They seemed very unlikely to get into the NCAA’s but that is exactly what happened and now Kyle Turris and his teammates will host Denver on home ice.

Denver is ranked 6th (24-13-1) while Wisconsin is 17th (15-16-7) and went from 13th to 17th.

The Coyotes are well represented with prospects in #1 Michigan ( 29-5-4) as Kevin Porter is the frontrunner to win the very prestigious Hobey Baker Award, while Chad Kolarik and Chris Summers have both had outstanding seasons. They face Niagara at Times Union Center in Albany, NY on March 28th at 7:30 pm EST

Blake Wheeler and his Gophers are ranked 12th and they face Coyotes 7th rounder Benn Ferriero and Boston College at the DCU Center in Worcester, MASS on March 29th at 7:30 pm. If a player elects to leave College, he has to send his team that owns his NHL rights ( lets use Wheeler, a Junior, as an example) his intensions in writing. The team would then have 30 days to sign him.

If he is not signed after 30 days, he becomes an unrestricted free agent. ( subject to the new CBA Entry Level Contract rules)

The NHL team would then receive a compensatory draft pick.

In the Wheeler case, if this were the situation, the Coyotes would receive the 36th pick in the 2008 draft, as he was picked 5th overall in his 2004 draft.

Check the ESPN website for TV times and options for the Frozen 16

More to come,

Panger

The question was asked today to Head coach Wayne Gretzky.

If Wisconsin does NOT get in, and the chances appear very remote, what happens with Kyle Turris?

The Coyotes have had a very positive season in many respects. They have given young players the chance to develop in the NHL playing major minutes. The older players didn’t sit in the back of the bus sulking, instead they pulled up their socks and had career NHL seasons.

Doan (25-45-70)

Vrbata ( 27-26-53)

Jovonovski ( 11-38-49)

The young players have been outstanding. Peter Mueller is a Calder candidate, Daniel Winnik came from playing in the ECHL,AHL last year and has not taken his foot off the peddle. In the Coyotes last game at Edmonton he was on the LW with Mueller and Doan and all they did was combine for 7 points in an embarrassing 7-4 loss.

Mueller (22-28-50)

Winnik (11-12-23)

Hanzal ( 6-27-33)

Yandle ( 4-6-10)

Martin Hanzal has played the last 4 games with alot of grit ( finally missing game at Edm with bad groin, and is doubtful for tonight)

He has proven he can play against the top big boys at center ice as he has gone head to head with Getzlaf, Kopitar, Thornton and Richards in the Pacific Division. He will be a horse that will be the difference in winning games within your division.

So, that now brings us to the top rated prospect for the Coyotes.

Kyle Turris is a very respectful young man that has a big decision to make. Does he stay in College for 1 more year? 2 more years?

Does he opt out of College and give it 1 year in the CHL and play in the WHL if he doesn’t make the Coyotes next season?

Here is my take on his situation.

There are some that believe he should have dominated the WCHA more than he did in his freshman season and openly wonder if he is ready for the NHL grind.

He is quite slight at 170 lbs. He is 6″0 tall and growing still. Thats a huge plus.

Other young stars, Pat Kane (5’9 165lbs) and Andrew Cogliano ( 5’10 178 lbs) are two good examples of players that can handle the grind and excel at it.

The head coach of the Coyotes began his NHL career at around 150 lbs. He did OK . Turris idol is Steve Yzerman, who began at around 165 lbs in the NHL.

This kid eats, breathes and sleeps NHL. He has a passion and desire to be right here. That has to be taken into consideration. He is a model kid.

He eats the right things. He trains like a dog in the off season. He gets it.

Gretzky said today that this is a decision for the Turris parents as well as Kyle. It is about doing the right thing for everyone. Turris’s parents were at the Coyotes/Canucks game on Monday and they have formed a great relationship with Wayne and the Coyotes organization.

Kyle has Kurt Overhardt as his “advisor” and Kurt has had many clients leave College hockey for the NHL, so he has experience and knows there is a dollar figure out there that has to make sense for everyone. Kyle went 3rd overall in the draft, behind Kane and VanReimsdyk. Kane was the concensus #1 pick. The other two could have easily flip-flopped .

My feeling is this:

Wayne is the perfect coach for Kyle. He has proven that this season by the way in which he handled all players, but especially the young ones. He has the patience and the vision and the power in the organization, to develop Kyle.

