Just when things seemed to be sailing smoothly towards a definitive auction of the Coyotes next Wednesday, there's a turd in the punch bowl. The Toronto Star is reporting in their Friday editions that attorneys for Glendale and the NHL have asked the court to postpone next Wednesday's local bid auction, saying Reinsdorf and another potential bidder, Ice Edge Holdings of Canada, needed additional time to finalize their offers for the team.
The league's brief to the court also said that the Ice Edge group would make their bid public on Friday.
The report went on to say that the City of Glendale is "very close to a definitive agreement...that would allow the team, under new ownership, to continue to play at the Jobing.com Arena."
This news came hours after attorneys for Jerry Moyes ridiculed the Reinsdorf-Kaites-Tavares group offer of $148MM saying that the offer was not a legal offer under bankruptcy law. well, what did you expect them to do?
Update Friday 8:30 AM .. More complete reports of the NHL motions are now coming out. It appears that the NHL is taking the position that since the Balsillie has been denied as a potential owner, he is not eligible to bid in the second auction and as the only bidder interested in moving the team there is no need for a second auction. Of course, Moyes will continue to argue that Balsillie is the only person who has made a bona fide offer. And The Judge may still not look kindly on this bit of last minute chicanery.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Oh Captain, My Captain...
Great article about Shane Doan from NHL.com. Read it here:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=457901&cmpid=rss-mcgourty>
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=457901&cmpid=rss-mcgourty>
Scottie Upshall Signs
One year at $1.5MM.
A fair compromise. Upshall and his agents pointed to his 8 goals in 19 games as a taste of what will happen with the player getting top 6 ice time and opportunities. GMDM obviously took the position that Upshall's larger body of work (46 goals in 230 games over parts of 6 seasons) is more reflective of where his compensation should fall.
The sides agreed on a one year contract which still leaves Upshall one year short of unrestricted free agency. If he produces big this year, the Yotes will have a window to sign him to a longer term contract or trade him before he becomes a UFA.
We'll be interested to see how this works. Upshall was envisioned as a potential 30 goal scorer when he was drafted 6th by Nashville in 2002. He's not developed as a scorer but he is an honest two way player who is also valued as a team leader and locker room presence. Our sources in Philadelphia told us that when he was traded this spring, all of the air came out of the Flyers locker room.
Worst case, he's a valuable third line banger. Best case he's a late bloomer who finds his goalscoring touch and becomes a bona fide power forward. In either case, he's a Coyote for at least one more year.
The Yotes also signed organization goaltender Josh Tordjman to a one year contract.
A fair compromise. Upshall and his agents pointed to his 8 goals in 19 games as a taste of what will happen with the player getting top 6 ice time and opportunities. GMDM obviously took the position that Upshall's larger body of work (46 goals in 230 games over parts of 6 seasons) is more reflective of where his compensation should fall.
The sides agreed on a one year contract which still leaves Upshall one year short of unrestricted free agency. If he produces big this year, the Yotes will have a window to sign him to a longer term contract or trade him before he becomes a UFA.
We'll be interested to see how this works. Upshall was envisioned as a potential 30 goal scorer when he was drafted 6th by Nashville in 2002. He's not developed as a scorer but he is an honest two way player who is also valued as a team leader and locker room presence. Our sources in Philadelphia told us that when he was traded this spring, all of the air came out of the Flyers locker room.
Worst case, he's a valuable third line banger. Best case he's a late bloomer who finds his goalscoring touch and becomes a bona fide power forward. In either case, he's a Coyote for at least one more year.
The Yotes also signed organization goaltender Josh Tordjman to a one year contract.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Reinsdorf Bid Approved, Balsillie Shut Out
The National Hockey League Governors made it clear that the Reinsdorf-Kaites-Tavares group is welcome in their fraternity and approved to purchase the Coyotes. Similarly, they bounced Silly Jim out of the room. The Ice Edge Group got an incomplete (but favorable comments) on their presentation.
So.....The Reinsdorf Group is cleared to bid in the auction knowing that they will be approved by the league. The Balsillie's have no real leverage because no matter how good their bid is they have been unanimously denied membership in the NHL lodge. And the Ice Edge group has another 10 days to come up with a lot of money and a plan to put in front of Judge Tom next Friday.
Updates 4:55PM: "All that was considered was the suitability of owners", according to NHL Comissioner Gary Bettman. "This has nothing to do with the relocation issues", Bettman continued. So let's be very clear -- the NHL has rejected Jim Balsillie as a potential owner. While he was approved by the NHL five years ago as the perspective owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins the league Governors have now voted against him. Amazing what backing out of a purchase deal in Pittsburgh and trying to circumvent league rules can do for one's standing. Even though the Balsillie group is trying to put a positive spin on this, facts are facts. Jim Balsillie will not be approved as an owner in the National Hockey League. There may be more motions but the fact is that Judge Tom made it very clear that NHL owners had the right to approve perspective owners. It also means his bid to take over the Coyotes is worthless.
CHICAGO – National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman issued the following statement following today’s Board of Governors meeting:
“The National Hockey League’s Board of Governors met this afternoon to review the ownership applications of three prospective ownership groups for the Phoenix Coyotes. The Board’s process today represents the League’s best efforts to comply with the League’s review procedures pursuant to NHL Constitution Article 3.5 and NHL By-Law 35 within the timetable imposed by the ongoing court process.
“There were three applicant groups that were interviewed by the Executive Committee and considered by the Board. One was Jim Balsillie’s. The second was a group headed by Anthony LeBlanc, involving Mr. LeBlanc, Keith McCullough, Todd Jordan and Daryl Jones. And the third group, headed by Jerry Reinsdorf, included as well Tony Tavares and John Kaites.
“After interviewing all of the applications, the Executive Committee brought forward recommendations to the full Board of Governors.
“Mr. Reinsdorf’s application was unanimously approved by all those Board members present and voting, subject to the League’s completion of its due diligence and review of the final transaction. In Mr. Balsillie’s case, it was the unanimous vote of all members present and voting that his application not be approved. With respect to the LeBlanc group, it was determined that, at this stage, since they’ve only recently begun the process, the application was incomplete and could not yet be acted on by the Board. However, the Executive Committee reported favorably on the LeBlanc group’s interview and endorsed the group’s continued efforts to complete a bid to purchase the franchise.
“We will so advise the Bankruptcy Court and we will move this process forward.”
So.....The Reinsdorf Group is cleared to bid in the auction knowing that they will be approved by the league. The Balsillie's have no real leverage because no matter how good their bid is they have been unanimously denied membership in the NHL lodge. And the Ice Edge group has another 10 days to come up with a lot of money and a plan to put in front of Judge Tom next Friday.
Updates 4:55PM: "All that was considered was the suitability of owners", according to NHL Comissioner Gary Bettman. "This has nothing to do with the relocation issues", Bettman continued. So let's be very clear -- the NHL has rejected Jim Balsillie as a potential owner. While he was approved by the NHL five years ago as the perspective owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins the league Governors have now voted against him. Amazing what backing out of a purchase deal in Pittsburgh and trying to circumvent league rules can do for one's standing. Even though the Balsillie group is trying to put a positive spin on this, facts are facts. Jim Balsillie will not be approved as an owner in the National Hockey League. There may be more motions but the fact is that Judge Tom made it very clear that NHL owners had the right to approve perspective owners. It also means his bid to take over the Coyotes is worthless.
Today In Chicago
The NHL Board of Governors is meeting in Chicago. Among the special guests are Jim Balsillie, he of the Hamilton Coyotes and the perspective Ice Edge ownership. Although it has not been publicized, it's also expected that some representatives of the Reinsdorf-Kaites-Tavares ownership group will be in attendance. Presumably the NHL Governors will be vetting all three bids for the Coyotes.
And even though there are three groups in the running the decision should be easy. Ice Edge still hasn't submitted a formal bid and one of the owners admitted on XTRA Sports that he still didn't have all of the necessary financing lined up. Balsillie will be grilled like he's never been grilled before. Why did you try to circumvent the league constitution? Why did you back out of the Penguins purchase? Why did you even bother coming today? The Governors may add a little juice to the proceedings by formally torpedoing any franchise move to Hamilton. No need to vote up or down on Balsillie because that would only add fuel to the legal fire.
