, but if I had to pick one as a serious playoff contender right now, I think I'd still lean toward Colorado, even with their rough stretch over the past two weeks.

I think the Islanders deserve a ton of credit for what they've been able to do this season because even when they're not winning, they're still in just about every game. But when I look at the roster I just don't see a serious playoff contender. At least not yet. Especially in a division that has Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New Jersey and the Rangers. I just can't see the Islanders competing with that group all season, especially with some of the other improved teams around the Eastern Conference.

"I said to captain Shane Doan, 'I don't think you guys are The Little Team That Could.' He said, 'Shush, don't tell anyone. I know we've got a good team, but we don't want anyone to know it.'"
-- Christopher Botta on the Coyotes' Solid Start Of course, that's not to say that Colorado is a slam-dunk playoff team, either, but of the two, I think the Avs have a better shot. Especially since they don't have to compete with the Atlantic Division teams.

Chris Botta: I agree that the 'Lanche have the better shot of the two teams right now. Unless Garth Snow decides to use -- or is allowed to use -- the $147 million in cap space he has to acquire a veteran defenseman and maybe also a solid forward, the Islanders are not quite ready for prime time. That's far from the end of the world. Thanks to John Tavares being even better as a 19-year-old than most thought, the Islanders are actually ahead of schedule.

There are three other teams in the East surpassing expectations: Ottawa, Tampa Bay and Atlanta. My feeling is the Lightning are the least surprising. When your lineup starts with three studs like Martin St. Louis, Steven Stamkos and Vincent Lecavalier, as long as you get decent goaltending you should be able to contend for a seventh or eighth seed. Cory Clouston has done a fine job with the Senators, and that's with Jason Spezza not scoring. I'm telling you, Adam, I don't know how much you have seen of the Thrashers, but they are fun to watch. I'll admit that part of me is rooting for them because John Anderson's style has a lot of entertainment value.

Are you a true believer in Ottawa, Tampa Bay or Atlanta? I should add that it's hard to get a read these days. Let's face it: with the shootout, a record like the Bolts' unwieldy 8-4-7 doesn't always provide the most accurate picture.

Adam Gretz: Of the three teams you mentioned, I'm definitely a believer in Atlanta. Before the season I had them as a contender for the No. 8 playoff spot (and John Anderson was my sleeper for coach of the year). Not saying they'll get in, but I think they can hang around, especially if they keep Kovalchuk (even if it's a Jay Bouwmeester-desperation attempt that ends up blowing up in their faces). I think their top-four on defense is as good as they've ever had, and Maxim Afinogenov is actually scoring some goals. If they ever get Bryan Little going again I think this could absolutely be a dangerous team at the bottom of the playoff picture.

I think the biggest surprise out of those three, to me, is Ottawa. Here's a team that didn't have any offense to speak of a season ago when they had a two-time 50-goal scorer in the lineup. Take Dany Heatley's production out of that equation and I figured the bottom would just fall out. Mike Fisher has had a nice bounceback season, and Michalek seems like he's starting to settle in as well.

Still, at the quarter point, if I had to rank them in order of playoff probability I think I'd go 1) Atlanta, 2) Ottawa, 3) Tampa Bay.

Chris Botta: This is the part of our conversation where I'd want to take a reverse-angle look and talk about the teams in the East we thought would be good but are near the bottom of the pack. Fact is, there aren't any. The only top-talent team that has only been so-so is Boston, but for all the Bruins' struggles they are 10-8-2 and in the top eight. When they get Marc Savard back, they should climb higher. So let's move on to the West.

Besides Colorado, the other happy surprise in Phoenix. While the Coyotes are a nice Cinderella tale for their Slap Shot, who-ownz-the-team existence, a record of 13-9-2 seems about right for them. They have talent, experience and one of the best goalies in Ilya Bryzgalov.

When they were in New York a few weeks ago, about a half-dozen reporters showed up at the Coyotes' morning skate at the Garden to write the obligatory stories about how they're overcoming the odds and some unique circumstances. I said to captain Shane Doan, "I don't think you guys are the Little Team That Could." He said, "Shush, don't tell anyone. I know we've got a good team, but we don't want anyone to know it."

Adam Gretz: Funny you mention the Coyotes and people showing up to write about them. I saw them in Pittsburgh during the second week of the season and there was nobody there covering them. I think the post-game locker room session had me, an AP reporter and one Phoenix radio guy. It was almost as if people had already given up on them.

For me, I'm kind of shocked by the slow starts from Anaheim and St. Louis. With the Blues, they overcame injuries to just about every player on the roster last year (or so it seemed) and found themselves in the top-six of the Western Conference. I figured that with a healthy team, young guys having another year of experience (playoff experience) under their belts would be huge. But here we are. I'm not sure if it can be blamed on the European hangover or expectations that might have been too high coming in, but a .500 record isn't what I had this team pegged at. Not at all. On the plus side, David Perron is starting to pick it up but guys like Patrick Berglund and T.J. Oshie have been rather large disappointments.

Speaking of which, what's up with the Anaheim Ducks? Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry are looking great, but they currently have the worst record in the Western Conference, third-worst overall. This is a team that knocked out the team that won the Presidents Trophy last year, and took Detroit to a Game 7. I think in the long run the Chris Pronger trade could really benefit them, not only with Luca Sbisa, but the boatload of first-round picks, but in the short term their defense has gone from a rather menacing group to one that is far less intimidating.

Chris Botta: You nailed it, Adam. There are several nice surprises this year -- Colorado and the rest of the team we've mentioned. The Ducks are really the only major disappointment so far. Wouldn't it be something if they decide to re-tool and move Scott Niedermayer to a contender for another package of picks and prospects, like they got for Pronger? On the bright side, Anaheim could re-build in two trades. I don't like their chances of turning around their season in a significant way. When Niedermayer started thinking about a trade and Jean-Sebastian Giguere said he'd rather retire than be a backup -- I would love to see the Ducks call his bluff -- it just doesn't seem to be their season.

Rapid Fire time. Individual performances at the quarter pole:

Biggest Surprises: Chris -- Matt Moulson, Maxim Afinogenov; Adam -- Moulson, of course, and Dustin Penner.

Biggest Duds: Chris -- Jason Spezza (one goal in 18 games), Michal Rozsival (sixth d-man making $5 million a year); Adam -- Mike Komisarek.

Player Most Likely to Take Off: Chris -- Phil Kessel; Adam -- Evgeni Malkin has been off to a slow start, he's due to bust out.

2-on-1: Playoff Pretenders & Contenders originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plus/Minus: A Rarity From Ryan Miller

Adam Gretz — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coyotes, Sabres, Stars

We're trying something different to replace the old Newsmakers in the NHL posts. Hopefully you'll like it. Each weekday we'll take a look at one positive performance from the previous night (a plus), and one negative performance from the previous night (a minus). It's the plus/minus.Tell us what you think at nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

More Coverage: Wednesday's NHL Scoreboard

Plus Of The Day: Brad Richards, Dallas Stars

We've already discussed the ridiculous call in the Dallas-Detroit game on Wednesday night, but there were also some strong individual performances from the Stars, including veteran center Brad Richards who finished the night with two assists, three shots on goal, and was credited with a takeaway in the 3-1 win. He also won 60 percent of his faceoffs, including a 6-for-7 performance against Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg.

Loui Eriksson also played a solid game for Dallas, finishing with a goal and three blocked shots, while goaltender Alex Auld stopped 31 shots (well, if you count that one...) in what was easily his best start of the season.

The Red Wings had entered the game riding a three-game winning streak that had seen them outscore their opponents by a 19-6 margin.

Minus Of The Day: Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo's Ryan Miller has been the best goalie in hockey this season, so he's entitled to an off night every now and then, and Wednesday's performance can probably be qualified as an off night. He surrendered five goals on 23 shots in the Sabres' 6-2 loss to Florida, and it was only the fourth time this season his save percentage for a single game was below .900.