The older players are great role models, as they have proven this season, and at the same time have great seasons themselves. This means there is insulation for mistakes, and guidance along the way. You can’t have young players beat to their own drum. There is certain protocal and etiquette along the way. They need to be taught the right way.

So, no offense to Mike Eaves, who is an outstanding man of character and a great coach at Wisconsin. No offense to womever may be a coach in the WHL if that was the route taken, either.

Keeping that in mind, I would like to see Kyle here in Phoenix to end his season, play a few games here. go back to Vancouver and train as he always does, eat protein shakes every day, 3 times a day, and come to Phoenix for rookie camp and then training camp.

I believe that the experience here at the end of the season, if that works out, would have him chomping at the bit so bad, his success here would be inevitable.

The Coyotes could have Turris, Kevin Porter and possible Brett McLean here next season.

Right now, the Coyotes are 6th highest in the NHL in terms of salary for defenseman at $17,944,000.00 yet they are 30th amongst forwards at a miniscule $15,651,000.00

This is a team that will make some big decisions as far as where they go with the collection of forwards they have now. They will have to get bigger and faster to compete with the Western Conference.

Lets get your thoughts and comments on the future. It looks awfully good.

Panger

Ilya Bryzgalov gave up a short side goal to his former teammate, Todd Marchant, and it looked like the team and Bryz may sag and pack it in. The opposite happened as the Coyotes rallied in a big way against the defending Champs, winning 3-2 in a shoot out at Jobing.com Arena. They showed a lot of will and gumption in this game.

This was a very gritty effort from a bunch of guys that won’t quit. It was a fast paced game, with both teams exchanging chances on the rush. Both goalies, JS Giguere and his former partner, Bryzgalov, made some huge saves. The Ducks had a PP in the OT as Doan got his stick up high on Pahlsson, but the PK and Bryzgalov came up large.

The Coyotes are now 5-1 vs the Ducks this season and have won a remarkable 17 games vs the Pacific Division. They are 17-7 which is the best record vs their Division in the entire NHL.

Wayne Gretzky had to be thrilled with the play, again, of young Daniel Winnik, Martin Hanzal and Craig Weller as they continue to dominate late in the season in their 1st years of NHL action. They went head to head vs the Getzlaf line and did a commendable job. Earlier in the day, Gretzky was talking about how you can’t win without a big, strong, horse in the middle of the ice that can play both ends. They have that in Hanzal, NO doubt. The 1 season he spent in the WHL with Brent Sutter as his coach at Red Deer, was as good as 4 seasons, as far as Gretzky is concerned. He is one fast learner. He just gets it.

Peter Mueller was back at center ice between Vrbata on the right and Doan on the left. Mueller was terrific in both ends. Doan scored on a brilliant slap shot to get the Coyotes back in the game, while another young up and coming star, Keith Yandle, tied the game on the PP in the 3rd.

Rick Tocchet told Gretzky he was going to put Keith Ballard up front on the 2nd unit PP, and it worked as Ballard set up a great screen, and Yandle fired it high from the point to tie the game up at 2-2.

Interesting to see Ducks coach Randy Carlyle pick Todd Bertuzzi, Todd Marchant and Chris Pronger ( wearing a plastic jaw protector) as his top 3 shooters. All 3 failed to score. No Getzlaf, Selanne or Kunitz.

Gretzky chose Mueller ( NG) Vrbata ( Goal) and didn’t need a 3rd.

The Coyotes stayed at a local hotel, near the rink, as GM Don Maloney and Wayne Gretzky are showing they are willing to try anything to improve on the home record, that is now 2 games below .500

They have a must win on Thursday against one of the teams they are chasing, The Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks will play 3 games in 5 days, as they are in Anaheim on Wednesday night before the game in Glendale on Thursday. This will be a radio only game, unless you have the Center ice package.

Daniel Carcillo was given every indication that he would be in the line up on Thursday as he battles a bad wheel.

More to come,

Panger

The Coyotes went 0-7 on the PP against the struggling Ottawa Senators, while they also gave up a critical SHG in the process.

Captain Shane Doan said after the game “The PP was awful.” It was worse than that.

The Senators scored on their 1st 2 PP’s to magnify the Coyotes offensive woes and they were a team that was shut-out in 3 of their previous 7 games, losing 6 of them.

