Off The Ice Stories

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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: Is it time to trade Keith Yandle?

We're one-quarter of the way through the 2013 Phoenix Coyotes season and looking at the same question from last season: should the Coyotes look to trade defenseman Keith Yandle?
11 years ago
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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: Coyotes season boiling down to a matter of will

Few National Hockey League teams are better at controlling their own fate than the Phoenix Coyotes. A team that looked bad on paper made it to the Western Conference Finals last season. A fluke? Hardly. The Coyotes earned their spot by being one of the best defensive teams in the league and limiting mistakes. In […]
11 years ago
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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: Keep the faith in struggling Mike Smith

To the casual hockey fan, the Phoenix Coyotes season has not gotten off to a good start. Hell, to a seasoned hockey fan, the Coyotes season has not gotten off to a good start. Generally known for a defense-first approach, the ‘Yotes have given up 10 goals in two games, enough for a 5.00 goals […]
11 years ago
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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: Taking a look at the 2013 Phoenix Coyotes

The ridiculous lockout is over and the Phoenix Coyotes are set to take the ice to begin a truncated season on Jan. 19. Basically, the Coyotes are facing their traditional difficulties. The offseason didn’t see too many moves, but the loss of a couple of veterans, especially Ray Whitney, could weigh heavily on the team. […]
11 years ago
Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: Have you had your fill yet, Glendale?

When the NHL lockout began, I can’t help but admit that a small portion of me was excited. As someone who is (sometimes) paid to cover the Phoenix Coyotes, that probably doesn’t seem natural, but allow me to further my thought. I hoped the lockout would give officials in the City of Glendale a sneak […]
12 years ago
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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: Doan signing makes him biggest Valley sports legend

Luis Gonzalez. Steve Nash. Larry Fitzgerald. All of them pale compared to Shane Doan. The still owner-less Coyotes and its passionately loyal fan base got their captain back Friday, but the Valley gained something more: the biggest sports legend in Arizona history. Now, I’m sure there are thousands who are ready to disagree with me […]
12 years ago
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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: Whitney departure bodes ill for Coyotes in offseason

It only took two hours of NHL free agency for the Coyotes ownership situation to rear its ugly head. After penning a deal with the Dallas Stars, former Coyotes forward Ray Whitney said that the Coyotes ownership situation was a primary reason he chose to leave the desert. “I found in Phoenix, without an owner, […]
12 years ago
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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: Glad to see Doan test free agency

It’s almost July 1. For NHL fans like me, that means it’s time to get giddy. A flurry of contracts will be agreed on this Sunday, filling my need for gossip (sure beats talking about Bill ’round the water cooler) and nearly blowing up my Twitter timeline. Phone calls will be made, contracts will be […]
11 years ago
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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: Clearly we need some transparency

I like when things are transparent. Aside from the obvious reason (zombies can’t hide behind things that are transparent), I find that when nothing can contain a secret it tends to be simpler, smoother and, overall, much more popular. That doesn’t sound anything like the Goldwater Institute (and I’m pretty sure they’re hiding zombies, too). […]
12 years ago
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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: Choosing the lesser of two evils

Sigh… Here we go again for Round 2 between the Goldwater Institute and the city of Glendale. The conservative think tank is again turning to the courts to stifle the deal, this time literally hours before a vote was expected. GWI said, and possibly rightfully so, that the city did not post the deal for […]
12 years ago
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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: 2011-2012 season the renaissance of Coyotes hockey

It’s over. The Phoenix Coyotes’ NHL season and incredible playoff run came to a devastating end on Tuesday when the Los Angeles Kings netted an overtime winner to book their first trip to the Stanley Cup Final since 1993. And I couldn’t be more proud of the Coyotes. Here’s a short list of accomplishments from […]
12 years ago
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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: Coyotes finally save face in Kings series

I played for an atrociously bad high school soccer team when I was younger, and I know what it feels like to be dominated in every facet of a series against a team. But I also know what it feels like to take one from a team, to steal that sweep away. They can talk […]
12 years ago
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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: It’s time for big boy hockey