Thanks for playing fellas and drive home safely.
For Jerry, John & Tony, this is a layup. They already have Gary Bettman's papal blessing. Show up, make nice to the other Governors -- many of whom you already know from the NBA and MLB, confirm your business plan and let everyone know how honored you are to be a part of saving hockey in Phoenix.
Hopefully we'll be hearing positive news leaking out of Chicago as soon as the first Governor has to run for a plane.
And even though there are three groups in the running the decision should be easy. Ice Edge still hasn't submitted a formal bid and one of the owners admitted on XTRA Sports that he still didn't have all of the necessary financing lined up. Balsillie will be grilled like he's never been grilled before. Why did you try to circumvent the league constitution? Why did you back out of the Penguins purchase? Why did you even bother coming today? The Governors may add a little juice to the proceedings by formally torpedoing any franchise move to Hamilton. No need to vote up or down on Balsillie because that would only add fuel to the legal fire.
Thanks for playing fellas and drive home safely.
For Jerry, John & Tony, this is a layup. They already have Gary Bettman's papal blessing. Show up, make nice to the other Governors -- many of whom you already know from the NBA and MLB, confirm your business plan and let everyone know how honored you are to be a part of saving hockey in Phoenix.
Hopefully we'll be hearing positive news leaking out of Chicago as soon as the first Governor has to run for a plane.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Tanguay To Phoenix?
A number of Internet sites are reporting that Alex Tanguay has signed with the Coyotes although there is no official confirmation. Tanguay, who will be 30 in November, has had several productive seasons with the Colorado Avalanche and Calgary Flames. He earned $5.375 last year on the last year of a 3 year contract and almost certainly would be accepting less time and money to come to the desert.
Tanguay would add a desperately needed top line presence on the left side. He has scored 193 goals and 580 total points in 653 NHL games. Alex is best known for scoring the tying and winning goal in the 7th game of the 2001 Stanley Cup championship as the Avs rallied to beat the New Jersey Devils.
He slumped in 2007-08 and was traded to Montreal, where he missed two months in the middle of the season with a separated shoulder. He also missed two playoff games with what was believed to be a recurrence of the shoulder injury. His long stay on the free agent shelf may have been directly correlated to his injury problems this year. Other than the shoulder problem, the carfax report on Tanguay is pretty good. He averaged 76 games played during his first 8 NHL seasons.
We'll be back with more once the signing is confirmed or denied.
Tanguay would add a desperately needed top line presence on the left side. He has scored 193 goals and 580 total points in 653 NHL games. Alex is best known for scoring the tying and winning goal in the 7th game of the 2001 Stanley Cup championship as the Avs rallied to beat the New Jersey Devils.
He slumped in 2007-08 and was traded to Montreal, where he missed two months in the middle of the season with a separated shoulder. He also missed two playoff games with what was believed to be a recurrence of the shoulder injury. His long stay on the free agent shelf may have been directly correlated to his injury problems this year. Other than the shoulder problem, the carfax report on Tanguay is pretty good. He averaged 76 games played during his first 8 NHL seasons.
We'll be back with more once the signing is confirmed or denied.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Catching Up
Been away for a few days at a family wedding so it's time to catch up on the headlines...
The Reinsdorf-Kaites-Tavares Bid is in and among other things it details the assumption of 170 contracts of player and hockey management (as well as sponsorships and suite holders) but not Wayne Gretzky. Given that the bankruptcy bid does not give Gretzky a dime of the money he is owed, it's not like they are trying to make nice with hockey's living legend. Discussion boards and forums like this will be rife with "who will coach the Coyotes" posts shortly. It's sad to see Wayne go under such uncomfortable circumstances but he's not been a success as a coach or marketing ambassador for the franchise. You just think that legends who happen to be nice people deserve better.
It also looks like the management side of the organization will be completely gutted. Our great friend Doug Moss, CFO Mike Nealy and Arena Manager Jim Foss all have contracts that will not be assumed by the new owners. Broadcasters Dave Strader, Bob Heethuis and Tyson Nash are also on the "no thanks" list although new contracts could be arranged with some or all. And keep in mind that several executives who do not have contracts were probably working the old fashioned way; on handshakes. There are going to be a lot of employment at will conversations going on in Glendale if the R-K-T bid is accepted.
There are some good people losing out here. Doug Moss is a great guy and experienced leader, Strader is the best television announcer in the game and Heethuis is an excellent and under appreciated radio announcer.
That, my friends, is the dark side of bankruptcy.
Much of this speaks to the Glendale report that says the organization could be streamlined and run at a significantly lower cost. We agree. Our friends at the Suns have told us that even before the NBA team and the US Airways Arena started contracting their organization, they were still staffed leaner than the Coyotes/Jobing.com Arena group. This was an accident waiting to happen. Now the Reinsdorf-Kaites-Tavaers group can come in, start with a fresh slate and put toggether a lean, effective organization.
On the other hand. The potential bid from Ice Edge raises a bunch of questions. To quote Brahm Resnick, it is "very edgy" to say the least. Two big ahas; they want to give Gretzky a contract to coach and be a franchise ambassador. with a lucrative playoff bonus and play at least 5 home games in a Canadian city. Oh, and right now it's a letter of intent, not a real bid. That supposedly is coming in the next few days.
The Ice Edge group includes Coyotes minority owner John Breslow among its investors. One of the key figures is Anthony LeBlanc, a former Research in Motion executive.
This bid is good news in many ways for the NHL. It is a weaker presentation that dimensionalizes the R-K-T bid as much better for Glendale. It answers the question of what happened to the John Breslow group that was bidding on the team. And it creates at least the impression of competition that the judge was hoping to encourage.
It is also dead on arrival. Neither the NHL nor the NHLPA is likely to approve of a split city concept. Saskatoon, one of the cities mentioned as a possible occasional home for the Yotes, was laughed away by the NHL when St. Louis tried to move there 20 years ago. It hasn't exactly boomed since then.
The Ice Edge group is meeting with the NHL executive board on Wednesday. It could be the beginning or the end of the bid process for that group.
Derek Morris to Boston...The Bruins needed a puck moving defenseman in the worst way. In Morris, they get a player who last year was a puck moving defenseman in the worst way. Terrible enough in Phoenix that Don Maloney opted instead to go with Adrian Aucoin as his right handed defensive signing rather than bringing Morris back. A little better in New York but still relegated to third pair status during the playoffs. We're happy for Derek who by all accounts is a good guy but this seems like an ill advised move for the Bruins. It's a one year contract which means Morris steps right back into a contract year.
And finally a couple of new contracts -- Dan Winnik gets $600K in arbitration with the Yotes and Enver Lisin signs a one year deal with the New York Rangers for $790,000.
More to come later today...
The Reinsdorf-Kaites-Tavares Bid is in and among other things it details the assumption of 170 contracts of player and hockey management (as well as sponsorships and suite holders) but not Wayne Gretzky. Given that the bankruptcy bid does not give Gretzky a dime of the money he is owed, it's not like they are trying to make nice with hockey's living legend. Discussion boards and forums like this will be rife with "who will coach the Coyotes" posts shortly. It's sad to see Wayne go under such uncomfortable circumstances but he's not been a success as a coach or marketing ambassador for the franchise. You just think that legends who happen to be nice people deserve better.
It also looks like the management side of the organization will be completely gutted. Our great friend Doug Moss, CFO Mike Nealy and Arena Manager Jim Foss all have contracts that will not be assumed by the new owners. Broadcasters Dave Strader, Bob Heethuis and Tyson Nash are also on the "no thanks" list although new contracts could be arranged with some or all. And keep in mind that several executives who do not have contracts were probably working the old fashioned way; on handshakes. There are going to be a lot of employment at will conversations going on in Glendale if the R-K-T bid is accepted.
