PHOENIX COYOTES
He's the best Russian prospect since Ilya Kovalchuk. If someone could have forged his birth certificate, any team would have drafted him last June. Alexander Ovechkin is the gem of the 2004 draft class, and the Coyotes are well positioned to earn the coveted top pick.
That’s about the only good news in Phoenix. As for the current team, trades have crippled an already weak defence, while the forwards will be hard-pressed to match last season’s anaemic output.
There's been a huge turnover in Phoenix over the last 12 months. The idea, apparently, is to corner the market on disappointment and dashed expecations. Chris Gratton, Dan Cleary, David Tanabe, Mike Sillinger - all are former first-round draft picks looking for another chance, as the potential of their younger years fades in the rear view mirror.
The established Coyotes are not such a bad group, with solid NHL citizens like Daymond Langkow and Mike Johnson leading the way. The last quality defenseman, Paul Mara, will only get better. Same with Ladislav Nagy, a creative young forward. There are a handful of young players, such as Krys Kolanos, who might step forward this year.
But it’s not enough, not nearly enough, not at any position, and not in the high octane Western Conference. That’s especially true on defense, so goaltender Sean Burke will shoulder a heavy load again this season. But if Burke has a good year, he’ll probably be traded, replaced by yet another 12-goal winger or minor league defenseman.
Trouble: Burke is 36 years old and plagued by injuries. If he goes down again, the goaltending options are Brian Boucher (38th best goals-against average in the league) or Zac Bierk (43 career NHL games).
On the Spot: If general manager Mike Barnett and boss Wayne Gretzky have a plan, it is not yet evident.
The Forecast: The top line of Langkow, Johnson and Nagy should be reliable every night. But one-line teams with second-rate defense find an early grave in any league.
The Call: 15th in the Western Conference.
Who's in:
Defenseman David Tanabe (trade from Carolina)
Defenseman Nikos Tselios (free agent from Carolina)
Defenseman Cale Hulse (trade from Nashville)
Defenseman Bryan Helmer (trade from Vancouver)
Right winger Daniel Cleary (free agent from Edmonton)
Center Mike Sillinger (trade from Columbus)
Left winger Tyson Nash (trade from St. Louis)
Who’s Out:
Defenseman Deron Quint (free agent to Chicago)
Defenseman Martin Grenier (trade to Vancouver)
Defenseman Danny Markov (trade to Carolina)
Defenseman Teppo Numminen (trade to Dallas)
Defenseman Drake Berehowsky (free agent to Pittsburgh)
Right winger Kelly Buchberger (free agent to Pittsburgh)
2002-03 Regular Season Numbers:
Payroll:
$44,341,775, 13th overall
(Hockey News, November 15/02. Bonuses not included.)
- Record: 31-35-11-5 for 78 points.
- At home: 17-16-6-2.
- On the road: 14-19-5-3.
- Finish: Tied for 19th overall, tied for 10th in the Western Conference, 4th in the Pacific Division.
- Goals for: 204 (2.49 per game), 21st overall.
- Goals against: 230 (2.80 per game), tied for 19th overall.
- Goal differential: Minus-26, 22nd overall.
- Power play: 14.3 percent, tied for 21st overall.
- Penalty kill: 81.3 percent, tied for 27th overall.
Goaltending:
- Brian Boucher, 45-15-20-8, 3.02 GAA, .894 SV PCT, 0 SO.
- Sean Burke, 22-12-6-2, 2.12 GAA, .930 SV PCT, 2 SO.
- Zac Bierk, 16-4-9-1, 2.17 GAA, .932 SV PCT, 1 SO.
- Jean-Marc Pelletier, 2-0-2-0, 3.03 GAA, .875 SV PCT, 0 SO.
Leaders:
- Scoring: Right winger Mike Johnson, 82-23-40-63.
- Power play points: Right winger Shane Doan, 82-7-13-20.
- Game-winning goals: Left winger Ladislav Nagy, 6.
- Ice time: Defenseman Teppo Numminen, 23:51 per game.
- Plus/minus: Center Daymond Langkow, plus-20.
