Phoenix Coyotes

It's inching closer and closer to Premiere time. The Phoenix Coyotes have packed everyone (literally everyone. Eight defensemen plus third-string goaltender Al Montoya have been included on a "just in case" basis) into a plane, and in less than a week's time they will face off against the Boston Bruins at Prague's O2 Arena to start the season. Let's have a look at those names: Eric Belanger Biz--err, Paul Bissonnette Shane Doan Vernon Fiddler Martin Hanzal Lauri Korpikoski Petr Prucha Taylor Pyatt Lee Stempniak Kyle Turris Scottie Upshall Radim Vrbata Ray Whitney Wojtek Wolski Offensive Verdict: #TeamTurris won over #KyleWellwoodIsSoFat supporters and not for nothing....

In late Monday news, the Coyotes and forward Lee Stempniak have reached a deal reportedly worth $3.8 million over the next two years, officialized today by the club. The twenty-seven year old forward racked up 14 goals and four assists after being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2010 NHL trade deadline. He was less fortunate in the playoff points department (two assists in seven games) which is surely something he's going to be counted on to improve if Phoenix wants to go above and beyond last season. Having lost a few key acquisitions, notably Matthew Lombardi on offense, Stempniak is expected to be one of the core elements in the Coyotes' goal-production this year. Mea...

I have news for the 12 teams that went to the podium at the Staples Center first last night. (Save maybe the first two.) Sucks to be you. But never mind where Brandon Gormley was supposed to go (and I don't mean Calgary, but I'll take a bittersweet bite out of them too, thanks Darryl). He received ample praise from E.J. McGuire that may have lifted much weight out of the Wait, so to speak, in that Gormley was compared to Olympian Shea Weber. He has also drawn a few similarities from another Moncton defenseman, now teammate, Keith Yandle. While each former #3 Wildcat rocked their own blueline in their respective eras of the QMJHL, Yandle is more offensive-minded whereas Gormley ...

There is so much to celebrate in the season that concluded last night. But with a final score of 6-1, that may not be so visible right away. Example: most teams down by that many would just let go and skate out the final minutes, disgraced by the insurmountable embarrassment. Not the Phoenix Coyotes, who pushed towards the opposing zone and continually away from their own, not wanting Ilya Bryzgalov to have to suffer any more than he already had up until that point. There was the same frenetic pace in their movements as there had been all game long, despite knowing their initial mission had failed. The game itself was about the constant battle of momentum, played out for the most pa...