There are some good people losing out here. Doug Moss is a great guy and experienced leader, Strader is the best television announcer in the game and Heethuis is an excellent and under appreciated radio announcer.
That, my friends, is the dark side of bankruptcy.
Much of this speaks to the Glendale report that says the organization could be streamlined and run at a significantly lower cost. We agree. Our friends at the Suns have told us that even before the NBA team and the US Airways Arena started contracting their organization, they were still staffed leaner than the Coyotes/Jobing.com Arena group. This was an accident waiting to happen. Now the Reinsdorf-Kaites-Tavaers group can come in, start with a fresh slate and put toggether a lean, effective organization.
On the other hand. The potential bid from Ice Edge raises a bunch of questions. To quote Brahm Resnick, it is "very edgy" to say the least. Two big ahas; they want to give Gretzky a contract to coach and be a franchise ambassador. with a lucrative playoff bonus and play at least 5 home games in a Canadian city. Oh, and right now it's a letter of intent, not a real bid. That supposedly is coming in the next few days.
The Ice Edge group includes Coyotes minority owner John Breslow among its investors. One of the key figures is Anthony LeBlanc, a former Research in Motion executive.
This bid is good news in many ways for the NHL. It is a weaker presentation that dimensionalizes the R-K-T bid as much better for Glendale. It answers the question of what happened to the John Breslow group that was bidding on the team. And it creates at least the impression of competition that the judge was hoping to encourage.
It is also dead on arrival. Neither the NHL nor the NHLPA is likely to approve of a split city concept. Saskatoon, one of the cities mentioned as a possible occasional home for the Yotes, was laughed away by the NHL when St. Louis tried to move there 20 years ago. It hasn't exactly boomed since then.
The Ice Edge group is meeting with the NHL executive board on Wednesday. It could be the beginning or the end of the bid process for that group.
Derek Morris to Boston...The Bruins needed a puck moving defenseman in the worst way. In Morris, they get a player who last year was a puck moving defenseman in the worst way. Terrible enough in Phoenix that Don Maloney opted instead to go with Adrian Aucoin as his right handed defensive signing rather than bringing Morris back. A little better in New York but still relegated to third pair status during the playoffs. We're happy for Derek who by all accounts is a good guy but this seems like an ill advised move for the Bruins. It's a one year contract which means Morris steps right back into a contract year.
And finally a couple of new contracts -- Dan Winnik gets $600K in arbitration with the Yotes and Enver Lisin signs a one year deal with the New York Rangers for $790,000.
More to come later today...
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Coyotes Get Radim Vrbata Back
Hoping to catch lightning in a bottle (pun intended) the Yotes today picked up journeyman winger Radim Vrbata from Tampa Bay in an deal for spare parts Todd Fedoruk and David Hale.
Two years ago, Vrbata had a career year in his only Phoenix season. He scored 27 goals and 56 points in 76 games. Radim cashed in with a 3 year, $9MM contract in Tampa and his sudden goalscoring prowess cashed out. Vrbata went home to the Czech Republic after he managed only 3 goals in 18 games during the Barry Melrose era. Barry didn't fair much better.
The real question for the Coyotes is what Vrbata are you getting? Radim never scored more than 18 goals in his 5 NHL seasons prior to joining the Coyotes, bouncing from Colorado to Carolina to Chicago. He'll come back to the desert to an offense that desperately needs goalscorers.
Other than some cash out, there's not a lot of downside to this trade. Fedoruk used to be a lower-tier heavyweight in the NHL but beatings from Derek Boogaard and Colton Orr pretty much ended his fighting career. Todd and I were probably the only two people who were both in the same arena on those nights. I fared better than he did. Fedoruk has a history of being a good team guy but he's really not capable of producing either as an offensive player or full time checker. Hale, well he was just awful in Phoenix. Neither figured in the Coyotes plans this year.
And there's probably some positive local buzz that will come off of this move. I wasn't living fulltime in Phoenix two years ago so I don't know how popular Vrbata is but the return of a 27 goalscorer never hurts. He's probably not the last addition to the team but he will add to the forward mix. That means more competition for the top nine forward positions.
And it also means that Don Maloney's work is not done. Yet.
Two years ago, Vrbata had a career year in his only Phoenix season. He scored 27 goals and 56 points in 76 games. Radim cashed in with a 3 year, $9MM contract in Tampa and his sudden goalscoring prowess cashed out. Vrbata went home to the Czech Republic after he managed only 3 goals in 18 games during the Barry Melrose era. Barry didn't fair much better.
The real question for the Coyotes is what Vrbata are you getting? Radim never scored more than 18 goals in his 5 NHL seasons prior to joining the Coyotes, bouncing from Colorado to Carolina to Chicago. He'll come back to the desert to an offense that desperately needs goalscorers.
Other than some cash out, there's not a lot of downside to this trade. Fedoruk used to be a lower-tier heavyweight in the NHL but beatings from Derek Boogaard and Colton Orr pretty much ended his fighting career. Todd and I were probably the only two people who were both in the same arena on those nights. I fared better than he did. Fedoruk has a history of being a good team guy but he's really not capable of producing either as an offensive player or full time checker. Hale, well he was just awful in Phoenix. Neither figured in the Coyotes plans this year.
And there's probably some positive local buzz that will come off of this move. I wasn't living fulltime in Phoenix two years ago so I don't know how popular Vrbata is but the return of a 27 goalscorer never hurts. He's probably not the last addition to the team but he will add to the forward mix. That means more competition for the top nine forward positions.
And it also means that Don Maloney's work is not done. Yet.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Life After Wayne -- Who Will Coach The Coyotes?
It seems to be an accepted fact that Wayne Gretzky will not be the coach of the Coyotes next season.
On one hand, that's sad. Gretzky has put in a lot of time and work learning the coaching ropes. It hasn't been easy but even the most casual observers believe he has improved in his approach and performance. His teams have been short on talent but never seemed to lack for effort. He wants to stay and has made it clear he'll take a lot less money from the new ownership to keep his job.
Conversely, few can argue that a change is not in the cards. Wayne's had four kicks at the can and hasn't been able to get the Coyotes into the playoffs. In each of the last two seasons, the team faded badly in the last third of the season. Coyote special teams are annually among the worst in the league. And while the personnel hasn't been the best, the results have been underwhelming. There's nothing harder than watching an icon lose a part of their identity.
So if new ownership decides to make a change, then what?
The biggest issue the Coyotes may face is not who is available but who will take the job. There's still a lot of uncertainty going into the new season. We assume Don Maloney will be the key player in making that decision. But Maloney is entering the third year of a five year contract and he too will be under the scrutiny of new owners. Perhaps, not today, but soon enough. Any coach Maloney tries to hire may think twice that a new GM might want his own coach. How much and how many years will also be a problem. And there's also the little matter of the talent on hand -- this ain't exactly a team people will be picking to win the Stanley Cup.
If you are a Dave Tippett or Peter Laviolette do you jump into this job or wait to see if someone like John Stevens gets tuned in Philadelphia? 7 NHL coaches were whacked during the past NHL season. Among the replacements, three (Joel Quenville, Dan Bylsma and Paul Maurice) got their teams to the conference finals and Blysma ended up winning the Stanley Cup. That's a good argument to wait and see what happens once the puck drops. There's a good chance a better job may eventually come open. And keep in mind that Tippett and Laviolette are still being paid by their previous employers.
Tippett would be an excellent choice. He is highly thought of around the league by both executives and players. Trained by current St. Louis Blues coach Andy Murray, he is known to be even handed and well respected. His special teams are always among the best in the league. And he has history with Maloney, Ulf Samuelson and Doug Sulliman as a teammate in Hartford. On top of everything else, he has gotten the most out of modestly talented teams.
Laviolette has a Cup on his resume but he's also missed the playoffs in his four other full NHL seasons. A coach who loves to attack, Laviolette is known as a players coach who has trouble holding players accountable and may not be enough of a change from Gretzky.
