More photos » Paul Connors - AP

Shane Doan seen here wearing the number of days until the Coyotes' first preseason game against the Anaheim Ducks.

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Only 19 Days until the Phoenix Coyotes' first preseason game against the Anaheim Ducks. That's of course not including rookie games against LA starting on the 11th. Hockey is almost here folks! We've also gotten word of a new possible owner just in case you hadn't noticed. 

Here's a look at today's links and notes from around the league...

Ice Being Installed Inside Jobing.com Arena - Phoenix Coyotes - Features
On Wednesday morning, a crew began installing the playing surface inside Jobing.com Arena for the 2010-11 Coyotes season. THE ICE IS GOING IN WOOOOOOOOO!

Sources: Matt Hulsizer emerges as possible buyer for Phoenix Coyotes - ESPN
The Phoenix Coyotes have another interested buyer, sources told ESPN.com. Here's the original report.

Don't get knickers in knot over latest Coyotes rumours - Winnipeg Free Press
Guess which paper is still bitter... awwwww...

More links after the jump...

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Chris Carlson - AP

11 months ago: Phoenix Coyotes right wing Mikkel Boedker, rear, watches his goal get past Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Bernier during the first period of a preseason NHL hockey game in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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Ok, back to hockey.  Still not a whole lot going on (aside from the idiotic commenters I've endured from Yahoo! on my Mt. Puckmore), but more and more stuff keeps coming down the pipeline.  Thankfully, other folks have been on top of it...

Phoenix Coyotes Hockey on AZ Vibe " Did Tikhonov just request a trade from the Coyotes?
AZ Vibe got to the bottom of the rumor that Dmitri Chesnokov got rolling on Twitter yesterday.  Short version - Viktor Tikhonov did NOT request a trade from the Coyotes... [s/t Beastonnette who had this in the fanshots yesterday]

And we've had the return of editor-in-chief/alpha dog numero uno Travis Hair, reporting live from somewhere in Utah:

Phoenix Coyotes 2010-11 Player Previews: Paul Bissonnette - Five For Howling
Coyotes Forward Paul Bissonnette could be a bigger factor this season...

Coyotes 2010-11 Player Previews: Shane Doan - Five For Howling
A look back at Shane Doan's season and the 2010-11 season's projections.

I'd anticipate seeing plenty more of these as we get closer to camp...

After the jump, hockey players returning to the valley and (shockingly) we know some folks that are stalking them (I kid, I kid), a look at the Coyotes' latest hire (is he responsible for the ticket rep cleaning house?), and more...

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More photos » Christian Petersen - Getty Images

GLENDALE AZ - AUGUST 14: Quarterback Matt Leinart #7 of the Arizona Cardinals is introduced prior to preseason NFL game against the Houston Texans at the University of Phoenix Stadium on August 14 2010 in Glendale Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Texans 19-16....also present (somewhere), Shane Doan! (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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It is actually completely random that it's been exactly a week since I posted a Coyote Tracks.  I really do mean to get these up every day but between being quite busy and there being almost no news to report, it's just not a high priority.  But there was a bunch of stuff that I saw on the Coyotes website that was worth directing people towards, so I figured I'd throw this up today...

DOAN SERVES AS HONORARY CAPTAIN FOR ARIZONA CARDINALS - Phoenix Coyotes - Features
Coyotes captain Shane Doan served as an honorary captain for the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night at their first preseason game of the season.  Personally, I was super pissed that ABC didn't show any video of Doan going out for the coin toss or anything, but his interview in the booth was pretty good.  The picture gallery linked to at the bottom of the article is also pretty cool.

COYOTES ROOKIES TO PLAY L.A. KINGS ROOKIES AT JOBING.COM ARENA - Phoenix Coyotes - News
Rookie Camp schedule has been released as well as the annual match-ups with the Kings rookies.  Good times!  Hopefully I'll find some time to get out there and see OEL and the rest of the rookies hit the ice.

COYOTES HIRE BREWER AS VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS - Phoenix Coyotes - News
Sounds like this guy has some experience and should have some ideas to grow the Coyotes marketing in the Valley...here's hoping it includes allowing access for bloggers as a way to bring fans a unique perspective.

Which mega-contract would you actually accept? - From The Rink
Hossa. Luongo. Lecavalier. These players and more -- and possibly Ilya Kovalchuk -- are all signed to contracts of 10 years or more. Would you actually commit to a player that long?

Video: Every day should be Patrick Kane's day with the Stanley Cup - Puck Daddy - NHL  - Yahoo! Sports
And finally, Patrick Kane really is quite something.  I just hope that before Kyle Turris grows out of his boyish charms, he gets to do things that are quite this crazy...

Ok, hopefully there will be some more big news right around the corner and we'll get this place jumping again before September...

More photos » Christian Petersen - Getty Images

4 months ago: GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 14: (L-R) Keith Yandle #3, Shane Doan #19, Matthew Lombardi #15, Derek Morris #53 and Wojtek Wolski #86 of the Phoenix Coyotes celebrate after Derek Morris scored a third period power play goal against the Detroit Red Wings in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Jobing.com Arena on April 14, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Red Wings 3-2 to take a 1-0 series lead. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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So every summer the NHL Network replays the NHL playoffs series by series to get some programming in and allow us to relive the best parts of the season while waiting for preseason to start.  I'd been waiting for them to finally get to the phenomenal (excepting the eventual outcome) Phoenix Coyotes vs. Detroit Red Wings series for several months now and yesterday it finally started.  Game 1 will be replayed today at 10:00 AM for those at home (or who want to DVR), and Game 2 will air at 3 and 8 PM.  Doan-face in all its glory!

