Coyote Tracks - July 20 - Ilya to the Kings (Not) Edition
Defenseman Nick Ross eyes Phoenix Coyotes roster spot
Defenseman Nick Ross eyes Phoenix Coyotes roster spot, In a camp dedicated to prospects, defenseman Nick Ross stands out as a veteran.
2010 – 2011 – The Future Beckons, the Rookies | Hip Shot Blog
Apparently the future is NOW for some of our youngsters. The Coyotes have holes to fill and are ready to start integrating some of the young talent into the lineup.
Pup Watch 2010 | Hip Shot Blog
Is it me or are they makin these kids bigger and stronger and faster every year? Is it weird to be saying our smallest goalie is 6ft 1 inches?
The Wonderful World of Loser Domi: Ask Lee Stempniak: In Search of Buttons
Loser Domi has been writing Ask Lee Stempniak since he was back with the Leafs. At the moment he has no home, but that doesn't keep him from searching for Buttons...
From The Desk Of Gary B. Bettman… : Blades Of Funny
I guess this is funny-ish.
Coyote Tracks - July 8th - There Is Nothing Happening Edition
I've been out shaking all the branches I know of to try and find some sort of news on the big issues we're all wondering about. News on Ice Edge? Same old story "Things are moving along". Martin Hanzal news? Nope. Lee Stempniak? Disappeared like the ninja he is. There's really not much going on in CoyoteLand.
Not much doesn't mean nothing I guess since the Coyotes open their prospect camp starting tomorrow. You can see this year's new draft picks as well as guys like Chris Summers and Oliver Ekman-Larsson who were there last year. There's not a lot open to the public other than some drills and a scrimmage or two, but it is a chance to get to know the new guys. Not only that, but you can interact with the staff and ask them stuff this time of year because they aren't crazy busy. I highly recommend checking out at least a day of it.
In other news GM Don Maloney is still looking for his gem in the free agency market. I don't know where he's going to find it unless he has some crazy plan to take a flyer on Jonathan Cheechoo for a low price or something I just don't see that value hard working player that GMDM likes on the market. He's saying he wants a defensive minded defenseman, but who's availiable? Maybe a guy like Shaone Morrisonn? He seems young enough and possibly cheap enough for GMDM, but take a look for yourself and see if you can find another D man the Coyotes could snag...
Homophobia And Discrimination In Hockey - Why The NHL And NHLPA Need To Step Up - The Copper & Blue
Brendan Burke's announcement and tragic death could and should have a lasting impact on the face of hockey. The league and the players should make sure of it. If you haven't already take a look at this post from Derek Zona. It's a solid read even if the later comments devolve into a fistfight.
That's really about it. Kovy is trying to be LeBron or something, there's not a whole lot left until training camp. I'll try and keep this thing going. If you have suggestions on what you want to read about (Coyotes related) send them in no matter how nutty and i'll see what I can do.
Coyotes Weekend Wrapup - Yotes Sign Ebbett and Assorted Minor Leaguers
With everyone busy (everyone=me) this July 4th weekend, I neglected to post on some of the recent Coyotes signings from late Friday and Saturday so HERE! YOU! GO!
Friday the Coyotes signed oft traded/waived/pickedup center Andrew Ebbett. Ebbett played for the Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild over the course of the season. He didn't have that great of a year as he ended up 9-6-15 in 61 games with the 3 teams.
He's been up and down between the NHL and AHL with the different teams he's been on and is a bit undersized, but he's a decent option on the 3rd or 4th lines if Kyle Turris can't step up this year.
The Coyotes also signed several guys to fill roster spots in the AHL. 3 of whom were previously with the Dallas Stars organization and Dave Tippett knows well. Right wing Mathieu Beaudoin, defenseman Garrett Stafford and goaltender Matt Climie are all likely AHL level talent and won't see any time in Phoenix barring some act of god or half the team being food-poisoned. Defensemen Nolan Yonkman was brought over from the Milwaukee Admirals where he was captain of the team. He's played in a hand full of NHL games, but that was a few years back. He too looks to be a career minor league guy.
Matthew Lombardi Signs 3 Year Deal With Nashville - Coyotes Fans Feel Slapped
Well it seems as though the Matthew Lombardi sweepstakes is over as he signed a 3 year, 10.5 Million dollar deal with the Predators. One of the top centers availiable on the market this year, there were rumors of him looking for 4.5 a year according to some reports. a 3.5 million a year contract actually seems just about right, though it may have been just a little high for the budget oncious Coyotes at this time.
That didn't keep Coyotes fans from being a little bit hurt by the announcement. On twitter the reactions went from just some disappointment to some.... mor angry responses. Here's a sampling:
NO LOMBO NO! QUICK, CHANGE YOUR MIND! @AZChick924
GAH! F U Lombo! #bitter @TheYotesDiva
I am so angry! @BabyKates7
He was a greedy SOB! @StoneyPHX
Un-friggin-believable. Matthew Lombardi demanded $3.8-$4.5 million from Phoenix and signs for $3.5 w/Nashville?! @scoobydoozi
Well I think that sums it up. Rather disappointing for a guy the fans here really liked. It's not like we know for sure what happened in those negotiations, but It certainly seems like he could have stayed but chose not to. Unfortunate.
Petteri Nokelainen's Contract Bought Out by Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes have announced that they have bought out the contract of Petteri Nokelainen. The Coyotes were scheduled to pay him $950,000 for this year, but will instead pay $158,333 for each of the next two years.
Nokelainen scored 1-1-2 for the Coyotes last year after being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks for a 6th round draft pick in the 2011 draft.
The Ever-Evolving Coyotes Lines
Well here's what we've got through the afternoon. Please note, RFAs that have not been locked up as of right this minute haven't been included (Hanzal) and that these aren't going to be close to the combos, I'm just plugging in something close. **To be updated as necessary
Forwards
Shane Doan - Wojtek Wolski - Scottie Upshall
Radim Vrbata - Petr Prucha - Lauri Korpikoski
Ray Whitney - Vernon Fiddler - Taylor Pyatt
Viktor Tikhonov - Kyle Turris - Mikkel Boedker
Paul Bissonnette in the Box
Defense
Ed Jovanovski - Keith Yandle
Derek Morris - Adrian Aucoin
David Schlemko - Sami Lepisto
Oliver Ekman-Larsson or Brandon Gormley are possibilities if we don't sign another D.
Goalies
Ilya Bryzgalov
Jason LaBarbera
Al Montoya on Deck to push for a game or two
Coyotes Sign Ray Whitney to 2 Year Deal
The Coyotes jumped into the Free Agency fray a little bit ago with the signing of veteran left wing Ray Whitney to a 2 year 6 million dollar deal. Whitney, 38, scored 21 goals and added 37 assists with the Hurricanes this past season. He's a solid pick up that has consistently put up numbers. At only 3 million per this seems like a good deal for the Coyotes who will likely be losing some power up front if Matthew Lombardi or Lee Stempniak can't get a deal done soon.
Derek Morris re-signs with Phoenix Coyotes - 4 Year Deal worth 11 Million
At least we'll have some defense in the desert as the Phoenix Coyotes have re-signed defenseman Derek Morris to a 4 Year deal. The deal is worth 2.25 Million a season which isn't a bad price for DMo in my opinion. He may not be the best defenseman out there, but he wants to be in Phoenux and didn't cost a ton. His signing though only happened because the Michalek deal couldn't get done. Seems like it was an either/or type of thing but I'm happy with the deal if we couldn't get Z to hang around.




















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