The time has come. The Phoenix Coyotes are a West Coast hockey team who play a West Coast style — the emphasis is on passing, fluid skating and, well, “pretty” hockey. It has moved away from the grittiness and physicality of the East Coast brand, but there are still players in the Western Conference who […]
Things are looking up for Coyotes centerman Martin Hanzal. Not only did the Czech lockup a nice five-year deal that will keep him with the team through 2017, if you look very closely at the photo in this story, Hanzal received a little promotion. He’s now an alternate captain. While it isn’t officially listed on […]
GLENDALE – The last time center Martin Hanzal inked a contract with the Coyotes he was driving out of state for a mini-vacation and had to pull over and sign the deal at a service station along I-17. On Thursday, Hanzal took a more conventional approach by signing a five-year contract extension with the team […]
NHL goaltenders like to express themselves via their masks, which are often adorned with impressive graphics, which can mean any number of things. Coyotes goaltender Jason LaBarbera’s new mask will be used to honor Pat Tillman and other service members. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Pat Tillman and everything he did for […]
PRESCOTT VALLEY – With a week off between the preseason finale and regular-season opener, the Coyotes are in the midst of a three-day trip here to fine-tune, to bond and to focus on the start of the 2011-12 season as a group. On Monday, the team practiced for an hour at Tim’s Toyota Center, the […]
GLENDALE – The Coyotes had 26 players on the roster for Saturday’s win over San Jose in the preseason finale and six players were scratched. General Manager Don Maloney and his staff need to trim at least three players before noon (AZ time) on Wednesday. Maloney told me before Saturday’s game that he may slice […]
As the Phoenix Coyotes head into a new season, the team is facing a lot of questions. How will the goaltending situation fare after the departure of Ilya Bryzgalov? Is the first line made of veterans the best option? Who can help captain Shane Doan lead the team into a (hopefully) great season? The Coyotes […]
The Phoenix Coyotes wrap up the preseason this Saturday and will have to reduce their current roster down to the mandated 23 players shortly thereafter. Forward Kyle Chipchura deserves to be on that final roster. While I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing him skate so far this preseason, I’ve read several articles on him […]
Thank goodness it’s the preseason. The Phoenix Coyotes had their first home preseason game against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday. And it looked like preseason hockey. Never before have I seen a player who vied for a Stanley Cup last season fan so many times or two veterans collide then stop to look at […]
The Phoenix Coyotes signed former Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Mike Smith in the offseason to replace want-away netminder Ilya Bryzgalov. The problem is, Smith is injury-prone and spent half of last season with the Norfolk Admirals in the AHL. He played well — when he played — for Tampa Bay last season […]
GLENDALE — Jobing.com Arena was hopping on Friday as players, coaches, staff and media members assembled for the first official day of the Coyotes 2011-12 Training Camp. Sixty-two players have been invited to this camp, including newcomers Mike Smith, Daymond Langkow, Raffi Torres and Boyd Gordon. Friday was a long day for the players. It […]
GLENDALE — I had a chance to speak with Matt McConnell today moments after he was announced as the new Play-By-Play Announcer for the Coyotes. Below is an edited transcript of our conversation. Q: Matt, congratulations on being named the successor to Dave Strader as the TV voice of the Phoenix Coyotes. Your thoughts on […]
An article on ESPN’s Cross Checks Blog, asked if Phoenix Coyotes prospect Kyle Turris will get his shot this season. He has underperformed and is asking for a large contract, possibly reflecting a major ego issue. I can’t deny that Turris’ play hasn’t been up to par. His 19 goals in 131 games as a […]
GLENDALE – Coyotes captain Shane Doan is thrilled to be reunited with center Daymond Langkow, whom Phoenix re-acquired Monday in a trade with the Calgary Flames. Doan and Langkow were roommates on road trips during Langkow’s first stint with the Coyotes from 2001-04. They formed a bond that has stood the test of time and […]
When the Phoenix Coyotes swapped forward Lee Stempniak for center Daymond Langkow, captain Shane Doan had a big smile on his face. I’m not smiling. Now, I’m a confessed Doan fan – his sweater is hanging in my closet – but I think this trade puts the Coyotes attack at risk. Stempniak was a good […]