Mike Fisher had been scoreless in his previous 18 games. It was so bad that in the practice prior to the game, he scored on a deflection off his pants, and the team celebrated by banging sticks on the ice. Coach Bryan Murray had some fun in that practice, playing baseball on ice and saying he was knocking the cement out of their hands. It worked as Fisher, one of their most popular and hard working players, scored 2 goals. It was the 2nd game this season he scored a PPG and SHG in the same game.

Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov gave up 3 goals on the short side, unlike him, and that sapped any energy from the home crowd and the Coyotes bench.

Martin Hanzal had a short handed breakaway, and tried a magnificant move between his legs only to have Martin Gerber barely get his right pad on it, and in a huge turn of events, the Senators scored a PPG down at the other end in the 2nd period.

In other news, Daniel Carcillo will return this week, possibly on Tuesday. He has a bad PCL/ACL but has been skating and knows there is only so much time in the season to get back in the play off hunt.

Enver Lisin played in place of Mike York.

The line of Winnik-Hanzal-Weller was the best line on the ice for either team for the 2nd game in a row.

The Coyotes face Anaheim on Tuesday at home, where the record continues to drop.

More to come,

Panger

The Coyotes have not performed well in their last 2 vs the Calgary Flames ( outscored 7-2) and following the loss last Saturday at home, Gretzky gave his tired team Sunday off ( light off ice work out) He then skated them for 45 minutes…. and no pucks…on Monday. You don’t see that often at this time of year but it was a little old fashioned and for a good reason. Gretzky told me after the practice that his team has lost their identity as of late. They have gained the reputation of being a strong 4 line team that comes at you in waves, and regardless of the score, they work hard.

They have been outworked and that is not acceptable. The team had a very hard working and spirited practice on Tuesday before flying to Dallas. He has put his top line back together for tonight at Dallas after going over video with them, skating them, and now re-uniting them. In the last game, Joel Perrault didn’t take a hit on the boards to make a play and get the puck out of the zone, and as a result, the Flames kept it in, Perrault lost his man (Iginla) and he scored to make it 3-1.

The coaching staff, led by Ulf Samuelsson, have done a great job all season of not over analyzing video, as they have played the game and know that the game is much tougher than it looks on video. But the last few days it has been back to school.

The top line of Doan-Perrault-Mueller is back together. the other lines are:

Hossa-Reinprecht-Vrbata
Winnik-Hanzal-Weller
Tjarnqvist-Kapanen-York/ or Lisin ( re called on emergency basis)

Some key stats with the top offensive players:

Reinprecht last 14 = 1 goal
Doan last 8 = 1 goal
Mueller last 12 = 0 goals ( 13 shots last 9 games)
Vrbata last 6 = 0 goals ( 3 in last 12)
Perrault last 18 = 2 goals

Ilya Bryzgalov ( 1-1-0 / 1.79 GAA / 95% vs Dallas)
Marty Turco ( 1-2-0 / 3.47 GAA / 86% vs Phx)

The Coyotes turn it around and face Montreal at home Thursday night and Ottawa on Saturday.

Panger

Don Maloney promised that the Coyotes would get better with each month that passed in his 1st season working alongside Wayne Gretzky in the Coyotes organization, and that is exactly what has happened.

They have gotten better in every way. Their points improved from October thru to the present, while the PP and PK have also made great strides. They have promised to play the kids in valuable situations. They have done that and more. They didn’t sell at the deadline and that is a very good sign. The players have good chemistry in the room and believe in one another.

At the deadline, they said they would be patient and not make a trade to just make a trade. they would not give up valuable young assets and mortgage the future and they have not. Many teams called about their strong young core, but unless they got back valuable young pieces in return, there was no deal.

They moved a popular player inside the room and a really great guy in Fred Sjostrom, while adding the other Hossa, Marcel. He of course is the brother of the Penguins Marian Hossa, who will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. Maybe the Coyotes have the upper hand with him , like the Ducks did when they secured Rob Neidermayer before convincing older brother Scott into signing from the Devils to the Ducks? Who knows? I am sure that Marian would love to play for Gretzky, as he is as good as it gets when it comes to letting guys play, and knowing the assets they have as players. Just ask Radim Vrbata. Marcel has good instincts on both sides of the puck but has had a tough season, scoring only 1 goal. This will be a good change for both players.