Not all of the goals can be pinned completely on him (there were a couple of times where he was left out to dry), but the tally from Stephen Weiss at the 1:21 mark of the second period came after a terrible giveaway by Miller, which is enough to earn him "minus" status for the day. He had allowed just four goals in his three previous starts.

Michael Frolik scored a pair of goals in the win for Florida, while defenseman Keith Ballard recorded three assists.

Highlight Of The Day: Just 19 seconds after Antti Miettinen tied the game at two for Minnesota, Scottie Upshall responded with his seventh goal of the season to help lead the Coyotes to a 3-2 win.

Plus/Minus: A Rarity From Ryan Miller originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plus/Minus: Giving Credit to the Islanders

Adam Gretz — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coyotes, Flyers, Islanders

More Coverage: Monday's NHL Scoreboard

Plus Of The Day: The New York Islanders

It's still very early in the season, obviously, but after their 4-1 win in Boston on Monday night, the New York Islanders find themselves as the No. 7 team in the Eastern Conference. Seriously. I don't care if its November 17 or not, this is a team that entered the season with zero expectations. They may not always be pretty, and they may be benefiting from the NHL's point system that rewards teams for losing in overtime or a shootout (the Islanders have lost three games in overtime, and four in a shootout), but they're at least competing and have been in just about every game they've played (nine of their losses have been by just one goal).

On an individual level, Matt Moulson has to be one of the biggest out-of-nowhere surprises in the NHL this season, and he continued his impressive start by scoring two goals on Monday. He was also a plus-two and finished with three shots on goal, and was originally credited with a third goal -- which would have been the first hat trick of his career -- before it was awarded to No. 1 overall pick John Tavares.

Moulson, a former ninth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Penguins, now leads the Islanders with 10 goals and is second (trailing only Tavares) with 18 points.

Elsewhere for New York on Monday, veteran forward Richard Park recorded three assists, while goaltender Dwayne Roloson stopped 28 of 29 shots to pick up the win.

Minus Of The Day: Jason LaBarbera, Phoenix Coyotes

Coyotes goaltender Jason LaBarbera wasn't asked to do all that much on Monday, facing only 19 shots against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Despite the relatively light workload, he still surrendered four goals (including at least one that could be classified as being on the "soft" side) in a 4-1 loss.

After a fast 9-4 start out of the gate, Phoenix has now lost five of its last seven games. Also a minus, from the AP: "The announced crowd was 9,503, ending a three-game streak of five-figure attendance."

Highlight Of The Day: The New Jersey Devils finally lost their first road game of the season, dropping a 3-2 decision in Philadelphia. The loss not only ended their nine-game road winning streak, it also snapped an eight-game winning streak overall. Flyers rookie James van Riemsdyk scored what proved to be the game-winner at the 10:38 mark of the third period when he pounced on a loose puck in the slot and ripped it past Devils goalie Martin Brodeur.

Plus/Minus: Giving Credit to the Islanders originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Peter Budaj Gets Win In First Start Following Swine Flu

Adam Gretz — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Avalanche, Coyotes

Newsmakers in the NHL: During the regular season it's our weekday look at the previous night's action and some of the story lines taking place around the league. Have a tip or something you want linked? Send it in to nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

Avalanche 4, Coyotes 1: Peter Budaj missed his first scheduled start of the season after he was diagnosed with swine flu. On Wednesday, he finally had a chance to step on the ice and stopped 28 shots in Colorado's 4-1 win against Phoenix, in what was a battle of early season surprises in the Western Conference.

Milan Hejduk scored a pair of goals for the Avs, who also received tallies from Marek Svatos and David Jones.

The win snaps a two-game losing streak for Colorado, and moves it back into a tie with Pittsburgh for the most points in the NHL with 24.

Wednesday's game was only the fourth time the Avs were not out-shot in a game this season (both teams finished with 29 shots on goal), while Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 25 of 28 shots in the loss for Phoenix. Ed Jovanovski spoiled Budaj's shutout bid at the 9:52 mark of the third period.

Wednesday's Other Games

Devils 3, Capitals 2: Washington dropped its first game without Alex Ovechkin, as Niclas Bergfors scored a pair of power play goals in the third period to lead New Jersey.

Sharks 3, Blue Jackets 2: Steve Mason turned aside 36 shots for Columbus, but it wasn't quite enough as the Blue Jackets dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the Sharks. Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley scored in regulation, while Dan Boyle tallied the only goal in the shootout.

Panthers 3, Hurricanes 0: Another game, another loss for the Hurricanes as they get blanked by Tomas Vokoun and the Panthers. Vokoun stopped 31 shots -- including 21 in the first period -- to earn his second consecutive shutout.

Sabres 3, Islanders 0: Ryan Miller recorded his second shutout of the season as Buffalo ended the Islanders five game winning streak.

Flames 3, Stars 2: Daymond Langkow tied the game with 49 seconds to play in regulation and Jarome Iginla scored his second goal of the game in overtime to lead Calgary to a 3-2 win in Dallas.

Loose Pucks

-- The NHL handed out some discipline following the chaos that unfolded during Tuesday's Rangers-Canucks game. New York head coach John Tortorella has been fined, and Dane Byers has been suspended one game for instigating a fight late in the third period. [Blueshirt Banter]

-- The league-wide run on injuries continues -- though, this isn't exactly a new one -- as Atlanta Thrashers goaltender Kari Lehtonen is going to miss six-to-eight weeks following back surgery. He has yet to play this season. [TSN]

Video Of The Day

Daymond Langkow's game-tying goal with less than a minute to play in the third period:

Thursday's Key Games

Bruins vs. Canadiens: One of the best rivalries in hockey gets renewed when Boston and Montreal meet for the first time this season. The two teams met in the playoffs each of the past two seasons, with each club winning once. The Canadiens have lost nine straight games to the Bruins.

Sharks vs. Red Wings: San Jose carries a six-game winning streak into The Motor City on Thursday night, and has allowed just nine goals during its current run.

Penguins vs. Kings: Exciting matchup in Los Angeles as the Penguins put their unbeaten road record on the line against the league's leading scorer, Anze Kopitar, and the rest of the Kings.

Peter Budaj Gets Win In First Start Following Swine Flu originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hi, My Name Is ... Chris Brown

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coyotes, NHL Draft, College Hockey

Every Tuesday, FanHouse discusses the top NHL prospects found in college hockey.

It's been a pretty good start to the season for Michigan. The Wolverines took care of business on the road last weekend, sweeping Lake Superior State (Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.) to open their Central Collegiate Hockey Association schedule.

Even though junior star Louie Caporusso (NHL rights: Ottawa) has just one goal in the Wolverines' first six games, Michigan has gotten early contributions from a highly-touted freshman.

Second-round draft pick Chris Brown (Phoenix) was expected to become a really good player for Michigan. It was likely not assumed that he would rip off four goals and six points in their first six games. Brown had two goals in a 6-3 win Saturday over Lake Superior State that finished off the weekend sweep.

Brown has been playing on a line with experienced forwards Matt Rust (Florida) and Carl Hagelin (N.Y. Rangers). Surely, working with a pair that has combined for over 100 points at Michigan has helped Brown make the transition to college. The former Dallas Junior Stars product came to Michigan from the U.S. National Team Development Program, which is based in Ann Arbor. He is one of seven NTDP products currently skating in the Maize and Blue.

While he's a good skater, Brown has to get some more muscle. He projects as more of a power forward as he gets older, and 195 pounds is not going to be enough for him to play that type of role. The Coyotes are likely to be patient with Brown, as they have done a good job letting young players develop in college before turning them pro.