There are plenty of talented and aspiring minor league coaches. The success of Bylsma in Pittsburgh and Bruce Boudreau in Washington has given new life to hiring minor league coaches. The best of the current bunch are AHL bosses Scott Arniel of Manitoba and Portland's Kevin Dineen.
And if just taking an assistant's job in Edmonton doesn't close the door, former New York Ranger bench boss Tom Renney might still be the odds on favorite for the position.
Don't know which way this one will fall. I think Tippett is head and shoulders above the other candidates but I'm not sure He'll jump into this job. The odds are good he will have a chance to get a prime position when another coach bites the dust this season. Arneil has a lot of buzz and he would work cheap. And I wouldn't discount others like Randy Cunneyworth (currently an assistant in Atlanta) and Kevin Constantine (currently coaching junior in Everett, WA, formerly San Jose Sharks)
And one wild card to consider. If and when Tony Tavares takes over as either a part owner or major player in the Coyotes organization, expect that he will have a large say in what happens. Unlike Jerry Reinsdorf and John Kaites, Tavares has a background in hockey and plenty of contacts in the game. That changes the selection dynamic and it means that others will have a voice in the process. Don't be surprised if new ownership decides to make a mini splash by spending some money and possibly hiring someone none of us have suspected.
On one hand, that's sad. Gretzky has put in a lot of time and work learning the coaching ropes. It hasn't been easy but even the most casual observers believe he has improved in his approach and performance. His teams have been short on talent but never seemed to lack for effort. He wants to stay and has made it clear he'll take a lot less money from the new ownership to keep his job.
Conversely, few can argue that a change is not in the cards. Wayne's had four kicks at the can and hasn't been able to get the Coyotes into the playoffs. In each of the last two seasons, the team faded badly in the last third of the season. Coyote special teams are annually among the worst in the league. And while the personnel hasn't been the best, the results have been underwhelming. There's nothing harder than watching an icon lose a part of their identity.
So if new ownership decides to make a change, then what?
The biggest issue the Coyotes may face is not who is available but who will take the job. There's still a lot of uncertainty going into the new season. We assume Don Maloney will be the key player in making that decision. But Maloney is entering the third year of a five year contract and he too will be under the scrutiny of new owners. Perhaps, not today, but soon enough. Any coach Maloney tries to hire may think twice that a new GM might want his own coach. How much and how many years will also be a problem. And there's also the little matter of the talent on hand -- this ain't exactly a team people will be picking to win the Stanley Cup.
If you are a Dave Tippett or Peter Laviolette do you jump into this job or wait to see if someone like John Stevens gets tuned in Philadelphia? 7 NHL coaches were whacked during the past NHL season. Among the replacements, three (Joel Quenville, Dan Bylsma and Paul Maurice) got their teams to the conference finals and Blysma ended up winning the Stanley Cup. That's a good argument to wait and see what happens once the puck drops. There's a good chance a better job may eventually come open. And keep in mind that Tippett and Laviolette are still being paid by their previous employers.
Tippett would be an excellent choice. He is highly thought of around the league by both executives and players. Trained by current St. Louis Blues coach Andy Murray, he is known to be even handed and well respected. His special teams are always among the best in the league. And he has history with Maloney, Ulf Samuelson and Doug Sulliman as a teammate in Hartford. On top of everything else, he has gotten the most out of modestly talented teams.
Laviolette has a Cup on his resume but he's also missed the playoffs in his four other full NHL seasons. A coach who loves to attack, Laviolette is known as a players coach who has trouble holding players accountable and may not be enough of a change from Gretzky.
There are plenty of talented and aspiring minor league coaches. The success of Bylsma in Pittsburgh and Bruce Boudreau in Washington has given new life to hiring minor league coaches. The best of the current bunch are AHL bosses Scott Arniel of Manitoba and Portland's Kevin Dineen.
And if just taking an assistant's job in Edmonton doesn't close the door, former New York Ranger bench boss Tom Renney might still be the odds on favorite for the position.
Don't know which way this one will fall. I think Tippett is head and shoulders above the other candidates but I'm not sure He'll jump into this job. The odds are good he will have a chance to get a prime position when another coach bites the dust this season. Arneil has a lot of buzz and he would work cheap. And I wouldn't discount others like Randy Cunneyworth (currently an assistant in Atlanta) and Kevin Constantine (currently coaching junior in Everett, WA, formerly San Jose Sharks)
And one wild card to consider. If and when Tony Tavares takes over as either a part owner or major player in the Coyotes organization, expect that he will have a large say in what happens. Unlike Jerry Reinsdorf and John Kaites, Tavares has a background in hockey and plenty of contacts in the game. That changes the selection dynamic and it means that others will have a voice in the process. Don't be surprised if new ownership decides to make a mini splash by spending some money and possibly hiring someone none of us have suspected.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Dawes No More
The Coyotes decided that taking Nigel Dawes to arbitration just wasn't worth the effort. Dawes was claimed by the Calgary Flames today on waivers. The Flames can now work out a contract with Dawes or keep the arbitration hearing scheduled for next Wednesday.
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=284809
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=284809
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Thumbs Down On Coyote Off-Season
Adam Proteau of the Hockey News isn't impressed with the Coyotes off season moves
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/27216-THNcom-Blog-Calamitous-Coyotes-in-for-a-long-200910.html
And we're not either.
But...
The off-season is not over yet. And we suspect that Don Maloney still has a few tricks up his sleeve. He'll need to because the Yotes are still a ways off from having a team that can compete in the ultra competitive NHL Western Conference.
There's probably enough money to add one very desperately needed scorer to the team. The Coyotes could use a winger, preferably someone who plays the left side and another center wouldn't hurt either.
It's likely though that the next Coyote to hit town won't be a free agent. Aside from Alex Tanguay, there aren't any front line offensive players available. Tanguay would be a nice signing but it appears that there is lots of competition for his services. There are a number of roll of the dice type forwards still left on the shelves including Petr Sykora, Maxim Afinogenov and Miro Satan. These are guys could give you 25 goals or an Excedrin headache. The problem is that many of these players will have options to go to Europe or Russia for a better than bargain rate contracts.
The best chances to find a scoring froward is going to be through trades.
There are several teams (Ottawa, San Jose, Philadelphia, New York Rangers, Boston, Chicago) who have real cap problems. Many are facing even bigger problems with restricted free agents looking for big paydays. Maloney may be able to pick up a serviceable player on the cheap or perhaps a premium player (Phil Kessel comes to mind) albeit at the cost of future assets. Given the Coyotes urgency to ice a playoff contending team this year, I would not be opposed (in fact I would strongly support) moving draft picks and players already in the system if premium players (uhhhh, did I mention Phil Kessel) become available.
And finally, there's a chance that Maloney may be able to move his one bad contract -- Ed Jovanoski -- in exchange for help at multiple positions. The Coyotes look OK on defense and if 1--2 youngsters blossom this year they might even be considered deep. There are also capable free agent defensemen that could still be signed. Moving Jovo would not only free up a bundle of salary cap space but could bring back significant talent up front.
No matter which way GMDM turns, the Coyotes still have time to upgrade the team. The job is not done here yet. And the real job, selling tickets, is just getting underway. This franchise desperately needs some juice to excite the fan base and sell tickets. Lauri Korpikoski and Adrian Aucoin are nice acquisitions but they are not going to inspire the fans. There's no question that the Coyotes off season to date has been a yawner but we're only midway through the second period. There's plenty of time to left turn things around.
And putting a winning product on the ice in Phoenix is the biggest off season job any NHL GM is facing this year.
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/27216-THNcom-Blog-Calamitous-Coyotes-in-for-a-long-200910.html
And we're not either.
But...
The off-season is not over yet. And we suspect that Don Maloney still has a few tricks up his sleeve. He'll need to because the Yotes are still a ways off from having a team that can compete in the ultra competitive NHL Western Conference.
There's probably enough money to add one very desperately needed scorer to the team. The Coyotes could use a winger, preferably someone who plays the left side and another center wouldn't hurt either.
