DDB: Five things to know about Vermette

GLENDALE — Wednesday was a busy day for the Coyotes with
a practice, a flight to Calgary and the acquisition of
Antoine Vermette.

Needing immediate help at center, the Coyotes plucked
Vermette from the Columbus Blue Jackets for minor-league
goalie Curtis McElhinney and two draft picks. Visit
phoenixcoyotes.com for full details of the trade.

I spoke to Vermette via telephone soon after the deal and
he told me he was thrilled to be thrust into the playoff
mix overnight and that he can’t wait to help his new team
challenge for the Pacific Division title.

Below are five tidbits Coyotes fans should know about
Vermette:

1. He has played in exactly 600 NHL regular-season games
and has notched 319 points.

2. He did not miss a game with the Blue Jackets after
making his debut with the club on March 7, 2009 – a streak
of 181 games, the fourth longest streak in Columbus
franchise history.

3. He ranks 10th in the NHL in faceoff winning percentage
(56.3).

4. He will wear sweater No. 50 for the Coyotes; rookie
Matt Watkins has given it up and switched to No. 36.

5. He is under contract for three more seasons after this
season.

• Here’a a quick injury update for the team’s two-game
trip to Calgary and Edmonton: Defenseman Rostislav Klesla
(upper-body injury), center Kyle Chipchura (upper-body
injury), defenseman Derek Morris (leave of absence),
forward Gilbert Brule (upper-body injury) and defenseman
David Schlemko (lower-body injury) did not make the trip.
Forward Taylor Pyatt, who has missed the past three games
because of an upper-body injury, did make the trip.

• Coyotes prospect Mark Visentin, who recently set an
Ontario Hockey League record by notching his 10th shutout
of the season for the Niagara IceDogs, was named the CHL
Goaltender of the Week.

• And finally, don’t be surprised if you see Coyotes
netminder Mike Smith wearing a new goalie mask on this
trip to Calgary and Edmonton.

On Wednesday, Smith told me he recently received a second
Wile E. Coyote mask from artist David Arrigo and that he
would likely debut it soon.

Smith’s second mask has a few subtle tweaks from the
original design on his current mask. For instance, on
Smith’s new mask you will see that Wile E. Coyote has
dropped the old-school leather pads and is wearing newer
gear. Also, if you look closely at the front of Smith’s
second mask you will notice Wile E. Coyote has finally
gotten his revenge on the Roadrunner.

When I asked Smith why he is bringing in a new mask so
late in the season he smiled and said: “I like to have two
helmets and keep people guessing.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Contact Dave Vest at
thedesertdogblog@phoenixcoyotes.com and follow him on
Twitter @davest4yotes.

For information on upcoming Phoenix Coyotes games, please
visit http://coyotes.nhl.com

Follow @theAdamGreen