Season Review: Phoenix Coyotes

Well, as we're advancing toward the conference semi-finals of the playoffs, I will be reviewing the seasons of teams as they're eliminated from the playoffs. Obviously, the last team reviewed will be the one that wins the Cup.

Now the first team to be eliminated from the playoffs: The Phoenix Coyotes.

My prediction: Second in the Pacific Division and going for a nice playoff run.

The truth: Third in the division and made the sixth seed in the Western Conference, where they were swept in four games by the Detroit Red Wings.

So what happened?: In the end, GM Don Maloney built a formidable team on a shoe string budget (again) but the faces that left in the off-season due to the ownership fiasco cost them chemistry that couldn't be readily be replaced or replicated. Their regular season was best described as a .500 season that was dashed with winning streaks. They were able to get solid goaltending from Ilya Bryzgalov until the post-season, where his GAA was well over 4 and his save percentage was well below .900. Shane Doan still managed to produce 60 points but at times looked to be the only person on the team who could play at both ends of the ice. Scottie Upshall and Wojtek Wolski were moved for Rostislav Klesla and Michal Rosival, respectively, and while it did help a defense that needed some shoring-up due to injury, the offense that was lost due to trading those two was never replaced no matter how badly the team wanted to lean on the young guys like Kyle Turris and Mikkel Boedker. Keith Yandle and Lauri Korpikoski did very well in contract years, though, so the team's hoping to lock them down with a deal that will be fair without breaking the bank. Of course, the threat of relocation looms...

So what's next?: ... seeing the last note, there's a realistic chance that there may not be a Phoenix Coyotes next season. Regardless of where the franchise ends up, the only way they're going to succeed from here on in is if they get an owner who'll spend what's necessary to not only make the team a playoff team but a Cup contender for years to come.