It's likely though that the next Coyote to hit town won't be a free agent. Aside from Alex Tanguay, there aren't any front line offensive players available. Tanguay would be a nice signing but it appears that there is lots of competition for his services. There are a number of roll of the dice type forwards still left on the shelves including Petr Sykora, Maxim Afinogenov and Miro Satan. These are guys could give you 25 goals or an Excedrin headache. The problem is that many of these players will have options to go to Europe or Russia for a better than bargain rate contracts.
The best chances to find a scoring froward is going to be through trades.
There are several teams (Ottawa, San Jose, Philadelphia, New York Rangers, Boston, Chicago) who have real cap problems. Many are facing even bigger problems with restricted free agents looking for big paydays. Maloney may be able to pick up a serviceable player on the cheap or perhaps a premium player (Phil Kessel comes to mind) albeit at the cost of future assets. Given the Coyotes urgency to ice a playoff contending team this year, I would not be opposed (in fact I would strongly support) moving draft picks and players already in the system if premium players (uhhhh, did I mention Phil Kessel) become available.
And finally, there's a chance that Maloney may be able to move his one bad contract -- Ed Jovanoski -- in exchange for help at multiple positions. The Coyotes look OK on defense and if 1--2 youngsters blossom this year they might even be considered deep. There are also capable free agent defensemen that could still be signed. Moving Jovo would not only free up a bundle of salary cap space but could bring back significant talent up front.
No matter which way GMDM turns, the Coyotes still have time to upgrade the team. The job is not done here yet. And the real job, selling tickets, is just getting underway. This franchise desperately needs some juice to excite the fan base and sell tickets. Lauri Korpikoski and Adrian Aucoin are nice acquisitions but they are not going to inspire the fans. There's no question that the Coyotes off season to date has been a yawner but we're only midway through the second period. There's plenty of time to left turn things around.
And putting a winning product on the ice in Phoenix is the biggest off season job any NHL GM is facing this year.
Coyotes Schedule Released -- Saturday Games Now At 6PM
As we suspected yesterday, the Coyotes will open their 2009-10 schedule with a game on Saturday October 10 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The bad news is that the home opener comes after a three game road trip to open the season. The Yotes open on October 3rd in Los Angeles and then go east for back to back games against the Pittsburgh Penguins (October 7) and Buffalo (October 8)
Here are some of the most interesting home games.
Saturday October 17 vs Boston
Thursday October 22 vs. Detroit
Saturday November 21 vs. Philadelphia
Saturday January 2 vs. Detroit
Saturday January 30 vs. New York Rangers
The Coyotes will be happy that the big eastern draws and Detroit are mostly scheduled on Saturday nights. That will certainly help attendance. Unfortunately they will be less happy that Pittsburgh and Washington will not be visiting Glendale this year.
The home schedule includes 18 Saturday nights, 11 Thursdays, 1 Friday (Thanksgiving weekend) and 11 assorted early week nights when we won't be seeing many people from Scottsdale.
Updated: Doug Moss has confirmed that the Coyotes will be moving to 6:00 PM starts on Saturday night in Phoenix. According to Doug, the fans like the earlier start. So do we. This should help alleviate concerns that a 7PM game keeps the kids out too late. And the Diamondbacks have proved that fans in the Valley respond to earlier starting times.
Here are some of the most interesting home games.
Saturday October 17 vs Boston
Thursday October 22 vs. Detroit
Saturday November 21 vs. Philadelphia
Saturday January 2 vs. Detroit
Saturday January 30 vs. New York Rangers
The Coyotes will be happy that the big eastern draws and Detroit are mostly scheduled on Saturday nights. That will certainly help attendance. Unfortunately they will be less happy that Pittsburgh and Washington will not be visiting Glendale this year.
The home schedule includes 18 Saturday nights, 11 Thursdays, 1 Friday (Thanksgiving weekend) and 11 assorted early week nights when we won't be seeing many people from Scottsdale.
Updated: Doug Moss has confirmed that the Coyotes will be moving to 6:00 PM starts on Saturday night in Phoenix. According to Doug, the fans like the earlier start. So do we. This should help alleviate concerns that a 7PM game keeps the kids out too late. And the Diamondbacks have proved that fans in the Valley respond to earlier starting times.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Coyotes Schedule Due Tomorrow
The 2009-10 National Hockey League schedule will be released tomorrow. We've been snooping around and have learned that the Coyotes first home game will be Saturday October 10th. We've not been able to confirm the opening night opponent from any of our friends but have picked up chatter that it may once again be the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Jackets were the favored opponent of the Coyotes this year with Phoenix winning all four games between the tgeams. We'll take a look at the schedule tomorrow.
One thing to watch for is when the big draws -- Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston, New York Rangers etc. -- are scheduled into Phoenix. Last year the league did the Yotes absolutely no favors by sending potential big draws Washington and Pittsburgh into Phoenix on weekday nights in October. If you see bigger draws scheduled on Saturdays early in the season, that would indicate the league has taken some care to help out the gate in Phoenix. One can hope. I know Doug Moss certainly does.
One thing to watch for is when the big draws -- Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston, New York Rangers etc. -- are scheduled into Phoenix. Last year the league did the Yotes absolutely no favors by sending potential big draws Washington and Pittsburgh into Phoenix on weekday nights in October. If you see bigger draws scheduled on Saturdays early in the season, that would indicate the league has taken some care to help out the gate in Phoenix. One can hope. I know Doug Moss certainly does.
Monday, July 13, 2009
A Little Dealing Between Friends
I have to make a confession. Long before I moved to Phoenix and long before the Coyotes were even a thought, I was a New York Ranger fan. Born and bred since I was 7 years old. At that’s a long time ago. Official hint: Dwight Eisenhower was President. Of the United States.
The Coyotes are my (Western Division) team. The Rangers are my team. With season tickets for both teams and the NHL TV package I get to see 50-60 of each team’s games every year.
So to say I’m a little torn with tonight’s trade of Enver Lisin for Lauri Korpikoski would be an understatement.
You see, these are two of my favorite players.
Enver Lisin is an exciting player. He’s the best skater in the league and he has a chance to be an outstanding offensive player. How good? 35-40 goals is a realistic ceiling. What impressed me the most this year was how many battles he won in the offensive end. He’s more than just fast; he has great instincts and a wonderful shot. He has a chance to be special. He was one of the few players on the Coyotes who could lift you out of your seat.
Enver’s downside is that like many Russian players, he’s been a liability at the other end of the rink. A real big liability. In 2006-07, he turned in a -18 in 17 games. That my friends, takes some work. This year he was a -13 in 48 games. Numbers can be misleading but in this case they are not.
And you clearly got the impression that once the Coyotes backed up the truck at the trade deadline, he was pushed further down the lineup by the glut of forwards. The coaching staff seemed to be a little sour on him. Truth be told, more than a little sour.
Lisin is going to be either a very good player in the league or another guy who takes a pass at North American hockey and then goes back to Russia. We’ll be watching the Rangers closely to see how it plays out.
If Lisin is the prototypical risk/reward player, Korpikoski is anything but. An excellent skater, The Korpedo is going to play in the league for 10 years. He’s an excellent penalty killer (something the Yotes’ desperately need) and a very responsible defensive player. What is he is not is an offensive force. He has a nice shot and has shown some offensive flashes. You may have been watching on NBC last year when he scored a goal in his first NHL game, a second round playoff game vs. the Penguins.
At 22, there’s lot of room for growth. Worse case, he’ll ride shotgun with Marty Hanzel on the checking line. Best case, he’ll chip in enough goals to battle for a top six spot.
Although they are very different, both seem like good kids. As Korpikoski is cool and professional, Lisin is charged with emotion. The Finnish born Korpikoski speaks excellent English. Lisin has struggled to learn the language and was homesick when he first came to North America. Last year it was reported that he had made a real attempt to better acclimate himself. For some players it comes easier than others.
Check back in a few years and we’ll tell you who won this trade. Don Maloney wanted the reliability of a player he once drafted who does all of the little things well and has room to grow. The Rangers wanted a high risk/high reward player. Both got what they wanted at a modest price.
And I get to continue to follow the progress of two players whom I immensely like.