Certainly, Brown is in the right program and with the right coach (legendary Red Berenson) to fulfill his potential and be a polished product for Phoenix to sign, even if it takes two or three years to make it happen.

Not only that, but Brown is likely to have opportunities to experience elite-level college hockey while he's at Michigan. The Wolverines are an NCAA Tournament regular, and this year's team is anxious to atone for a loss to underdog Air Force in last year's first round.

Other Players to Watch

Hopefully, this isn't the sign of a jinx on this column. Last week's subject, Denver goalie Marc Cheverie (Florida), was injured Friday in a collision with a Minnesota State (Mankato) player. Forward Justin Jokinen (Buffalo) was driving the net when he was tripped by Denver defenseman Patrick Wiercioch (Ottawa). Jokinen's skate caught Cheverie in the leg, and the ensuing cut required stitches at a local hospital. Cheverie could miss a couple weeks for the Pioneers, who won Friday and tied Saturday's series finale. There is no blood visible at any point in this video, which gives you a better idea of what happened.

Minnesota finally won games and scored goals this weekend, sweeping Alaska-Anchorage 5-1 and 4-1 at home. Captain Tony Lucia (San Jose) -- head coach Don Lucia's son -- scored three times and assisted on two other goals in the series. 2009 first-round pick Jordan Schroeder (Vancouver) had two assists in each game for his first four points of the season.

New Hampshire was whipped pretty badly in Madison over the weekend. The Wildcats were outshot 94-35 and outscored 10-2 in a non-conference sweep by Wisconsin. The Badgers have a couple well-known prospects on their blue line, including former first-round picks Ryan McDonagh (N.Y. Rangers) and Jake Gardiner (Anaheim). Junior Brendan Smith (Detroit) was the star against UNH, however, racking up four assists and playing very well in his own zone.

Boston University and UMass-Lowell split a home-and-home series in Hockey East. The defending national champions needed a Colby Cohen (Colorado) goal to steal Friday's game at Lowell in overtime. UML senior Ben Holmstrom (undrafted) scored a power-play goal in the second period that proved to be the game-winner in Boston on Saturday. BU sophomore defenseman David Warsofsky (St. Louis) had a good weekend, scoring twice on Friday and picking up an assist in Saturday's game.

Merrimack is off to a good start this season, thanks in large part to high-scoring forwards Chris Barton and Stephane Da Costa (both undrafted). The pair combined for two goals and seven points in a home-and-home split against Boston College over the weekend (each team won on their home ice). Barton leads the team with seven goals and ten points in eight games, while Da Costa -- who scored five goals in his Merrimack debut -- has eight points in four games. Merrimack, a longtime cellar dweller who hasn't had a winning season since joining Hockey East 20 years ago, sits at 5-3 overall and 2-1 in conference play.

Cornell stars Riley Nash (Edmonton) and Colin Greening (Ottawa) each had two points in the Big Red's season-opening 3-2 overtime win over Niagara Friday.

Hi, My Name Is ... Chris Brown originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Moyes Agrees to Sell Coyotes to NHL

Tom Mantzouranis — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:22:00 EST

Filed under: Coyotes, NHL Economics

We are one step closer to some semblance of finality surrounding the Phoenix Coyotes, after owner Jerry Moyes (pictured right) agreed to sell the franchise to the NHL. The agreement was announced in U.S. Bankruptcy Court Monday, but still must be approved by Judge Redfield T. Baum. Attorneys say the deal is for $128 million.

With no money to cover the franchise's expenses, and the inability to sell to Jim Balsillie after the court nixed that idea, selling the franchise to the league was Moyes' only realistic answer. They'll take control of the day-to-day operations of the franchise while looking to find an independent owner. Of course, after the way this has played out, any prospective owners who would move the team out of Arizona need not apply.

In a Monday statement, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said: "In Phoenix today, a tentative agreement was reached among the parties to amend the NHL's offer to purchase the Coyotes franchise out of bankruptcy, and a proposed order, mutually agreed to by the parties, will be filed with the Court seeking approval of the NHL's amended bid.

"If there is no objection from the parties involved, and subject to any potential objections and a hearing if necessary, the parties hope to close the sale of the Club to the NHL by Monday, November 2.

"It remains the NHL's intention upon taking control of the Club to stabilize the Club's operations and, as quickly as possible, to re-sell the Club to a new owner who is committed to operating the Club in the Glendale/Phoenix market."

Daly confirmed that NHL officials, including commissioner Gary Bettman, met on Monday with representatives of Ice Edge, a group that has said it plans to keep the team in suburban Glendale. Daly said other potential buyers have also expressed interest, but he didn't identify them.

Last month, Baum rejected outright Balsillie's offer to buy the team for $242 million and move it to Canada. The judge also turned down the NHL offer but he left the door open for the league to purchase the franchise if it amended its bid to treat Moyes and Gretzky, the ex-coach, more favorably.

Monday's agreement is essentially the same as the NHL's original bid.

"Clearly, from an understanding, it remains unchanged," Daly said. Given the dire financial circumstances surrounding the club, however, Moyes couldn't afford to sit around for a better offer that clearly wasn't coming, even if accepting this one means taking a loss that is reported to be close to $100 million.

The agreement would provide the nearly $80 million that is owed SOF Investment, the largest secured creditor, and the NHL would get the $37 million it is owed for funding the team since last fall.

Between $9 million and $11 million would be available to be divided between Moyes and Gretzky.

The situation is similar to that of the Montreal Expos, the Major League Baseball team that was purchased and operated by the league, moved to Washington, and sold from the league to the Lerner Enterprises group.

The Coyotes have struggled thus far this season to get fans to come to games. After a rare sellout at their home opener, the team has had a tough time topping 10,000 in attendance per game.

Yet ironically, amidst all the turmoil and uncertainty that has surrounded the Coyotes for months, including a climactic September that saw then-coach and partial owner Wayne Gretzky go MIA while everything was being worked out and eventually resign, the team is doing well. Despite Monday night's 5-2 loss to the Rangers, the Coyotes still have 12 points (6-4-0), good enough for eighth place in the West. For a team under the circumstances the Coyotes are facing, and given their expectations for the year, that sort of start is near miraculous.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

Moyes Agrees to Sell Coyotes to NHL originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coyotes Giving Away Free Tickets ... If They Win

Christopher Botta — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:26:00 EST

Filed under: Coyotes, NHL Fans, NHL Economics, FanHouse Exclusive

The Phoenix Coyotes, in need of building up a wounded fan base and putting warm fannies in the seats, have come up with quite the marketing initiative. Branded "Join The Pack!" (their exclamation point) with the kicker "We Win, You Win," the Coyotes will give fans attending any of the following five games a free ticket to a game later in the season if the team wins:

Oct. 24 vs. LA

Nov. 14 vs. Dallas

Dec. 5 vs. Ottawa

Jan. 16 vs. Minnesota

Feb. 13 vs. Dallas

All five are Saturday games, a depressing illustration of the box office challenges facing the Coyotes with the franchise's very existence in question. With Thursday's gate attendance an estimated 5,000 setting the bar, the organization may be waving the towel on weeknight games. Give management credit for being realistic.

The idea to distribute potentially thousands of free tickets if the Coyotes win any or all of the five games was undoubtedly pondered by Phoenix executives for a while. There are many pro and cons -- or, since this is hockey, Pluses and Minuses. Let's analyze:

Minus: Any time you comp or deeply discount your tickets, you're devaluing them. Why would Coyotes fans ever pay full price? Why would they ever buy season tickets?

Plus: Guess that's not really the Coyotes' biggest problem right now!

Minus: If you're a player on the Kings, Stars (twice), Senators or Wild, you have some added motivation. As they put on the foil pre-game, you can just hear the captain saying, "Phoenix thinks we stink so bad, they're giving away free tickets if they beat us!" Or there's the Gipper-esque rallying cry, "If they beat us, they're comping thousands of free tickets and as NHLPA members we lose more of our escrow!"

