Season Preview: Phoenix Coyotes
Major Additions: Alex Auld (UFA), David Aebischer (UFA), Mike York (UFA)
Major Subtractions: Curtis Joseph (currently unsigned), Owan Nolan (signed with Calgary)
Analysis:
The Coyotes are a team that aught to have been better by now but still doesn’t look set to improve anytime soon. Despite year after year of finishing well out of the playoffs, the Coyotes have few prospects of note to show for it. They also seem to have trouble attracting unrestricted free agents despite Wayne Gretzky behind the bench. Perhaps the most notable change in Phoenix’s corner this summer is the change that occurred in the General Manager’s position. For the immediate future, however, that won’t likely change much. GM changes tend to take several seasons, at least, before changes on the ice become readily apparent.
All this adds up to another likely disappointing season in the desert. Curtis Joseph was exchanged for Auld and Aebischer (with Michael Tellqvist and David LeNevau both waiting in the wings), creating more of a crowd but no more stability or confidence. Nolan was a non-factor. Shane Doan is an excellent captain and team player but he’s not much of an elite talent to build around.
Perhaps most worrying of all, look at the Pacific division teams above the Coyotes: Los Angeles improved significantly, Dallas stood pat, San Jose is just as strong with extra cap room, and Anaheim is somewhere between treading water and slightly worsened, depending on whether Niedermayer and/or Selan