The Coyotes are my (Western Division) team. The Rangers are my team. With season tickets for both teams and the NHL TV package I get to see 50-60 of each team’s games every year.
So to say I’m a little torn with tonight’s trade of Enver Lisin for Lauri Korpikoski would be an understatement.
You see, these are two of my favorite players.
Enver Lisin is an exciting player. He’s the best skater in the league and he has a chance to be an outstanding offensive player. How good? 35-40 goals is a realistic ceiling. What impressed me the most this year was how many battles he won in the offensive end. He’s more than just fast; he has great instincts and a wonderful shot. He has a chance to be special. He was one of the few players on the Coyotes who could lift you out of your seat.
Enver’s downside is that like many Russian players, he’s been a liability at the other end of the rink. A real big liability. In 2006-07, he turned in a -18 in 17 games. That my friends, takes some work. This year he was a -13 in 48 games. Numbers can be misleading but in this case they are not.
And you clearly got the impression that once the Coyotes backed up the truck at the trade deadline, he was pushed further down the lineup by the glut of forwards. The coaching staff seemed to be a little sour on him. Truth be told, more than a little sour.
Lisin is going to be either a very good player in the league or another guy who takes a pass at North American hockey and then goes back to Russia. We’ll be watching the Rangers closely to see how it plays out.
If Lisin is the prototypical risk/reward player, Korpikoski is anything but. An excellent skater, The Korpedo is going to play in the league for 10 years. He’s an excellent penalty killer (something the Yotes’ desperately need) and a very responsible defensive player. What is he is not is an offensive force. He has a nice shot and has shown some offensive flashes. You may have been watching on NBC last year when he scored a goal in his first NHL game, a second round playoff game vs. the Penguins.
At 22, there’s lot of room for growth. Worse case, he’ll ride shotgun with Marty Hanzel on the checking line. Best case, he’ll chip in enough goals to battle for a top six spot.
Although they are very different, both seem like good kids. As Korpikoski is cool and professional, Lisin is charged with emotion. The Finnish born Korpikoski speaks excellent English. Lisin has struggled to learn the language and was homesick when he first came to North America. Last year it was reported that he had made a real attempt to better acclimate himself. For some players it comes easier than others.
Check back in a few years and we’ll tell you who won this trade. Don Maloney wanted the reliability of a player he once drafted who does all of the little things well and has room to grow. The Rangers wanted a high risk/high reward player. Both got what they wanted at a modest price.
And I get to continue to follow the progress of two players whom I immensely like.
Coyotes Acquire Lauri Korpikoski
It's confirmed, the Coyotes have acquired forward Lauri Korpikoski from the New York Rangers in a straight player trade for Enver Lisin.
Korpikoski is a lightning quick winger who just completed his rookie season with the Rangers with 6goals and 14 points in 68 games.
Korpikoski was drafted by Coyotes GM Don Maloney and was one of New York's 2 first round draft picks in 2004. The other? Current Coyote goaltender Al Montoya.
Lisin had 13 goals in 48 games for the Coyotes this season.
Analysis coming later.
Korpikoski is a lightning quick winger who just completed his rookie season with the Rangers with 6goals and 14 points in 68 games.
Korpikoski was drafted by Coyotes GM Don Maloney and was one of New York's 2 first round draft picks in 2004. The other? Current Coyote goaltender Al Montoya.
Lisin had 13 goals in 48 games for the Coyotes this season.
Analysis coming later.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Dead Legend Walking
This is a real difficult blog to write. Because, I feel like I am writing Wayne Gretzky’s obituary as the coach of the Phoenix Coyotes.
Watching the game’s living legend be knocked around over the past few weeks has been a painful experience. He’s clearly a Canadian first and with the swirling controversy over Jim Balsillie and Hamilton, he doesn’t want to say or do anything that is not reverent to his birthplace. He is the living icon of the National Hockey League. No athlete, great or otherwise has ever shown the game more respect than Gretzky. He’s also the coach – and ostensibly the head of hockey operations for the Coyotes – and it’s a job he desperately wants to keep.
Each day that passes that seems less likely.
For starters Gretzky stayed away from the NHL draft and meetings last month in Montreal. He has been conspicuously absent in the discussion of the Coyotes off season player moves. His compensation (rightly so) was ripped in a study of Coyote team expenses. Rumors have been circulating that he won’t be welcome in the Reinsdorf-Kaites-Tavares organization. And Glendale has called into question his standing as a creditor in the Coyotes bankruptcy.
You can read more about Glendale and Gretzky here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/glendale-takes-aim-at-great-one/article1204887/
It’s a sad turn of events. At first he was clearly out of his element behind the bench. In the last two years, he’s grown in the job and seemed to enjoy it more than in prior years. His teams played hard even if they were not particularly well schooled. Now the vibe seems to be that he really wants to keep the job, is willing to take a substantial pay cut to keep it but may not get the chance.
New ownership is keeping their mouths shut until the bankruptcy purchase is completed but you get the sense that a late summer coaching change is imminent. While there is hockey and business justification for a coaching change, there is still an emotional tug that says he’s the greatest player who ever played the game and someone who has always honored the game. He deserves better.
Wayne Gretzky won’t get fired. If the decision is made to end his association with the Coyotes, he will resign gracefully. Because that is his style. And while he has not been the great one as a coach, he has handled a difficult situation with grace and composure. Wayne Gretzky has never demanded the spotlight – it always found him. Now he lurks in the background as a creditor, a financial albatross and a supporting actor in a play that has gone horribly wrong. It is so uncomfortable.
I’m reminded of a comment that was made about Wayne when he played and lived in LA. “He’s a great, hockey player” a business associate once told me, “but he’s an even better human being”. Good people deserve better.
If Wayne’s World is indeed closing, we’ll be watching a chapter of his remarkable career without a happy ending. And we all will be watching an opportunity slip away that started with so much promise but now is eclipsed by an economic struggle for survival.
Somehow, we’ll all be a little poorer for the experience.
Watching the game’s living legend be knocked around over the past few weeks has been a painful experience. He’s clearly a Canadian first and with the swirling controversy over Jim Balsillie and Hamilton, he doesn’t want to say or do anything that is not reverent to his birthplace. He is the living icon of the National Hockey League. No athlete, great or otherwise has ever shown the game more respect than Gretzky. He’s also the coach – and ostensibly the head of hockey operations for the Coyotes – and it’s a job he desperately wants to keep.
Each day that passes that seems less likely.
For starters Gretzky stayed away from the NHL draft and meetings last month in Montreal. He has been conspicuously absent in the discussion of the Coyotes off season player moves. His compensation (rightly so) was ripped in a study of Coyote team expenses. Rumors have been circulating that he won’t be welcome in the Reinsdorf-Kaites-Tavares organization. And Glendale has called into question his standing as a creditor in the Coyotes bankruptcy.
You can read more about Glendale and Gretzky here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/glendale-takes-aim-at-great-one/article1204887/
It’s a sad turn of events. At first he was clearly out of his element behind the bench. In the last two years, he’s grown in the job and seemed to enjoy it more than in prior years. His teams played hard even if they were not particularly well schooled. Now the vibe seems to be that he really wants to keep the job, is willing to take a substantial pay cut to keep it but may not get the chance.
New ownership is keeping their mouths shut until the bankruptcy purchase is completed but you get the sense that a late summer coaching change is imminent. While there is hockey and business justification for a coaching change, there is still an emotional tug that says he’s the greatest player who ever played the game and someone who has always honored the game. He deserves better.
Wayne Gretzky won’t get fired. If the decision is made to end his association with the Coyotes, he will resign gracefully. Because that is his style. And while he has not been the great one as a coach, he has handled a difficult situation with grace and composure. Wayne Gretzky has never demanded the spotlight – it always found him. Now he lurks in the background as a creditor, a financial albatross and a supporting actor in a play that has gone horribly wrong. It is so uncomfortable.
I’m reminded of a comment that was made about Wayne when he played and lived in LA. “He’s a great, hockey player” a business associate once told me, “but he’s an even better human being”. Good people deserve better.