Plus: The way new head coach Dave Tippett has the Coyotes focused and executing a smart gameplan, they could still beat the psyched up (and psyched out) Kings, Stars, Senators and Wild.

Minus: When you really think about it, these "We Win, You Win" games create stakes that are not far removed from a gambling environment. ("Hey, why did Tippett put Bissonnette, Jovanovski and Vandermeer in the shootout? Did he get a call from upstairs saying the team didn't want to give away any more free tickets?")

Plus: Nah. The Phoenix Coyotes have plenty of good seats available in all sections.

Plus: In the final analysis, Coyotes management is doing the right thing. There are many passionate hockey fans in the Phoenix area. The team has a general manager (Don Maloney) with a plan, an excellent head coach, several skilled young players and a captain in Shane Doan who deserves to be a winner.

With "We Win, You Win!" the Phoenix staff is focused on getting some energy in the stands and reminding people a hockey game is a good night out. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. You never know -- the Coyotes could stick around a while.

Coyotes Giving Away Free Tickets ... If They Win originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:26:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Backchecking With ... Scottie Upshall

Adam Gretz — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coyotes, FanHouse Exclusive

We get to know NHL players with some quick questions. Today's subject: Phoenix Coyotes forward Scottie Upshall, who talks about his love of music, the grind of playing in the NHL, and which player he would like to get with a good, clean check.

What is your earliest hockey memory?

Walking out of my house back home in Fort McMurry (Alberta), my dad had our deck in our backyard, and he always had it frozen over. He had a sheet of plastic and some ice out there and I remember the winters being so cold, and being old enough just to pretty much walk, and my dad would have me out there on probably an 8-by-10-foot deck just skating around. That's probably my earliest memory of being on skates and having a stick in my hands.

What are your favorite, and least favorite, things about playing in the NHL?

Favorite thing about being in the NHL is definitely having the opportunity to play a game I love in great cities across North America, and having an opportunity for my close friends and my family to be able to watch play me at an elite level. Just having the opportunity to be in this position and to play for the Stanley Cup every year is pretty special.

I'd say my least favorite thing about being in the NHL would be the tough travel. Eighty-two games throughout the course of six months, I mean, it can be pretty tough. I love traveling, but at times when you're playing three games in five nights in three different cities it definitely takes a toll. And having to play against guys like Jordin Tootoo and Sean Avery, who run around and try to take your head off.

Do you have any hidden or special talents off the ice?

I've been known to swing the golf clubs around pretty good. I love music. I took up the guitar about three years ago, and more or less just the background of music in general and experiencing it firsthand. I think if hockey didn't work out I'd love to get into the music business.

I'm a big fan of alternative music; I love Pearl Jam, I love a band called Phoenix right now ... there's a lot that I like. I like Radiohead, I like Coldplay, I love Jay-Z. I love pretty much everything except country.

Do you have any superstitions or pregame rituals?

Not really. I'm not the most superstitious guy. I like to just get prepared and I play the same tunes before every game. I'm in control of the music in the locker room so I make sure I have some good beats going on.

I like to know who we're playing, who is in the lineup, who is not, and just be prepared for the goalie that we face. Other than that, nothing much.

Who is the one player in the NHL you would like to get a good, hard, clean open-ice hit on? And don't be afraid to be honest.

Oh man ... maybe Ryan Kesler.

Who, in your mind, is the toughest player in the NHL to play against? The one guy that when you see his name in the lineup you think 'Aw man, this guy is a pain in the ass to play against.'

I'd probably have to go with Brenden Morrow from Dallas.

Backchecking With ... Scottie Upshall originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dave Tippett, Coyotes Talk About Shutting Out the Champs

Adam Gretz — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coyotes, Penguins, NHL Press Box

PITTSBURGH -- The Phoenix Coyotes opened their season on Saturday with an impressive 6-3 win over a Los Angeles Kings team that many are predicting as a playoff team in the Western Conference this season.

On Wednesday, the Coyotes were perhaps even better in what was a rather surprising 3-0 win over the defending Stanley Cup Champion Penguins, in Pittsburgh -- a fact that was mentioned multiple times in an excited Coyotes locker room following the game.

"I think it's a very important two points for us," said Coyotes goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, who stopped all 24 shots he faced for his ninth career shutout. "Especially since we're facing the defending Stanley Cup champion it was a big challenge for us. I think we played very well."

The Coyotes did play well, and they spent much of the night on the power play, converting on two of their nine chances throughout the game. They had three power play opportunities in the first period alone, including a four-minute advantage after Evgeni Malkin was sent off for high-sticking Keith Yandle in the offensive zone. Ed Jovanovski scored what proved to be the game-winner on the ensuing power play.

"I'm sure the people in Pittsburgh didn't like to be on the penalty kill for seven-and-a-half minutes in the first period," said Phoenix coach Dave Tippett. "But I thought our speed and our competitiveness drew some of those penalties. That's a credit to the players. They came out and they really fed off the energy of playing against the Stanley Cup champions and they did a lot of good things."

Pittsburgh looked off its game for much of the night, struggling to connect on passes, not generating much of a forecheck, and taking multiple penalties, including an interference call on Matt Cooke in front of the net that negated what would have been Alex Goligoski's first goal of the season.

"We competed hard," said Tippett. "We did a lot of the little things well. I didn't think we gave them a ton of chances. The penalty kill was much better tonight and Bryzgalov was excellent. We had a couple of power play goals that gave us the lead and then we just competed with hard, simple strong hockey to get the win."

Phoenix continues its season-opening three-game road trip on Thursday with a game in Buffalo.

"Another team that has ogood quickness and we'll have to go in there and play a similar kind of game," said Tippet. "A very disciplined game. "Make sure we're doing little things well, find a way to get a couple of goals and see if we can make this a great road trip.

Quotable

Dave Tippett on the possibility of Phoenix "sneaking up on teams" this season: "There's no sneaking up on anybody in this league. We have a very competitive group right now and we'll go into every game and compete as hard as we can and try to get the results that we want."

Dave Tippett on building confidence: "We talk about how confidence is earned all the time, when you come in here and beat the defending champions it continues to push our group going the right way."

Loose Pucks

Czech Connection. The line of Martin Hanzal, Petr Prucha and Radim Vrbata has been off to a fast start for the Coyotes, as the three countrymen have combined for four goals and three assists through the first two games of the season.

"It's great, it's just great," said Prucha following Wednesday's game. "We know each other and we're obviously playing with some great chemistry and scoring some goals. Vrby is the best so far and he can make some plays. Marty is great at backchecking and helping defensively in our zone and I can do whatever we need. So far it's been good."

Both players scored on Wednesday, including Prucha's highlight reel goal that was scored while sitting on the ice to give Phoenix a 2-0 lead.

"I was just waiting for a rebound in front of the net and I fell down," laughed Prucha. "Vrby tried to score from the goal line and the rebound just came to me when I was sitting on the ice."

Welcome home. Wednesday's game turned out to be reunion of former Penguins. Coyotes head coach Dave Tippet played for the Penguins during their Presidents Trophy winning season in 1992-93, while assistant coach Ulf Samuelsson won two Stanley Cups with the team during the 1991 and 1992 seasons. Also in attendance -- as a guest -- was former Penguins forward Gary Roberts. While he only played 57 games in Pittsburgh over two years, he still received a lengthy standing ovation from the sellout crowd when he made an appearance on the video board early in the first period.