The Phoenix Coyotes announced Monday they completed a trade with the Calgarly Flames, acquiring center Daymond Langkow in exchange for right wing Lee Stempniak. Lankgkow, 34, was with the Coyotes from 2001-03, but has spent the last six seasons with the Flames. He missed most of last season with an upper body injury. “We are […]
GLENDALE – I realize it doesn’t feel like it outside in the triple-digit heat, but the Coyotes’ off-season quickly is coming to an end. In 11 days, the crew at Jobing.com Arena will begin installing the ice for the 2011-12 season, and soon after they’re finished training camp will begin for the rookies and the […]
Can it be true? The Phoenix Business Journal said that the former owner of the San Jose Sharks is ready to snap up the owner-less Phoenix Coyotes – and that a sales agreement could be worked out as soon as next week. Coyotes fans, this is good, good news. Greg Jamison, the interested buyer and […]
GLENDALE – Prospect Connor Murphy underwent a knee scope in the Valley on Monday afternoon to repair a torn meniscus he suffered last week during the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp In Lake Placid, N.Y. Murphy, who will stay in Arizona for a few days to begin rehabilitation, is facing between two to four […]
Rick Knickle is eager to start his new job as Director of Amateur Scouting for the Coyotes and eager to put his stamp on the team’s development system. “As far as prospects go, I think they’re on the right track and they have some good pieces,” Knickle told me on Thursday morning. “I’m looking to […]
The Phoenix Coyotes have added depth at the goalie position. According to NBC Sports, the team has signed Justin Pogge to a one year deal. The team did not disclose the financial terms of the deal, but it is not expected to be much as Pogge will likely remain in the American Hockey League. Pogge […]
The Coyotes and restricted free agent Lauri Korpikoski agreed to the terms of his new two-year contract about three minutes before his salary arbitration hearing was set to begin in Toronto on Wednesday morning. I’m told negotiations between the Coyotes, Korpikoski and Korpikoski’s agent, Larry Kelly, were rekindled at about 8:45 EDT and a deal […]
Coyotes prospect Andy Miele didn’t win the 2011 ESPY for Best Male College Athlete on Wednesday night, but that didn’t dampen his experience at the annual star-studded awards show in Los Angeles. That’s because Miele, who won the Hobey Baker Award in April, got to rub elbows with royalty of the sports world for a […]
The Diamondbacks are in the middle of a playoff race, but the other professional sports teams in the Valley are causing fans to scratch their heads. The Phoenix Coyotes still do not know where they will call home in two seasons, but wherever it is, the fans are likely to be frustrated. The Business Journals […]
While most of the Coyotes prospects headed home on Monday after the team's annual development camp, center Andy Miele started making his way to Los Angeles for Wednesday's ESPY extravaganza.
A few things have become clear over the years when it comes to the Phoenix Coyotes ownership saga. Like being engaged, nothing is official until the contract is signed, and you can’t trust much of what is coming from the Canadian media. Today’s source of misinformation comes courtesy of a usual suspect, David Shoalts of […]
Ilya Bryzgalov is saying all the right things about joining the Philadelphia Flyers. Yet, what he is saying about his effort as a member of the Phoenix Coyotes may not be what Valley fans had hoped to hear. “I want to be the guy who can carry this team,” Bryzgalov said on a conference call […]
PHOENIX – Matthew Hulsizer must really want to own an NHL franchise. After being tied to the Phoenix Coyotes for awhile before eventually walking away, Hulsizer is now believed to be interested in purchasing at least a stake in the St. Louis Blues. According to David Shoalts of the Globe & Mail, the Chicago-based businessman […]
While most people would like the keep the Coyotes in Phoenix, Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs has begun to envision life without the NHL. “At some point, and I have reached that point, we have to say this is the situation the way it is, we must move on,” Scruggs told Channel 12’s Brahm Resnik. “We […]
GLENDALE – The Coyotes have taken a major step in solidifying their defense by re-signing All-Star defenseman Keith Yandle to a five-year contract. After a lull in talks, negotiations between Yandle, a restricted free agent, and the Coyotes heated up Tuesday morning and the deal was closed on Tuesday afternoon. Yandle, 24, said that when […]