The Coyotes sent tough guy Josh Gratton and goalie David LeNevue to the Rangers. The Rangers also gave up a 4th round pick to get Christian Backman from the Blues. LeNevue will get re-united with Ranger goalie coach Benoit Allaire.

Hossa arrived at the Coyotes hotel in downtown Chicago around 11 pm local time and will join the team for the morning skate and play Wed. night

Look for him to play on a line with Joel Perrault and Peter Mueller to begin with , while Shane Doan works alongside Steven Reinprecht and Radim Vrbata.

They will then have a solid checking line in Daniell Winnik, Martin Hanzal and Dan Carcillo.

The 4th line would consist of Matty Tjarnqvist, Niko Kapanen and either Craig Weller or Mike York

It was a fun day over at TSN in Toronto on trade deadline day, as always.

More to come,

Panger

The Coyotes have currently slid into the 9th spot in the West in this day of ever changing standings.

With a 2-0 win at home over the Blues, the Coyotes slid ahead of Colorado, as they lost 3-2 in Edmonton.

GM Don Maloney has his full staff in Phoenix as they prepare for trade deadline day. They will set up shop, lead by right hand amateur man, Keith Gretzky, director of player development Tom Kurvers and his ass,t GM, Brad Treliving. All his pro scouts are in as well.

There appears to be no reason to think Maloney will make any major moves and as he has said to us a few times, “I am not going to make a trade, just to make a trade.

There is a fine line when it comes to trades. You don’t want to bring in an aging offensive minded player that takes valuable ice away from your future. Peter Mueller and Martin Hanzel are not slowing down. It would be different if they were out of gas in their 1st season of pro hockey, but that’s not the case.

Certainly they could use some size and skill at center ice, but Wayne Gretzky has gotten a lot from Joel Perrault,Steven Reinprecht (I am sure Maloney has received many calls about his availability) and Niko Kapanen (UFA at end of season)

Hanzel is the lone big body, and he has been outstanding at both ends, but mostly in the defensive zone.

Lately, 26 year old Craig Weller has lost a bit of his identity on the ice and he was a healthy scratch vs St Louis. Former 1st round pick, Fred Sjostrom was back in. He has been in and out of the line up.

Radim Vrbata remains unsigned and the number he is looking at remains clouded. I have been told it ranges from “Ribeiro” like numbers ($5M)That of course could just be the starting numbers in what should be an interesting negotiation. He has been put in a great position to excel and has responded with a career year. He was a difference maker vs St.Louis as he set up the 1st goal on a great pass.

Maloney has been and will continue to kick around the tires and has done his homework with regards to who is out there and what the price is. He will not trade assets. He has a number of high picks in a strong draft year, as a result of some good wheeling and dealing last year at the draft with Mike Barnett, Gretzky and Cliff Fletcher. Gretzky was a huge influence in moving bodies and holding out for as long as possible on deals for Yanic Perreault (Brendan Bell and 2nd pick in 2008) and George Laraques (Daniel Carcillo and a 3rd pick in 2008)

He has not yet signed former 5th overall pick, Blake Wheeler, who was chosen in 2004. If he doesn’t sign, the Coyotes would be compensated the 36th pick in the draft.

In looking ahead, the Coyotes have stayed in the hunt for a play off spot, just as Maloney and Gretzky wanted. They are developing a very depanding and competitive environment.

I am traveling today from Phoenix to Toronto to be in studio at TSN on trade deadline Tuesday.

Panger

The Coyotes are in Calgary at the end of a 5 game road trip. Ed Jovonovski and Jerome Iginla battle hard in front of the net. It goes far enough for both and they look at each other. They will drop the gloves. That is a fact. Jovo takes off his helmet. He wears NO visor. Iginla gets started. Only Jovo motions to Calgary’s superstar and points to his helmet, that has a visor attached. He wants it off, and Iginla does so. They have a good honorable scrap that everyone appreciates.

Take you to Tuesday night in Glendale and Shane Doan and Dion Phaneuf battle in the corner while the Coyotes are on the 1st PP of the game. Keep in mind, Doan is not a fighter be this is the right time against the right guy. This sets a pretty good tone for the night. Doan wears a visor right now because of a previous facial injury while Phaneuf wears one all the time.

Doan drops the gloves and even as a non fighter, motions to Dion to remove the helmet with the visor as does Doan. Good scrap. Right time of game. Sets a good intense tone.

No one breaks a hand on a visor/helmet.