Penguins sign first-round pick. The Penguins announced prior to the start of Wednesday's game that the team had signed first-round pick (No. 30 overall), defenseman Simon Depres, to a three-year entry level deal. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

In the faceoff circle. Penguins center Jordan Staal started the night winning his first 10 faceoffs, until he lost a shorthanded draw to Matthew Lombardi midway through the third period. He finished the night 12 of 13 on draws. Sidney Crosby, who entered the game was one of the top faceoff men in the league this season, won just five of 17 on the night.

Dave Tippett, Coyotes Talk About Shutting Out the Champs originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coyotes Hire Dave Tippett as Coach

Tom Mantzouranis — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:10:00 EST

Filed under: Coyotes, NHL Coaching

The Coyotes didn't waste much time announcing the long-term replacement for Wayne Gretzky, who stepped down as coach and director of hockey operations on Thursday. Seven hours after Gretzky made his announcement, the club held a press conference to introduce Dave Tippett as their new bench boss.

But that obviously doesn't mean the hire was made in that brief window. Coyotes GM Don Maloney revealed in a press conference Thursday evening that he had a feeling Gretzky might resign as early as June, and began earnestly looking for a replacement in August. Given the circumstances, the process probably wasn't as easy as normal head coach searches.

Tippett addressed the question that many have probably been asking -- why would anyone want to take a job in such an unsettled environment?

"The intrigue of building a good hockey team outweighed all the off-ice stuff," Tippett told reporters at an introductory media conference. "What happens off the ice we have no control over; what happens on the ice and in the locker room we have control over and that is what we will focus on."

Tippett was fired from his job running the Stars in June after they failed to make the playoffs for the first time in his six seasons. The move, brought on by a new regime headed by first-time GM Joe Nieuwendyk, caught some by surprise. Tippett is regarded as a very good coach, as his 271-156-28-37 record and two Pacific Division titles in Dallas can attest to. He wasn't expected to be out of work for long.

He's got his hands full in Phoenix, but the Coyotes' new era is off to a good start by hiring a guy with proven NHL coaching credentials instead of an iconic name with no bench experience.

Coyotes Hire Dave Tippett as Coach originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For Gretzky, Canada May Be Calling

Christopher Botta — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coyotes, Oilers, NHL Coaching, Olympic Hockey

Head coach Wayne Gretzky never had the players. Hockey executive Wayne Gretzky never had the most brilliant partners. As a result, The Great One's tenure with the Phoenix Coyotes turned into The Great Disaster.

The Phoenix experience went so Southwest on Gretzky, it has essentially ended the hockey operations and coaching career of the greatest player in the history of the game.

More From SI.com: Let Canada Have the Coyotes

There is no rebound from this, not as a general manager or head coach, and that is profoundly sad. Gretzky made plenty of bad decisions, failed to surround himself with the best or most qualified people (often hiring friends instead) and could not motivate or strategize effectively enough for his Coyotes to over-achieve even once in four years to finish in eighth place in the West. His statement today that he is "confident that the best has yet to come for hockey in Phoenix" is evidence that he's prone to delusions of grandeur -- or maybe just an honorable desire to say the right thing.

All that said, this is Wayne Gretzky -- warts and all, the game's greatest ambassador, the Guy Next Door as international sports icon. Gretzky deserves better than this. The lack of public support from the National Hockey League has been shameful. The whisper campaign behind the scenes worse. The abandonment from colleagues and media pals -- thinking Gretzky cannot do anything for them anymore -- shows that even if you're the Babe Ruth and Michael Jordan of your sport, there are still plenty of people who are only with you win or overtime win.

The rebuilding of the Gretzky brand is ultimately up to him when he's ready. In the short term, he's going to find out who his true friends are.

First up with a warm hand should be Team Canada. The 2010 Canadian Olympic Team is capably managed by Steve Yzerman and deputies Doug Armstrong, Ken Holland and Kevin Lowe. The country's most beloved sportsman should be part of their circle for the next four months and in Vancouver in February.

Gretzky has always had a close connection to the Oilers. With his failure in Phoenix now mercifully over, an official bond with the Edmonton franchise would be a lovely touch and beneficial for the team and the Hall of Famer. Gretzky also played for Los Angeles, St. Louis and the Rangers, but he is an Edmonton Oiler.

You have to wonder if franchise-hijacker Jim Balsillie will provide Gretzky with a soft landing spot and the millions he stands to lose on his Coyotes deal. In Gretzky's resignation today, he went out of his way to make a pitch for his boyhood home in Southern Ontario as an NHL destination. While Basillie and Gretzky arm-in-arm in Ontario might cause angina attacks across the NHL Board of Governors, it could make for a happy ending for The Great One.

Gretzky may always keep a residence in the West, but it's time for him to connect with a Canadian franchise. Watching The Great One coaching in Phoenix was as uncomfortable as when Bruce Springsteen moved from New Jersey to Hollywood for a few years in the late '80s. For Wayne Gretzky, it may be time to come home.

For Gretzky, Canada May Be Calling originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wayne Gretzky Resigns From Coyotes

Tom Mantzouranis — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Coyotes

While the NHL and the fans in Phoenix (and perhaps Hamilton) are awaiting any sort of final resolution on the future of the Coyotes, a major piece of the puzzle leveled a major announcement on Thursday. Wayne Gretzky, the legendary player who took a prominent role in the franchise as head coach and minority owner, has stepped down as coach and director of hockey operations.

Gretz: Mixed Results for Players Who Coach
Botta: Next for Gretzky, a Return Home?

Gretzky had been missing from the Coyotes' training camp amidst all the uncertainty surrounding the franchise, with assistant Ulf Samuelsson serving as acting head coach. A team spokesman said Gretzky wouldn't return to the team until his contract situation was resolved.

In speaking about the reasoning for his departure, Gretzky said on his website that, "This was a difficult decision that I've thought long and hard about. We all hoped there would be a resolution earlier this month to the Coyotes ownership situation, but the decision is taking longer than expected.

"Since both remaining bidders have made it clear that I don't fit into their future plans, I approached general manager Don Maloney and suggested he begin looking for someone to replace me as coach. Don has worked hard and explored many options. I think he has made an excellent choice, and so now it's time for me to step aside." (UPDATE: That "excellent choice" was Dave Tippett, who was announced as the new coach later Thursday.)

Gary Bettman had this to say in a statement: "As always, Wayne placed the welfare of the team ahead of his own in making this extremely difficult decision. While the Coyotes have not had the degree of on-ice success that always has been Wayne's objective, there can be no question he has played a vital role in the youth movement that has positioned the Coyotes for success in the future.

"We have nothing but admiration for all that Wayne has done for the game, and are extremely hopeful there will be a prominent role for Wayne with the Coyotes if the league's bid for the club is successful. We look forward to his continued involvement."

Gretzky's resignation marks a significant point in the ongoing drama surrounding the Coyotes. Bankrupt under Jerry Moyes, the league has attempted heartily to keep the team in Phoenix, despite a very strong push (and rich offer) for the team from Jim Balsillie, who wants to move them to Hamilton, Ontario.

Despite a number of twists and turns involving other potential bidders and scenarios, it's still down to the league and Balsillie fighting over the team. Not knowing who their coach would be or what the future holds for their team, the players have been trying to prepare for a season. Moving the team so close to the season (or in the middle of it), still hasn't been completely dismissed, although regardless of when the team would potentially move, there are a number of logistical hurdles that would need to be solved.

Gretzky joined the Coyotes as managing partner in 2000. He took the post as head coach in 2005, and the following year signed a five-year deal to serve as coach, part owner, managing partner and alternate governor.

His tenure in Phoenix came after a legendary playing career that saw him conquer pretty much every offensive record in league history, major or not. He was expected to bring that excellence to his new job in the desert as part of the league's attempt to build viable, successful, competitive teams in markets that weren't in the past deemed traditional hockey locales.

