Coyotes fans who have followed me for a while know that I have a few crusades that I pursue with fervor. I don’t like poorly reasoned, factually flawed or poorly informed arguments. I don’t like lazy content such as trade grades or mock drafts. I don’t like ketchup on hot dogs, I don’t like IPAs anywhere, and I don’t like...

Two weeks ago, I wrote a column that asked and attempted to answer seven Coyotes-related questions in the wake of the NHL trade deadline. I liked the format so much that I decided to make it a recurring theme. Introducing the 7 wonders of Craig, a column in which I stare out a window with a cup of coffee nearby, exert minimal effort, conduct minimal reporting, yet still offer profound and definitive thoughts. In other words, 2023 style journalism. You may have missed the fact that the NHL held its GM meetings in Florida last week. If you did, that’s because little substance came out of them. This was supposed to be the first of many summits that would finally…

Josh Doan completed his sophomore season at Arizona State the way that he began it: in dramatic fashion.  After scoring the first goal in Mullett Arena history on Oct. 14 vs. Colgate, Doan scored the game-winning goal as the Sun Devils (18-21) beat Long Island, 2-1 in overtime on Saturday, to complete a frustrating and injury-plagued season on a high note. For Doan, it will also be the last note that he plays at ASU. Doan will not return to the Sun Devils for his junior season. He informed the program on Tuesday that he had opted to turn pro. The Coyotes and their 2021 second-round pick (No. 37) agreed to a three-year, entry-level contract on Thursday and Doan will…

It started as a joke last fall. Every Coyotes fan has heard it. Did you hear the latest about the Yotes? They’re playing in a 5,000-seat college rink. At least it can hold all of their fans. The joke was recycled so much over the following months by unwittingly unimaginative people that it lost all effect and humor. Then word...

When the Coyotes hosted a Tempe Wins campaign event at The Shop Beer Co. on Feb. 23, the crowd of about 75 people was sprinkled with skeptics.  Once Coyotes president and CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez had completed a slideshow presentation on the arena and entertainment district proposal, he held a Q&A session. That’s when the misinformation began flying his way. Why should the voters trust a team that was kicked out of Glendale for non-payment of bills and taxes? The truth: They weren’t kicked out for non-payment of bills and taxes. Glendale wanted the Coyotes to stay, even after the well publicized failure to pay bills. They parted ways with the Coyotes because the franchise refused to sign a long-term…

It would be a painful piece of irony if 4,600-seat Mullett Arena cost the Coyotes the opportunity to draft Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli or Leo Carlsson. When Arizona rallied from a two-goal, third-period deficit on Sunday to force overtime against the Cup contending New Jersey Devils, it improved the Coyotes’ record at home to 14-11-3.  Compare that to the other...

A note to readers: This column may be updated after Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong addresses reporters at 6 p.m. from Mullett Arena. May 16 can’t get here fast enough. Arizona Coyotes fans need some good news. While the pivotal Tempe arena vote is not a slam dunk (more on that next week) a series of moves before the NHL’s trade deadline laid bare the franchise’s financial situation and the harsh reality of the on-ice product that fans may be watching for the foreseeable future. In recent weeks, it became clear that the Coyotes were not taking back substantial salary in any moves that they made before the deadline; a switch from past years when such moves gave GM Bill Armstrong…

When Coyotes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere addressed reporters after a 6-2 loss to the Nashville Predators at Mullett Arena on Sunday, he offered an unintentional reminder to fans. While most of us are eagerly awaiting the opening of the floodgates and the asset exchange that follows, the NHL’s trade deadline (Friday at 1 p.m. Arizona time) is far more than a series of transactions. Those transactions involve real lives. “It’s definitely a stressful situation for my family,” Gostisbehere said. “You pretty much know your life is gonna change in the next five days or so. The hardest part is the unknown; not knowing where you’re gonna go, and obviously we love it here.” We often hear teams talk about how much…

February is a simple month for the Coyotes. They only play 10 games in its 28 days. The easy schedule allows them time to practice, time to rest and heal — both mentally and physically — and time to connect with their fans, as they did in my hometown of Gilbert when they held an open practice at AZ Ice on Saturday. https://twitter.com/CraigSMorgan/status/1629541605492547585 Compare that to the gauntlet of 15 games in 26 days which they endured in January, or the 15 games in 27 days that they will play in March, and I could turn this entire lede into a diatribe about the NHL schedule makers. Those of you who read my mailbags know, however, that I rarely stick…