Dear Dave Tippett,

I know that you only became head coach a little less than 2 months ago, and that it's been a kinda crazy few months, what with all the bankruptcy ridiculousness and everything else going on.  And the injuries to the top 3 defensemen are really not helping matters when the goal appears to be to win games 2-1 or 3-2 (although Sami Lepisto has been a revelation)...

No, I completely realize that you are just getting your head around this team and what it offers.  And I can only imagine that if you had been named the coach in May as opposed to September, the roster may look a little different (::cough ::korpikoski for lisin? really?!?::cough::).  However, there is something that I am becoming increasingly frustrated with after last night's 4-1 loss.  The lack of offense.

It's not that the team is last in the league in scoring (with 48 they are tied for 18th, although only 24th in goals per game)...no, they have found a way to score a few goals.  The problem is that there are just not enough weapons on this team right now.  There are very few individuals that are particularly offensively talented.  On the contrary, we have a wealth of gritty 3rd and 4th line characters.  These gentlemen are important to the team, I have no doubt, but I don't think we need quite so many of them.  Bissonette, Winnik, Pyatt, Fiddler, Lang, Korpikoski.  I like them all (ok, maybe not Pyatt and Korpikoski so much), and they all serve a role at times.  But I'm not sure we need all of them suiting up night in and night out.

Just last night the Coyotes had a good number of opportunities...I think they ended up recording 31 shots, some of them of the good scoring chance variety (Doan's move late in the 3rd, Prucha's shot from in close in the 2nd and his great move in the first)...but there are times when we seriously lack a sniper, a guy who just knows how to score goals.  Prior to Tampa's 4th goal last night, when the Coyotes were absolutely dominating play in the 3rd and getting chances, Pyatt and Bissonette were making regular shifts (Bissonette even had a breakaway opportunity immediately prior to his fight).  I'm glad you have confidence in your players to play those crucial minutes, but down by 2 goals, it certainly made me feel more excited when Doan, Upshall and Vrbata were out there (not that they were able to score either, mind you). 

But I'm just a little frustrated with watching the guys cycle it in the corners (which they do really well), but not be able to get it out to the circle to get the good shot, or bring it out from behind the net, or whatever.  And I think it's about time that maybe, just maybe, we get some guys with some offensive prowess back on the roster (like Turris, Boedker and maybe MacLean).  I know it probably won't create immediate dividends, but these guys have that ability to make plays and score big goals...we've seen them do it at least a little.  But I realize this is no guarantee (heck, Mueller and Lombardi, even before these injuries were struggling).  But I just don't see the upside in having all these gritty guys playing at once when we are so thin on pure offensive skill.

Of course, I'd certainly feel better if these guys were lighting it up in San Antonio and showing that they were ready to make the jump.  And Boedker and Turris have some defensive liabilities and size issues, but I think those things will come in time, and you've already shown that you are a great teacher (hence why I am really upset we didn't hang onto Lisin who would've benefited from your tutelage).  But at this point, especially after seeing the jump that Porter had in his step last night, I think it's time we give these guys a chance.  The goaltending from Bryz has been stellar all year (Labarbera, not so much)...we just need to score a few more goals.

So what say you?  Can we give it a shot?  Please?

Thanks!