Instead, the Coyotes accumulated a 143-161-24 record in his four seasons as coach, with no playoff appearances and just one season above .500 (2007-08, when the Coyotes barely topped the mark at 38-37-7). Gretzky was due to make $8.5 million this season.

Wayne Gretzky Resigns From Coyotes originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coyotes Slash Opening Night Prices

Kevin Schultz — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coyotes, NHL Economics

The Phoenix Coyotes are, if only for one night, going to try and look like a healthy, happy franchise with a supportive fanbase. Of course, anyone following their plight knows that is not the case. The hockey team from the desert has been in a fierce ownership battle in bankruptcy court and is now missing their owner/coach, who is entangled in the battle. Things got worse when the team drew only a few thousand fans -- depending on who you ask -- to a preseason game last week and received some media scrutiny for it.

With opening night almost two weeks away, the team's PR and marketing departments have awoken from their summer slumber to offer fans an opening night discount that looks like a failing car salesman's last stand. "Come down to Crazy Coyotes Motors! Everything must go! Go! GO! Our prices are low! Low! LOW!"

From the Coyotes' website:

The Coyotes are extending a special ticket offer to the public for the Oct. 10 game. All lower bowl seats are available for just $25 while all upper level seats are on sale for only $15. The tickets go on sale Thursday at 10 a.m. and are only available online at www.phoenixcoyotes.com. The NHL has also offered a 15% discount on merchandise at www.shop.nhl.com that will be included with every ticket order through Sept. 30.

The team is also deeming the game a "WhiteOut" by encouraging all fans to wear white. There are two distinct and different ways to look at it. Either your glass is half full and it's a pep rally with a chance to apply the cardiac defibrillators to a fanbase and team that is flatlining, or, on the other side of the fence, your glass is half empty and this is an empty shill that is trying to desperately fake excitement and attendance on top of the fact that selling front row seats at a deep discount is clearly akin to a 'going out of business' sale.

Take it for what you will.

While it's not really a surprise that the season opener clearly hasn't sold out -- really, could anyone expect it to after the summer? -- you've got to wonder how many tickets actually sold. That number is probably small and the team needs to put some butts in seats to try and convince fans that there's going to be some energy around the team this year. A lackluster home opener could have serious fallout on ticket sales throughout the rest of the season.

It's like a concert that's not selling out. You might like the band, but if you go and the place is empty, not only are you going to have a bad experience but you're going to wonder what happening place everyone else is at. So, to avoid that situation, many times promoters hand out tons of comp tickets to try and get people in the building. Same thing here. How awful a precedent would it set for the team if the Jobing.com Arena was less than half full on the biggest night of the season's first half? Imagine the media's reaction from last week's low attendance 50 times over. And thus the team virtually hands out tickets to try and put butts in seats.

The show must go on in Arizona this year no matter what the future holds. It's a shame the team, city and fanbase has to go through it, but such is business. Maybe they'll end up being one of those furniture stores that going out of business sale ... annually. Hopefully not, but hey, this is Gary Bettman's NHL.

Coyotes Slash Opening Night Prices originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coyotes Focus Despite Unknown Future

Susan Slusser — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coyotes, FanHouse Exclusive

What a strange spot for an NHL team to be in: the Coyotes don't know if they'll keep playing in Phoenix or if they'll be moved to Hamilton, Ontario; they don't know when their coach will be back and they don't know who their owner will be. That's life under bankruptcy, and the Phoenix players are doing the best they can under the less-than-ideal circumstances.

"It hasn't been that bad," Coyotes defenseman Ed Jovanovski told FanHouse this weekend after his team's overtime loss at San Jose. "The situation with the team is unusual, but for us, the players, we're concentrating on and committed to playing hockey. That's our safe haven. We're just doing our jobs and going back to our families."

Forward Scottie Upshall said that the uncertainty can be a little unsettling.

"At times, you can't really help but notice everything away from the rink," Upshall told FanHouse. "Everyone is still focused on playing good hockey and showing the staff what we can bring to the team, but for everyone's sake -- the league's sake, our sake, the fans' sake -- the sooner they figure this out, the better."

Ulf Samuelsson, who is acting as head coach during Gretzky's absence from the team, said he is pleased with how the Coyotes are handling the uncertainty around the team.

"The people who are around, the enduring base of fans, have been supportive. But it is mind-boggling sometimes." "They're very focused and they've made it a clear goal that everything else is not going to be an issue," Samuelsson told FanHouse. "This is not an issue regarding the hockey operations. We are preparing for this season, we've had a great camp so far, and the players have really responded. They're pushing themselves very hard."

The team's first two preseason games in Glendale were sparsely attended, not surprising considering that fans aren't sure how long the Coyotes will be in town. The Coyotes' court proceedings are getting more attention than the product on the ice, and the team's promotional efforts were dialed back.

"It's been pretty quiet, 2,500 or so for those two games," Jovanovski said. "It's tough that way. The people who are around, the enduring base of fans, have been supportive. But it is mind-boggling sometimes."

"There were supporters there," Upshall said. "They were cheering, there were signs saying, 'Keep the Coyotes here, screw everyone else.' It was good to see that."

One of the more distressing aspects of the Coyotes' fiasco is that the team is without Wayne Gretzky. He is a part owner of the team and its managing general partner, and so part of the bankruptcy proceedings, plus his contract is among the issues that will need to be decided. Gretzky has been criticized in some corners for not taking sides in the ownership dispute, particularly about whether the team should stay in Phoenix, and he's been slammed for "abandoning" his team, but it's hard to imagine that he isn't operating under legal advice.

"It's tough," Jovanovski said. "Wayne is our coach and we want him back. I'm sure he's caught in a difficult position, being the managing general partner and the coach, but in speaking with him, he wants to get back here, to go back to doing what he does. It's a tough predicament until everything is decided."

Like anything related to ownership and bankruptcy, this is a touchy subject for the Coyotes; after Jovanovski's comments, FanHouse was asked by a member of the Coyotes media relations department not to ask about Gretzky because general manager Don Maloney is handling those questions.

Jovanovski and Upshall both said one key to hockey's financial survival in the Phoenix area is on-ice success, providing even greater motivation this preseason. Every team wants to win, but in this instance, it's win ... or maybe the death of hockey in the desert.

Now, hockey in the desert always has sounded a little strange, but considering that the Valley of the Sun is the fifth largest metro area in the country, there is certainly the population base to draw from -- much of it transplants from cold-weather ares, including a sizeable number of Canadian retirees. One of the main problems the Coyotes have is that the team's arena in Glendale is not centrally located, and the Glendale lease is a primary issue that has concerned prospective local buyers.

A good team, however, might lure fans out to Glendale. The Arizona Cardinals, right next door, have no problem drawing, but of course, they play an average of two games a month there and they were in the Super Bowl this year. The Coyotes haven't put in a playoff appearance since 2002 and never have made it out of the first round.

"The fan environment for hockey in the Valley -- it's something you've got to have success at to get support," Jovanovski said. "Of the four major sports, we're the bottom of the barrel in the market, and it's definitely a city that wants winners. If you win, they'll support you, and that's exactly what we're striving for."

"There is passion there for hockey," Upshall said. "I think Glendale can hold onto the team and support it and we can be a part of something else for a long time to come."

Coyotes Focus Despite Unknown Future originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lightly Attended Preseason Game Somehow Deemed Newsworthy

Kevin Schultz — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Coyotes, NHL Fans, NHL Media Watch

The Phoenix Coyotes attracted only a few thousand fans to their first preseason game at home Wednesday night. Now, in any other year, would that be a newsworthy headline on any story? No, of course not.

But since the Coyotes are in Bankruptcy Court Limbo, under a microscope and expected by many to draw negative fans this season, it is. Anyway, the AP felt the need to publish the story. Some local outlets also weighed in giving even more grim numbers accompanied by pictures of worried fans. It was all really kinda manufactured and poorly reported.