If Wayne’s World is indeed closing, we’ll be watching a chapter of his remarkable career without a happy ending. And we all will be watching an opportunity slip away that started with so much promise but now is eclipsed by an economic struggle for survival.
Somehow, we’ll all be a little poorer for the experience.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Coyotes This & That…
Two Coyotes -- Nigel Dawes and Dan Winnik have filed for salary arbitration. This means that if the team and the layers do not reach agreement on a contract, a hearing will be held on a hearing in Toronto between July 20th and August 4th. The players and the team will argue their respective cases and an arbitrator will decide their 2009-10 salary.
The two players cannot sign offer sheets and are bound to play for the Coyotes by the amount decided by the arbitrator. The team has walk away rights from offers if they choose. This could be an issue if Dawes is rewarded with a higher offer than the Coyotes are comfortable paying based on his modest goal scoring over the past two years. On Monday we’ll learn if the Coyotes are invoking team elected salary arbitration on any of their other RFAs. This could happen if negotiations with any of the qualified RFAs are not going well. Watch to see if Keith Yandle or Scott Upshall are taken to arbitration.
Elsewhere, there are still lots of quality players available in free agency. I count 32 players who made more than $2MM last year and another 31 who made between $1-2MM looking for work.
Unfortunately for the Yotes, the number one need on their shopping list is goal scorers and there are not a lot of marksmen still unsigned. And the ones left are generally in the back half of their careers and looking for landing places with contenders. Players like Alex Kovalev, Alex Tanguay, Saku Koivu, Petr Sykora and Robert Lang are all likely to head to teams looking to win now.
Don Maloney has a few choices. He can break the bank for one of the bigger names. Of those available, Tanguay may be the best price/value option. Or he can roll the dice on a reclamation project. Maxim Afinogenov anyone? Or perhaps he may be to find a trading partner.
If Maloney decides to go the trade route, he has plenty of assets available, mostly on the back end. The Coyotes have 7 NHL defensemen signed for next year (OK, 6 + David Hale) and 4 1st round draft choices coming along. He could also further fortify the backline with any of the several workmanlike defensemen still available. And perhaps that would open up the possibility of trading a defenseman for a scoring forward.
And the ability to move a defenseman could also address the payroll situation. While GMDM still has some money available (The Coyotes are flirting with the cap floor with their current roster) there’s little doubt he would be open to moving the two bad contracts on the team – defensemen Ed Jovanoski and Jim Vandermeer. If he could move either or both contracts, it could open up many possibilities. He would certainly have to take salary back but right now there are more quality defensemen available than scorers.
Several rumor mills are talking about Jovo being in play. There’s little doubt that Maloney has already talked to the player and his agent about possible destinations (likely before the draft) and a deal could happen. The Coyotes would no doubt have been in the Ryan Smyth trade talks but without moving a big contract, they couldn’t take that kind of salary back. It’s almost impossible to guess what players might be available but a big salary for big salary trade could be the next Coyotes move.
And on a somewhat unrelated subject, you may have heard that the Chicago Blackhawks may have missed the deadline for tendering their restricted free agents. If that’s the case as many as 14 Hawks could be declared free agents. It’s a complex case that is being investigated by the NHL and being closely watched by the NHLPA. Cam Barker and Kris Versteeg are the biggest names available and if both became free agents, they would get tremendous interest around the league. Probably too rich for the Coyotes system.
There’s another lesser known player who might interest the Coyotes – goaltender Corey Crawford. He’s projected as the backup in Chicago next year and as a prospect on the rise, he could be a very appealing free agent. Front office fiascos of this nature are not unprecedented – it happened to the New Jersey Devils several years ago. The difference this time around is the salary cap restraints. It would clearly cramp the Hawks going forward.
The two players cannot sign offer sheets and are bound to play for the Coyotes by the amount decided by the arbitrator. The team has walk away rights from offers if they choose. This could be an issue if Dawes is rewarded with a higher offer than the Coyotes are comfortable paying based on his modest goal scoring over the past two years. On Monday we’ll learn if the Coyotes are invoking team elected salary arbitration on any of their other RFAs. This could happen if negotiations with any of the qualified RFAs are not going well. Watch to see if Keith Yandle or Scott Upshall are taken to arbitration.
Elsewhere, there are still lots of quality players available in free agency. I count 32 players who made more than $2MM last year and another 31 who made between $1-2MM looking for work.
Unfortunately for the Yotes, the number one need on their shopping list is goal scorers and there are not a lot of marksmen still unsigned. And the ones left are generally in the back half of their careers and looking for landing places with contenders. Players like Alex Kovalev, Alex Tanguay, Saku Koivu, Petr Sykora and Robert Lang are all likely to head to teams looking to win now.
Don Maloney has a few choices. He can break the bank for one of the bigger names. Of those available, Tanguay may be the best price/value option. Or he can roll the dice on a reclamation project. Maxim Afinogenov anyone? Or perhaps he may be to find a trading partner.
If Maloney decides to go the trade route, he has plenty of assets available, mostly on the back end. The Coyotes have 7 NHL defensemen signed for next year (OK, 6 + David Hale) and 4 1st round draft choices coming along. He could also further fortify the backline with any of the several workmanlike defensemen still available. And perhaps that would open up the possibility of trading a defenseman for a scoring forward.
And the ability to move a defenseman could also address the payroll situation. While GMDM still has some money available (The Coyotes are flirting with the cap floor with their current roster) there’s little doubt he would be open to moving the two bad contracts on the team – defensemen Ed Jovanoski and Jim Vandermeer. If he could move either or both contracts, it could open up many possibilities. He would certainly have to take salary back but right now there are more quality defensemen available than scorers.
Several rumor mills are talking about Jovo being in play. There’s little doubt that Maloney has already talked to the player and his agent about possible destinations (likely before the draft) and a deal could happen. The Coyotes would no doubt have been in the Ryan Smyth trade talks but without moving a big contract, they couldn’t take that kind of salary back. It’s almost impossible to guess what players might be available but a big salary for big salary trade could be the next Coyotes move.
And on a somewhat unrelated subject, you may have heard that the Chicago Blackhawks may have missed the deadline for tendering their restricted free agents. If that’s the case as many as 14 Hawks could be declared free agents. It’s a complex case that is being investigated by the NHL and being closely watched by the NHLPA. Cam Barker and Kris Versteeg are the biggest names available and if both became free agents, they would get tremendous interest around the league. Probably too rich for the Coyotes system.
There’s another lesser known player who might interest the Coyotes – goaltender Corey Crawford. He’s projected as the backup in Chicago next year and as a prospect on the rise, he could be a very appealing free agent. Front office fiascos of this nature are not unprecedented – it happened to the New Jersey Devils several years ago. The difference this time around is the salary cap restraints. It would clearly cramp the Hawks going forward.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Day Two of Free Agency...Give The Coyotes an "A"
Give the Coyotes an “A” for their latest free agent signing.
A as in Adrian Aucoin. This is more like what I had in mind for this off season. This is a good, potentially great signing.
Aucoin is a horse. He played 22 minutes a game this year for a very good Calgary team. He scored 10 goals in each of the last two seasons totaling 34 and 35 points. And even though he’s slowed down a little at age 35, he still is a strong skater and a steadying influence.
All of this on a very flexible one year contract for $2.25MM. Or said another way, $50,000 less than Jim Vandermeer. Still think that wasn’t part of the Jokinen deal and was made in March?
So what is going on as NHL free agency completes its’ second full day? Well for starters, star players still got star money. Gaborik for $7.5MM in New York. Havlat for $5MM in Minnesota. And Hossa for ever in Chicago.
But the second wave of free agent signings seems to be coming much more slowly. Only about half as many players signed on the second day this year compared to last year. And by my count, there are still over 30 players who made $2MM or more last year who have not yet signed new contracts.
Aucoin was squarely in that group. He made $4MM last year finishing off a 4 year contract he signed after the lockout with the Chicago Blackhawks. He took a big pay cut and a one year contract to get a seat at the table. Others will likely be in the same position.