I ask this question because it was brought up tonight on TSN between periods. Should a player be penalized for TAKING OFF the helmet/visor for a fight? That seems silly. The concern of the studio analysts were the potential for broken bones in the face, the safety factor there.

In both these examples I used, there was no instigator. Both were for a purpose between 2 players that knew what and why they were about to fight. It seems to me that it when a player HAS a visor, that both players should take off the helmets. If they don’t, then leaving them on seems appropriate.

This coming from a former goalie that weighed in at 135 lbs in the NHL and had zero NHL fights.

Give me your thoughts.

Panger

Gretzky will start Mikael Tellqvist in goal tonight and have Ily Bryzgalov set to face Calgary on Tuesday night in Glendale AZ.

Tellqvist last played vs Nashville in relief of Bryzgalov, who had given up 3 goals early. Tellqvist got the game to 3-3 before losing 6-3 (E.N.) and therefore was credited with the loss.

With 30 wins, the Coyotes are tied with Colorado for 6th most wins in the Western Conference.

A win tonight would vault them into 7th place in the West based on more wins than Calgary and Vancouver.

With the GM meetings taking place in Naples, FLA the Coyotes GM, Don Maloney will likely be feeling out the needs and wants of other teams as he sits in a delicate position, as do so many others, with the race so tight.

He has 5 players that are potential UFA’s:

Radim Vrbata
Mike York
Niko Kapanen
Craig Weller
Mathias Tjarnqvist

Vrbata is the most intriguing as he has had a career season in every category and is well liked by the coaches and the management. Maloney needed to upgrade his top 6 skill level and making the trade with Dale Tallon was a smart move and now it comes down to term and value as far as making a deal. There is a fine line between loving a player at the value he is now ($1.225 M) and lets say, $4-$5 M per season. When it gets to those numbers, it gets easier to fall out of love with a player as well, and lets face it, some players have a harder time being a go to guy making top dollars. I am not exactly sure where Vrbata fits in on a contending team, but this season he has been a very consistent player that has been a difference maker and a low maintenance pro that comes to the rink every day and works hard and seems to have fun.

He told me today that the contract talks ( which they have had) is in the hands of his agent. At this point he will let him take care of it and just go out and play.

I am sure he appreciates the chance he has gotten with Gretzky, and the fact that he plays important minutes and feels very wanted. It gets dicey for players when they try comparing their game to other players in terms of points and then think the grass is greener ( see Anson Carter a few years back) and price themselves out of the market. I believe there will be common ground, and sense, in making a deal that works for both. The Coyotes did a great job of getting Bryzgalov signed, and I know that Vrbata, at the right price, is a big part of the puzzle as they try to get back in the play offs and begin a much needed “White Out” in the desert.

Panger

Shane Doan is one of the most reliable players we have in the NHL. He plays hurt and has a smile on his face. He plays every shift like it is his last. He doesn’t feel that an injury is something to share. He tries in vain to keep it from coaches and begs for the trainers to do the same. He has missed the past 2 games, but will return tonight in what must be called a must win game vs Dallas.

He has had a groin injury and as Gretzky said, been playing with a broken hand for a month. He played with the injury and was still the 3rd highest point getter in the month of January, behind only Ovechkin and Dumont. He told me the hand is feeling much better, and that hte groin injury may end up being a blessing in disguise for him.

The top line of Doan-Perrault-Mueller will be back, while Radim Vrbata will go to his familiar RW position on the 2nd line with Carcillo-Reinprecht-Vrbata

Gretzky said today that for the Coyotes to get in the play offs, Vrbata will have to get going again offensively, after sufferring an ankle injury ( bone bruise). He likely needs to get to the 30-35 goal plateau.

Gretzky will insert re-called Mike Zigomanis back into the line up and play him with checkers Matthius Tjarnqvist and Fred Sjostrom to go against the Modano line or the Ribeiro line.

Bryzgalov was outstanding in the last game at Dallas, making 42 saves in the 2-1 loss. he will start tonight.

A few Valentines Day nuggets for you:

All time goals scored on Valentines are:

Lemieux 9
Howe 8
Simmer 8
Yzerman 8
Dionne 8

On This day in 1986:

Wayne Gretzky had 0-7-7 vs Quebec

More to come.

Darren Pang
Television Color Analyst
Phoenix Coyotes Hockey Club

Visit: PhoenixCoyotes.com