First off, the difference in attendance figures was so drastic it almost seemed like no one was really counting. Each story trying to one-up the previous. The first example from the AP paints a bleak picture.

"With only a couple thousand on hand, if that, the Phoenix Coyotes began an uncertain pre-season with a 4-2 split-squad win over the Los Angeles Kings."

OK, so that doesn't sound good. But that's probably not too distant an attendance figure from many American hockey clubs during the preseason. But the Phoenix Business Journal one upped the AP and declared Phoenix a dying metropolis of sorts.

"About 1,000 people were at the 17,800-seat Jobing.com Arena for the Coyotes preseason 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings, according to stadium personnel and others."

So, the attendance got cut in half between the two reports. Seems like it was because the Journal took the time to talk to "stadium personnel and others." Since they didn't feel like giving full disclosure I'm going to assume "and others" means "we paid the bum outside five bucks to tell us how many people he thought were at the game and another five to write the story."

But hey, not everyone can go so in-depth into their reporting. The local FOX television affiliate, KSAZ, went one graver step forward. They not only painted a zombie filled doomsday scenario of the attendance but even took the time to go inside and take pictures of the people there. Careful! I hear that these days the remaining Coyotes fans only come out at night and feast on the living!

Last year the average attendance was in the thousands. Tuesday, only a few hundred people attended. Although the Glendale City Council continues to support a deal that would keep the Coyotes in Glendale, fans are disappointed in the sad turnout.

Read the second sentence of that quote over. It doesn't even make sense. I guess that's what happens when we're dealing with a FOX affiliate.

Regardless, it seems that no matter who we're asking about the attendance it was clearly sparse. I've got a problem, though. Since there was supposedly such a small crowd and the average hockey game takes about 2 1/2 hours, couldn't someone have actually taken the time to count how many people were there?

But this is starting to get way off topic. My main point here is that they're making news out of the fact that this team is getting a sparse crowd for its first home preseason game. So here's the scenario the news outlets are trying to convince us is shocking:

1) It is a Tuesday night. Clearly no one has to work on Wednesday.
2) We're in Phoenix in September, which means that it's acid rain season and there's no reason to go outside.
3) It's a preseason game (first one, no less).
4) The Coyotes were awful last year.
5) This bankruptcy thing has annihilated a fan base that was already one of the worst at the gate the last two seasons.

Actually, it would be more shocking if anyone actually went to a Coyotes game. You could ask them all sorts of fun things like: "on a scale of 1 to 10 how ironic is it that the team that moved here after deserting a city is probably deserting this one too?" "Wouldn't it just be more fun to actually set your wallet on fire?" and "Are you only here because you missed your tee time?"

But anyway, the team that doesn't draw many fans to begin with inhabits a warm, sunny climate and isn't playing a meaningful game for another few weeks drew a couple thousand fans -- maybe -- to a completely meaningless game that neither team was really trying to win. And in other news the sun rose in the east and set in the west today.

Lightly Attended Preseason Game Somehow Deemed Newsworthy originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coyotes Auction Down to Two

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:05:00 EST

Filed under: Coyotes, Western, NHL Economics

Thursday is a big day for the National Hockey League. As its 30 teams prepare to open training camps, the league and commissioner Gary Bettman continue to fight for the right to handle the Phoenix Coyotes as they see fit.

The bankrupt franchise goes to auction Thursday, and a field of four bids appears to have been whittled down to just two. The league will be up against the original buyer, Canadian businessman Jim Balsillie. While the NHL insists that the franchise be allowed to stay in Phoenix, Balsillie's purchase is contingent on him moving it to Hamilton, Ont., and making it the seventh Canadian franchise in the league.

It was reported late Tuesday that Ice Edge Holdings, a group of businessmen from both the United States and Canada, will no longer be bidding for the team.

Principals with Ice Edge did not respond to requests for comment, and they have not officially withdrawn their bid. The group of Canadian and American investors included team minority owner John Breslow and was working with coach and minority owner Wayne Gretzky.

The league jumped in the fray only after White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf withdrew his bid. The NHL bid is only meant to allow the league the final determination of what happens to the organization. They intend to pursue a local buyer who will keep the club in Arizona. That bid was placed after NHL owners voted 26-0 (there were three abstentions) against Balsillie buying the Coyotes.

While it's purely speculative, Ice Edge may have withdrawn over issues with the club's lease at Jobing.com Arena. The group's decision to bid on the team was contingent on their ability to renegotiate the agreement.

Thursday could be the end of this summer-long fiasco, but maybe it won't be. No matter what, it's hard to imagine anyone allowing the franchise to relocate now, given that there are logistical issues with making such a move when we have only three weeks until the season starts.

Coyotes Auction Down to Two originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHLPA Should Fight Potential Coyotes Move, But Will It?

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:25:00 EST

Filed under: Coyotes, Western, NHL Economics

It seems like a song that will never end. The National Hockey League is trying everything to keep Jim Balsillie from buying the Phoenix Coyotes and shipping them to Canada. A hearing Wednesday in bankruptcy court decided nothing, and the league still doesn't know what will happen with the franchise. Since we're inside of a month before the regular season starts, you can understand why this is a bad thing.

Even though it appears to be diminishing by the day, the possibility that the Coyotes could move to Hamilton, Ont., for the upcoming season has not been totally dismissed. If it were to happen, the league surely wouldn't draw up new divisional alignments or a new schedule. They'd have to run with the one they already made, which will do most of the Pacific Division (including the Coyotes) absolutely no favors.

On the Forecheck broke it down by each team's mileage. There are some dramatic increases, especially within the division. The Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Coyotes would all see their estimated travel mileage for the season increase by more than 9,000 miles. Not only that, but there are some insane back-to-back dates that this hypothetical move would create.

Imagine playing a game on a Monday night in San Jose, then flying all the way to Hamilton, losing three hours because of the time change, and then lacing the skates up to play Vancouver on your "home" rink. All the teams in the Pacific Division, except for Dallas, have back-to-backs like this that would be seriously impacted by a Coyotes move.

Where is the union on this? The NHL Players Association has not issued any public statements on the topic. It's hard to imagine they would be fully supportive.

Said an involved NHLPA member and veteran on the defending Cup champion Penguins: "I don't know anyone who would go for that. Say you're a team in the East and you have a road trip of Kings, Coyotes and Sharks. That's a typical one. Are you suppose to fly to L.A., back east to Hamilton and then to San Jose? What if they're back-to-back? It's even worse for the teams in Phoenix's division. I can't take it seriously right now. It's hilarious. If it actually happens, only the Red Wings might find it funny. Those guys log a lot of miles."

On the other hand, FanHouse spoke to a member of the team impacted most by this, Phoenix. The player brought up a good point about how the union may look at this issue.

"I don't think you're going to see any Canadian players speak out publicly against the NHL going to Hamilton," he said. Remember, only six of the 30 NHL franchises are based in Canada, and Balsillie has done a lot of rallying, trying to get Canadian fans behind his bid for a seventh.

To be fair, Judge Redfield T. Baum did address this in court Wednesday, noting that the league had a point when they said travel, broadcast, and arena schedules made a move like this on such short notice tough. No ruling was issued, and Baum seems willing to take his time, as the franchise heads for auction next week.

The union would be smart to formally weigh in on the topic. They might not want to be seen as meddling in an ownership matter, but this situation affects a reasonable percentage of the membership. While it's reasonable to suggest the league has brought these concerns up in court, Baum isn't in a position to turn down the players' perspective on the case, especially when it could help him reach a conclusion.

While the enthusiasm in Canada may be great for a seventh franchise, the timing just isn't right anymore. Logistically, this would be too big of a headache for the players, and it's hard to imagine the union being outwardly in favor of the concept.

