GLENDALE, AZ – So, what does the Phoenix Coyotes deal with first? Ownership? Finances? Location? Hostile takeover? 2009 NHL Entry Draft? Various media outlets have reported that the National Hockey League has been running the Phoenix franchise since November of 2008. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has denied any rumor that the team is leaving the Phoenix area. What is not an issue for the Coyotes is their depth chart in most categories. Trades and smart drafting since 2004 have left the Coyotes front office and Head Coach Wayne Gretzky with youth at most positions. There are plenty of prospects in the Coyotes system and the club has seen a good share of play in Phoenix from their youth squad, and the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL are well-stocked with prospects. One prospect is goaltender Al Montoya, who was acquired from the New York Rangers at the NHL trade deadline in a multi-player swap. Both teams benefitted from the trade and Montoya is certainly one of the pluses on the Coyotes’ ledger. Problem is Montoya’s development has been slow and the Rangers made the decision to trade him away based on his limited development. He is projected as a number one goalie within the next two years but can Phoenix afford to wait that long? It would not be unheard of for the Coyotes to draft a netminder or make a deal for a more mature netminder. On the forward lines, the Coyotes have seen their draft efforts bear fruit quickly. Martin Hanzal and Peter Mueller are products of the ’05 and ’06 drafts and have both contributed to the Phoenix cause. In fact, both have skated on the top two lines for Gretzky. Forwards Mikkel Boedker, Victor Tikhonov, Kyle Turris, Kevin Porter, and Enver Lisin have also added time to the NHL club’s efforts since being drafted in the Coyotes successful run in the draft since 2004. If there is a weakness in the Coyotes draft history it may very well be on the blueline corps where only defenseman Keith Yandle has added any appreciable time to the NHL effort. The 2007 and 2008 drafts saw the Coyotes pick three talented defensemen, including Nick Ross, Michael Stone and Mathieu Brodeur. All very talented but are young and need time in the AHL farm system. With youth comes inexperience and inconsistency on the ice and the Coyotes suffered both youthful indiscretions this season ranking 26th in offense and 24th in defense at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season. General Manager Don Maloney recently told The Hockey News that his team is building around 19-21-year old players. Youth is the future of the Phoenix franchise. But can they wait for them to develop? The Coyotes need some teeth in their offensive bite and youth may not be the answer. A veteran addition to the lineup to replace the failed Olli Jokinen experiment this past season is needed. The Coyotes may go back to the blueline in this draft and build on the back end of the trio of Ross, Stone and Brodeur.
Ryan Ellis of the Windsor Spitfires (photo courtest of the OHL)
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