Well, that sucked. In case you missed it, the Los Angeles Kings rolled over the Phoenix Coyotes in the opening game of the Western Conference Finals, winning by a score that felt much further spread than the final 4-2 scoreline. The Kings came out and dominated the first period, outshooting the Coyotes 17-4. They played […]
12 years ago
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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: Reliefs vs. Concerns in Coyotes vs. Kings

We finally know the dates of the Western Conference Final between the Los Angeles Kings and Phoenix Coyotes. This series, in my opinion, is going to be one of the craziest we’ve seen in the playoffs so far. The Kings, once earlier this season a laughing stock of offensive ineptitude, are now firing on all […]
12 years ago
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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: Reliefs vs. Concerns in Coyotes vs. Predators

The Phoenix Coyotes and Nashville Predators faceoff Friday night in their opening game of Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. It’s another winnable series, but the Coyotes will have to be even more disciplined than they were against the Blackhawks. The Preds are very, very similar to the Coyotes. Both teams focus on defense-first […]
12 years ago
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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: Oliver Ekman-Larsson 1, Patrick Kane 0

Aren’t the personal, one-on-one battles of the playoffs great? Going into the opening round of the playoffs against the mighty and storied Chicago Blackhawks, most analysts were giving the ‘Hawks skilled lines an edge over the Phoenix Coyotes gritty style of defense-first hockey. I admit, though I favored the Coyotes with my choice, I thought […]
12 years ago
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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: Torres suspension has to be a joke

I laughed when I first heard the news about Raffi Torres’ 25-game suspension. I honestly did. You can call me a homer all you’d like, but hear me out before you do so. Not only is it the longest suspension of Brendan Shanhan’s brief tenure, the NHL has seen worse — especially as of late […]
12 years ago
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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: Shaw suspension shows deep flaws in NHL discipline

I’m not here to argue the Andrew Shaw suspension. He made contact with Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith’s head. He took a dangerous line on a protected player. He had both time and space to alter his course or slow down to make a play on the puck; he did neither. Shaw deserved his three-game […]
12 years ago
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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: Time for Coyotes to get tough

The motto for the Phoenix Coyotes this season has been “Hockey the Hard Way” and it’s not going to get any tougher than the remainder of the series with the Chicago Blackhawks. The ‘Hawks are one of the best playoff teams in the NHL and have used their veteran knowledge to beat a Coyotes team […]
12 years ago
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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: Relief vs. concerns in Coyotes vs. Blackhawks

It’s set. The Phoenix Coyotes will take on the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. It’s a winnable series, but the Coyotes are in for a rough ride from the ‘Hawks, who are loaded with big-game experience and arguably one of the best followings in the NHL. Looking ahead to […]
12 years ago
Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: Handing out the Howlers

The Phoenix Coyotes season is coming to a close and the team has already given out their awards. There weren’t a lot of surprises — Mike Smith was the MVP, Shane Doan was the hardest working player as voted by fans, Ray Whitney got the most points and Jason LaBarbera was the best guy in […]
12 years ago
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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: Three days to decide Coyotes playoff future

Three days. That’s all the time the Phoenix Coyotes have to salvage their season. Their loss to St. Louis on Sunday left the team with 87 points and in seventh place in the Western Conference. Generally, that would mean no reason to panic. But that’s not the case. Every team in the Pacific Division plays […]
12 years ago
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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: Doan suspension was dumb move

Mr. Doan, I must say that you have had better timing. In case you haven’t heard the news, Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan was suspended three games Wednesday for elbowing Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn. While at first the hit looked brutal, replays showed that Benn may have changed direction faster than Doan anticipated or […]
12 years ago
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Carter Nacke

Off the Ice: No vote needed for hardest-working player

Are the Phoenix Coyotes really asking for votes when it comes to the hardest working player of the season? OK, it’s a fan thing and they do it every year. It’s a great tool to let the fans be involved and I’m sure the player really appreciates the recognition, as he’s earned it. But this […]
12 years ago