FanHouse's Christopher Botta contributed to this story.

NHLPA Should Fight Potential Coyotes Move, But Will It? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reinsdorf Out as NHL Places Bid to Buy Phoenix Coyotes

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:45:00 EST

Filed under: Coyotes, Western, NHL Economics

The drama continues.

Jerry Reinsdorf, the owner of the Chicago White Sox, has pulled out of the running to purchase the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes. Long thought to be the favorite to land the franchise, which has been in bankruptcy since the spring, Reinsdorf apparently had enough of former owner Jerry Moyes, as well as the so-far futile efforts to renegotiate the club's lease at Jobing.com Arena. In his place, the NHL has placed a bid. This leaves one to wonder how Coyotes fans feel about Gary Bettman taking over their team.

In a statement, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly makes it sound like the league knows what it's doing here.

"Today, the League filed its own bid to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes' franchise out of bankruptcy," Daly said, "in an effort to maximize the likelihood that the Club ultimately will be sold to an acceptable purchaser who is committed to operating the franchise in Glendale.

... "In the event the League's bid proceeds forward and ultimately is the one approved by the Court, we intend to conduct an orderly sale process to a third party buyer outside of bankruptcy."

While some supporters of Canadian maverick Jim Balsillie may look upon this as another sign of the team's impending move to Hamilton, the league has other ideas.

The intent isn't for the Coyotes to become an NHL-run franchise. It's to keep the team out of Balsillie's hands while the league figures out who they can ~~dump the team on~~ sell to.

Reinsdorf, meanwhile, doesn't seem to be too upset at the league.

Reinsdorf, who was considered one of the best hopes of keeping the team in the Valley, said in a released statement that his group could not finalize a new lease deal with Glendale, which owns Jobing.com Arena.

Reinsdorf's group placed the blame largely on Jerry Moyes, the team's majority owner, who was characterized as an "unwilling seller."

The statement said, "We have faced an organized publicity effort designed to provide negative and misleading information."

This has been a disaster for the league from the start, and it could only get worse if they get the team, but can't find a local buyer.

Reinsdorf Out as NHL Places Bid to Buy Phoenix Coyotes originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coping With the Offseason: Tall Tales and Mirages of August

Kevin Schultz — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blackhawks, Coyotes, NHL Rumors

The temperature was over 90 degrees here on Long Island for the second day in a row. So, about two months late, summer has finally arrived in my neck of the woods. Glad to see that it could take the time to finally stop by. But along with the heat comes a weird time in the hockey news cycle. Basically, anything and everything is a story. Alright, so the Patrick Kane twenty-cent-cabbie-punch thing is a pretty big deal, even if he ends up getting acquitted. But other than that the hockey media -- myself included -- is really just grasping at straws to write about which reminds me, has training camp started yet?

Let's start with Theo Fleury. It's all well and good that the 41-year old with a long history of off-ice issues that derailed an otherwise successful career is trying to give it another go. You can't hate on a guy for giving it a shot. But let's realize the hurdles that Fleury left for himself to jump.

First and foremost, he's 41 and hasn't played in the NHL since 2003. Getting back into game shape is one battle. Another is the indefinite suspension that current hangs over his head after violating the NHL's substance abuse policy. So he's got to get a pass from the commissioner before he can suit up for anyone, which leads us to the next issue -- actually getting a chance to play for an NHL team.

But to be honest, I do wish Fleury the best. When he was at his best he was one of the most exciting players in the league to watch. He's just got a heck of a hill to climb. Earlier this year 41-year old Claude Lemieux made a comeback to play about 10 minutes a night down the stretch for the Sharks. The word on the street was that Lemieux had always kept himself in great shape. So that's the kind of odds Fleury is up against. Not insurmountable, but very, very tough not including the suspension. The reality of it is that it's likely more a summer dream than anything that will become a reality during the winter

Then there is the tale involving a young Blackhawk in Buffalo. Being that it's a matter of the law -- I am no lawyer -- and it's a matter of an altercation in a cab at 4 AM (a cab I was not in), I can't say who's telling the truth here. But sometimes -- and hear me out on this one -- folks in the media can blow things out of proportion a bit. However, athletes are prone to making the same mistakes that us regular folks are, so who knows. Either way, it's another black eye the Hawks don't need after the cloud of smoke that surrounded Dave Tallon's dismissal earlier in the summer.

And then there is the most interesting tall tale of them all this summer. The soap opera that is the Phoenix Coyotes. In the latest installments Jim Balsillie tries to probe the NHL owner's unanimous rejection of his bid (good luck with that one) and Jerry Reinsdorf claims to have an agreement with the Coyotes' second largest debtor who, in fact, is not Wayne Gretzky nor Shane Doan. So the big ball of crazy in the desert keeps on rolling and we're still no more sure about where it's all going than we were last week or last month. But hey, it sure is something to talk about, huh? And those distant dreams of another Canadian team aren't that bad, either.

So there you have it: bizarre arrests, longshot comeback stories and bankruptcy court ownership battles. Those are the hottest hockey stories in mid-August. They all leave me with the same question in mind; "Is it time for hockey season yet?"

Coping With the Offseason: Tall Tales and Mirages of August originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is the NHL Losing Fight Against Balsillie?

Kevin Schultz — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coyotes, NHL Economics

On Wednesday, the presiding judge in the bankruptcy case of the Phoenix Coyotes stated that all bids would be reviewed for the auction that is set to take place on Sept. 10. That ruling allows Gary Bettman's mortal enemy ... err ... I mean, Jim Balsillie a shot at owning the team.

Despite a unanimous, dark, backroom vote of no confidence in Balsillie by the league last week and numerous statements against his potential ownership, the NHL is fighting a battle that it cannot control the outcome of. No matter how they want to spin it, the league is fighting an uphill battle against the billionaire and the court whose service is to the team's creditors and not the NHL.

The Coyotes moved to Phoenix after the 1995-96 season and have proven a failed experiment of the NHL's move to sunnier, southern climates. It's a failed experiment that the NHL is refusing to acknowledge exists at all costs. It's like some kind of cover-up that is past the point where anything is being covered up. It's really quite absurd.

The Phoenix Experiement did not work.

Nothing against the passionate Coyotes fans out there -- and they are out there -- but certain markets cannot support certain professional sports. The team did not post profit in a single year since it relocated to the desert. There's no reason to keep it there unless the city is willing to make concessions and foot the bill, but that would only serve to anger local citizens. Some of those citizens are already fighting back as a preventative measure to keep the city from making concessions.

And then there is the party that needs to be served first and foremost -- the Coyotes' creditors. The largest of them has requested -- and here's a shocker -- to be paid in cash and in full. In the NHL's bizarro world, where the owners get to decide who becomes part of their club, they can exclude Balsillie if they so please. That's what happened in Nashville. But in the real world that the bankruptcy court operates in, the court will decide who is best suited to hand the failed company over to. And there's not much the NHL can do if they don't like it. Sure, they can fight the decision in the court system for a while if they please through costly legal battles, but is it worth it? And in a similar way, if the court doesn't find in favor of Balsillie, he may be able to explore a legal case against the NHL.

They're not hiding any secrets from anyone anymore. The Phoenix Experiment has failed. Why the NHL wants to stay and continue to sell a failing product is beyond me. Unless Jerry Reinsdorf or another bidder comes closer to matching Balsillie's bid, this could be an open and shut case -- at least it is for me. Let's see here. Give it to Reinsdorf, who would keep the team in Phoenix but has all kinds of demands for the city, or give it to Balsillie, who would move the team but would solve all problems with the creditors, thus wrapping up the case neatly and quickly?

Unless the court decides that keeping the team in Phoenix is of the highest priority, may be skating against the Hamilton Coyotes sooner rather than later.

Is the NHL Losing Fight Against Balsillie? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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