What was remarkable re-watching Game  was what a force Shane Doan was in that game - all over the ice, taking the body to anyone and everyone.  The bs charging call on his hit on Kronwall just added fuel to his fire.  I really have no doubt that if he didn't get hurt in Game 3, the Coyotes win that series.  Hopefully, they can just put themselves back in a position like that next year.

In some other Coyotes news, Dave Vest had a wonderful discussion with Dave Tippett:

THE DESERT DOG BLOG: AN IN-DEPTH CHAT WITH TIPPETT - The Desert Dog Blog - by Dave Vest

Really good stuff, a true must read.

After the jump, dissecting the Ilya Kovalchuk decision, the rigors of the NHL schedule and more...

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More photos » Karl B DeBlaker - AP

That's the David Hale I knew and loved in Phoenix!!! (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

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Sorry about yesterday...fell asleep and didn't get a chance to get a story ready to roll.  Considering how slow news is these days, you didn't miss much, and we'll just add stuff to today's story instead, ok...

Big news from AZ Central's discussions with new Coyotes President Mike Nealy that Ice Edge is not the only party that Glendale is talking to regarding purchasing the team.  And we get Sportsnet.ca jumping in as well (while also spreading misinformation re: Coyotes ticket sales - way to rile them up Canadian media!)

Phoenix Coyotes president: More groups interested in team
Mike Nealy dishes on first month on job, team's financial prospects, finding new owner.

Three more groups get in on Coyotes talks - sportsnet.ca
While Ice Edge Holdings is still talking with the City of Glendale about the long-term lease of Jobing.com Arena, a source close to the negotiations confirmed that the City is also talking with three other groups about the arena and team.

Look, I'm not privy to what is going on with the City of Glendale and these negotiations.  And, to be honest, they should be taking a while to make a decision because as much as I want to just believe that things will be ok once someone signs on the dotted line, there's a decent possibility that it won't unless the proper due diligence is conducted.  That being said, perhaps if the City of Glendale could actually focus its attentions on one group as opposed to constantly letting 2 or 3 other groups interject them with shiny new offers, this might get done quicker.  But I have a very biased, one-sided opinion on things...and I do think that the City Council and its staff are trying to get it done.  But it would be nice if we (the fans) didn't have to keep taking such a beating from the rest of the hockey world in the meantime. 

After the jump, betting on the Coyotes, the Senators make me laugh, some youth and minors stuff and a little whimsy...

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Alright, yesterday I promised a bit of perspective on the new Coyotes roster...well, truth be told, there's not so much that's new about it, really.  Unfortunately, Zbynek Michalek and Matthew Lombardi chose the "greener" pastures of Pittsburgh and Nashville, respectively.  It sucks to lose them both, although I think there is talent in the system to replace them.

Kudos to GMDM for bringing in Ray Whitney and Andrew Ebbett and getting Derek Morris, Wojtek Wolski, Adrian Aucoin and Taylor Pyatt all re-signed.  It's gotta be hard with the uncertain ownership, but Maloney keeps making it work.  The two key cogs from last year that remain unsigned (Martin Hanzal and Lee Stempniak) should both be re-signed before the start of training camp (Hanzal definitely; Lee, I'm just making an educated guess that GMDM gets this done).

So, not a lot of turnover really.  Look for big pushes from Oliver Ekman-Larson, Kyle Turris, Viktor Tikhonov, Brett MacLean and Mikkel Boedker to find a spot on this roster.  I think Coach Tippett will certainly make it work.  And come playoffs, let's just hope that Shane Doan and Scottie Upshall are healthy...could make all the difference.

But, if you're still in need of more free agent items...check out CapGeek's list of pretty much everyone remaining unsigned:

CapGeek.com - NHL salary cap calculator, buyout calculator, free agents and more!

Slow NHL free-agent market should pick up soon - NHL News - FOX Sports on MSN
And why some guy from Fox Sports thinks we'll see the market pick up soon...at this point, it's just as likely to take until September for a lot of these guys to find the right deal, I think.

After the jump, a couple more links for your perusal...

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Ok, slow news for the last month and a half or so.  Really nothing much going on, but as the summer hits its hottest time, we are just a few short weeks away from the start of training camp for 2010/11.  So, Travis and I are vowing to get back on track with this thing...

Two big stories that have been in the news for the Coyotes recently.  One, of course, is the continued adventures with Ice Edge Holdings. 

Kelley on NHL: Don't hold your breath - sportsnet.ca
Despite Ice Edge's problems in buying the Coyotes, don't expect the team in Winnipeg anytime soon.

Ice Edge Bid Trouble Should Equal End of Line for Hockey in the Desert | The Hockey Writers

Unfortunately, we have no inside information and our best bet is to keep taking it one day at a time until something definitive comes down the pipe.  Right now, all we know is that the exclusive window is closed.  Not really a big deal...plenty of time to still get a deal done, and if this was simple, well it never would've gotten screwed up in the first place.  So, my advice...don't believe the doom and gloom.  Until Bill Daly says its a done deal (either way), everything else is pure speculation and everyone has their own agenda.  When (if) we hear something directly, we'll be sure and pass it along.

And, of course, everyone's favorite Coyotes inactive twitter account, from Coyotes enforcer Paul Bissonnette:

Eulogy: Hilariously outrageous Twitter ramblings of Paul Bissonnette - Puck Daddy - NHL  - Yahoo! Sports

Revenge of Biz Nasty: Introducing the Paul Bissonnette T-Shirt line - Puck Daddy - NHL  - Yahoo! Sports

If you are still avoiding the Twitter world, the return of Paul Biz Nasty's account should be the end of your refusal to get on board...irreverent, politically incorrect, and completely hilarious.  Or, you could just become his friend on Facebook!

After the jump, the Coyotes aren't the only team strapped for cash (and the team that had the cash flow problems might surprise you), some prospect/Rampage news, and much, much more...

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