It’s unlikely that a Robert Lang or Alex Kovalev will drop far enough to be in Don Maloney’s price bracket but some good offensive players who might are Ales Kotalik ($2.5MM last year), Maxim Afinogenov ($3.5MM), Mikael Samuelsson ($1.2MM) and Petr Sykora ($2.5MM). There’s also the possibility of a trade that brings a contracted player to the Coyotes.
Even with the signings of Aucoin, Vernon Fiddler, Jason LaBarbera and the acquisition of Jim Vandermeer, the Coyotes are still hovering around the salary cap floor. It appears there’s room for one more contract and that will almost certainly be a scorer.
Like much of the television advertising we see these days, prices have never been better. And better yet, operators are standing by. That’s great news when dollars are tight and your needs are great.
GMDM, Shop till they tell you to stop!
A as in Adrian Aucoin. This is more like what I had in mind for this off season. This is a good, potentially great signing.
Aucoin is a horse. He played 22 minutes a game this year for a very good Calgary team. He scored 10 goals in each of the last two seasons totaling 34 and 35 points. And even though he’s slowed down a little at age 35, he still is a strong skater and a steadying influence.
All of this on a very flexible one year contract for $2.25MM. Or said another way, $50,000 less than Jim Vandermeer. Still think that wasn’t part of the Jokinen deal and was made in March?
So what is going on as NHL free agency completes its’ second full day? Well for starters, star players still got star money. Gaborik for $7.5MM in New York. Havlat for $5MM in Minnesota. And Hossa for ever in Chicago.
But the second wave of free agent signings seems to be coming much more slowly. Only about half as many players signed on the second day this year compared to last year. And by my count, there are still over 30 players who made $2MM or more last year who have not yet signed new contracts.
Aucoin was squarely in that group. He made $4MM last year finishing off a 4 year contract he signed after the lockout with the Chicago Blackhawks. He took a big pay cut and a one year contract to get a seat at the table. Others will likely be in the same position.
It’s unlikely that a Robert Lang or Alex Kovalev will drop far enough to be in Don Maloney’s price bracket but some good offensive players who might are Ales Kotalik ($2.5MM last year), Maxim Afinogenov ($3.5MM), Mikael Samuelsson ($1.2MM) and Petr Sykora ($2.5MM). There’s also the possibility of a trade that brings a contracted player to the Coyotes.
Even with the signings of Aucoin, Vernon Fiddler, Jason LaBarbera and the acquisition of Jim Vandermeer, the Coyotes are still hovering around the salary cap floor. It appears there’s room for one more contract and that will almost certainly be a scorer.
Like much of the television advertising we see these days, prices have never been better. And better yet, operators are standing by. That’s great news when dollars are tight and your needs are great.
GMDM, Shop till they tell you to stop!
Yawn...
The NHL draft and free agency have not been the buzz builders that the Phoenix Coyotes had hoped for.
Aside from dealing for a couple of minor league prospects, the only NHL player acquired at the draft was defenseman Jim Vandermeer who came over from the Calgary Flames. Now one day into free agency the Yotes’ have added journeyman (don’t you just love that word) goaltender Jason LaBarbera and utility (another cool adjective) forward Vernon Fiddler as free agents.
I didn’t even write a free agent preview because I wasn’t expecting much out of the Coyotes. Everyone assumed GM Don Maloney would be shopping in the bargain aisle this summer. So far, it feels like the clearance bin at the dollar store.
Fiddler is a nice 3rd/4th line player. He works hard, kills penalties, wins face-offs and was a crowd favorite in Nashville. He will fill the Steve Reinprecht role on the team.
LaBarbera is an enigma. Like most goaltenders he is streaky. But boy is he ever streaky. He can be very good one night and very bad the next. In parts of 5 NHL seasons, it’s been more bad (2.97 GAA) than good.
Maloney has history with the lanky goaltender. When GMDM was in New York, LaBarbera was a Ranger draftee and farmhand.
Here’s a great story about Jason’s roller coaster career…
http://crashingthegoalie.com/2009/02/15/the-ups-and-downs-of-jason-labarbera/
LaBarbera was signed to push Ilya Bryzgalov but in reality he won’t be doing that. He’ll battle another form Ranger, Al Montoya, for the backup position.
But there is still hope for a shot of electricity that the franchise desperately needs. The silver lining here is that even with the three acquisitions made to date, the Coyotes are still below the NHL salary cap floor. I’ll do the math later today but it looks that even with reasonable qualifying offer allowances for players like Keith Yandle and Scott Upshall, the team still has enough money to buy another player or two.
So now what? The team still needs help on defense. Preferably a right hand shot. Derek Morris is still out there but there’s a certain ‘been there, done that’ quality to any potential resigning. And let’s not forget that Morris was awful for much of 2008-09.
And there’s a real need for a proven goal scorer to take some pressure off the young guns. The Coyotes were 29th in the NHL in scoring last year. While there is a lot of hope for internal improvement, there’s still a long way to go. There will be a lot of pressure on the kids to produce if this is the team we go to war with.
As other teams sign shiny new free agents, there may be some salary dumps available. And there’s always the player who won’t have a seat when the music stops playing who may just decide Phoenix in January sounds pretty damn good.
Until there is new ownership in place, Phoenix will simply not have the money or will to compete for premium free agents. There’s no money to take on big contracts from other teams. There is however a need to create news and excitement around the team and the next few days will go a long way to seeing what rabbits GMDM might be able to pull out of the hat.
Aside from dealing for a couple of minor league prospects, the only NHL player acquired at the draft was defenseman Jim Vandermeer who came over from the Calgary Flames. Now one day into free agency the Yotes’ have added journeyman (don’t you just love that word) goaltender Jason LaBarbera and utility (another cool adjective) forward Vernon Fiddler as free agents.
I didn’t even write a free agent preview because I wasn’t expecting much out of the Coyotes. Everyone assumed GM Don Maloney would be shopping in the bargain aisle this summer. So far, it feels like the clearance bin at the dollar store.
Fiddler is a nice 3rd/4th line player. He works hard, kills penalties, wins face-offs and was a crowd favorite in Nashville. He will fill the Steve Reinprecht role on the team.
LaBarbera is an enigma. Like most goaltenders he is streaky. But boy is he ever streaky. He can be very good one night and very bad the next. In parts of 5 NHL seasons, it’s been more bad (2.97 GAA) than good.
Maloney has history with the lanky goaltender. When GMDM was in New York, LaBarbera was a Ranger draftee and farmhand.
Here’s a great story about Jason’s roller coaster career…
http://crashingthegoalie.com/2009/02/15/the-ups-and-downs-of-jason-labarbera/
LaBarbera was signed to push Ilya Bryzgalov but in reality he won’t be doing that. He’ll battle another form Ranger, Al Montoya, for the backup position.
But there is still hope for a shot of electricity that the franchise desperately needs. The silver lining here is that even with the three acquisitions made to date, the Coyotes are still below the NHL salary cap floor. I’ll do the math later today but it looks that even with reasonable qualifying offer allowances for players like Keith Yandle and Scott Upshall, the team still has enough money to buy another player or two.
So now what? The team still needs help on defense. Preferably a right hand shot. Derek Morris is still out there but there’s a certain ‘been there, done that’ quality to any potential resigning. And let’s not forget that Morris was awful for much of 2008-09.
And there’s a real need for a proven goal scorer to take some pressure off the young guns. The Coyotes were 29th in the NHL in scoring last year. While there is a lot of hope for internal improvement, there’s still a long way to go. There will be a lot of pressure on the kids to produce if this is the team we go to war with.
As other teams sign shiny new free agents, there may be some salary dumps available. And there’s always the player who won’t have a seat when the music stops playing who may just decide Phoenix in January sounds pretty damn good.
Until there is new ownership in place, Phoenix will simply not have the money or will to compete for premium free agents. There’s no money to take on big contracts from other teams. There is however a need to create news and excitement around the team and the next few days will go a long way to seeing what rabbits GMDM might be able to pull out of the hat.
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