Preseason Preview: Phoenix Coyotes

We're heading down the stretch as it's time for another Preseason Preview. This is where we check out the teams going into the season.

Now, the Phoenix Coyotes.

Team M.O.: These guys like to be a run-and-gun team that features an abundance of Western Canadian, American, and Czech presence. However, they haven't necessarily been the most complete hockey team, so they'll need to be as well rounded as possible and work as a group in order to find success for the upcoming season. Their trade-deadline activity and off-season acquisitions have built a team that's more likely to bring their vision to light and is one of the better Phoenix squads to take the ice in the past few seasons.

Last Season: 13th in the Conference and well out of the playoffs. This was a staggering disappointment, as the Coyotes were in 5th place at the All-Star game when their rookies ran out of gas and injuries took a toll on the veterans. Throw in the off-ice fiasco involving the team's possible relocation to Hamilton and it's put a set on handcuffs on G.M. Don Maloney, not to mention leaving many questions about who the coach will be, if there will be a TV deal, will they make the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons, will they get a player to put them over the top, etc, etc, etc.

(... and then people ask why Phoenix isn't a successful hockey market... )

Offense: The forward position is balanced, but may still rely on more youth than it should. Shane Doan is the undisputed leader of this team and has managed to not only get better as a player but has also become one of the best active captains in the NHL. If he can stay Chris Chelios healthy, he could be around for a good line time. Peter Mueller went and lost a bunch of weight, worked on his skating, and recovered from a concussion to compete for the first line center position. Martin Hanzal will be trying to push forward too, but he can't get all down when he doesn't get to play the minutes he wants. Radim Vrbata, the team's prodigal son, came back and will provide the spark it missed after he left. The trio of Scottie Upshall, Petr Prucha, and Matthew Lombardi are all going to be anxious to prove how much they're worth to the new owner and should provide the team with a great deal of scoring presence. Mikael Boedker showed some top-flight before limping his way to the end of season while Viktor Tikhonov is emerging as a great defensive presence...

... in fact, he's so good defensively that scored a goal after taking a penalty before the penalty was called on him without a stop in play! Don't believe me do you?



That happened and there was a decent crowd at Phoenix's arena. Eat it!

With their top nine forwards figured out, they're looking at the remaining five forward spots and plugging them in. Vernon Fiddler will provide an energy presence who can play sound defense and win faceoffs. Lauri Korpikoski replaces Enver Lisin as the speedy offensive specialist, and Daniel Winnik will return in his role as a grinding winger. The team has signed enforcer Aaron Downey to a profesional tryout and should make it out of camp with an NHL contract. That leaves one open forward spot. The team could put Kyle Turris there, but I think the general consensus is that it would be better for him to star in San Antonio before starring for the Coyotes. The team could put Joel Perrault in that role, and they might if no one else shows up for the ball. I think it all depends as to whether or not the Coyotes are able to bring someone else to the squad for their top-six lineup. If they go out and get another top-six forward before the start of the season (which they should), it will have a benefit that will spread throughout the team and take their development up another notch. If not, then this group is, at worst, a group of adaquate forwards who are capable of getting the job done.

Defense: The defense on this team is surprisingly solid and well fortified, especially if they do adpot the run-and-gun style for their defenders too. Ed Jovanovski is a scoring machine but needs to start being as good at defense as he is at offense. Zybenk Michalek, on the other hand, as quietly become the team's most valuable defensemen, leading the entire league in blocked shots. The team lost quite a bit of games when Kurt Sauer was out of the line up, showing that his defensive presence is important enough to warrant a top-four role. The team acquired Adrian Aucoin to shore up one of the top pairings, as they will hope he can provide his veteran experience and booming slap shot to win games. Keith Yandle is starting to knock on the door for a top four role, but needs to tighten up his defensive play before that's possible. Jim Vandermeer gives the Coyotes a solid defensive defenseman who has the mean streak teams crave for that possition. The team could go with one of their younger players like Sami Lepisto or David Schlemko for that seventh role, but the team would do well to go after another player for that position. If Mathieu Dandenault was interested in the Coyotes that would be a sound pickup. If not, maybe they should invite some defensemen with NHL experience to camp and see who between them and the prospects get that last spot.

Goaltending: For as deep as the goaltending is on this team, it's still questionable. Ilya Bryzgalov is a great goaltender, so why does he lose concentration so hard for? Jason Labarbara has worked in a Number 1/1A goaltending system before, but will be be able to properly push Bryzgalov for playing time? Al Montoya did exceptional in his audition last season with the Coyotes, so can he put together in the minors first? Josh Tordjman can win at the minor level, but can he figure out how to build the size and confidence necessary to win at an NHL level? Grant Fuhr, it's on you to get it working.

Expectations: Some analysts are letting the bankruptcy situation speak for how the team will perform on ice and that's nonsense. At the end of the day, the team itself is one that's few tweaks away from being one of the better teams in the league. They're adequate and competitive as they are provided they play hard each and every night. But if the Coyotes got another top-six forward for the season, a depth defender on a short contract, and a new coaching staff, then these guys will explode... and the fans will come following.