I can’t remember a time when Phoenix’s major professional sports scene was such a study in extremes. On the hot end of the thermometer, the Suns and Mercury made it to the NBA and WNBA finals, respectively, and the Cardinals are the only undefeated team in the NFL; looking very much like Super Bowl contenders. On the frigid end of...

The home opener was going so well. Clayton Keller was doing his usual thing against his hometown team, the Coyotes weren’t allowing many chances in front of Carter Hutton and the power play was clicking. When Lawson Crouse scored just five seconds after Pavel Buchnevich’s match penalty for headbutting him had expired to give the Coyotes a 2-1 lead early...

BUFFALO, N.Y. — It’s common knowledge that GM Bill Armstrong has asked owner Alex Meruelo to pump heavy resources into the scouting staff, but most analysis of that scouting staff has focused on the Coyotes’ future. Armstrong stripped the roster to the studs this summer. Arizona has eight picks in the first two rounds of the 2022 NHL Draft and...

COLUMBUS, Ohio — If you tuned into the season opener, still believing that a 5-1 preseason record meant something, the Coyotes sure served up an eye-opening clarification. The Blue Jackets are going to be one of the NHL’s worst teams this season. Trade-deadline and offseason purges reduced the team to such rubble that even insiders are predicting a bottom-of-the-barrel season. You never would have known it on Thursday at Nationwide Arena. Columbus scored early, Columbus scored often, and the cannon blasts just kept coming. The Jackets’ 8-2 win represented the most goals they have scored in a season opener. The six-goal margin of victory was also their greatest in a season opener. Not to be outdone, this was also the…

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The NHL schedule makers have been mischievous in the early portion of the regular season. Seattle launched its NHL existence against Vegas, the league’s last expansion team, and the Kraken will face Salish Sea rival Vancouver in Seattle’s home opener at Climate Pledge Arena. To the east, Montreal and Toronto squared off in each team’s opener, just...

When you talk to people in André Tourigny’s past, the attribute they cite most often is his ability to build relationships. “Sometimes, it’s just about honesty,” said former Coyote Alex Tanguay, who played for the Avalanche while Tourigny was an assistant coach there for two seasons. “You always want an honest answer from your coach. It might not be the...

The NHL is nearly back to normal. While COVID-19 protocols remain in place for all 32 teams and some border restrictions still remain between Canada and the United States, there are signs of better days ahead. Media will be allowed to interview players in locker rooms instead of via the dreaded and sterile Zoom format. Arenas are returning to full...

Midway through a frustrating 2020-21 season, Tucson Roadrunners coach Steve Potvin sat down with Barrett Hayton to show him what success looks like at the NHL center position. It wasn’t what Hayton was expecting. There were no highlight-reel sauce passes or breakaway goals followed by exuberant cellys. Much of the content featured deep-dive details and thankless drudgery. It was a...

It may seem too soon to throw NHL players into preseason games. The Coyotes have only had four days on the ice at training camp, plus today’s morning skate, but historically, that has been the approach that the league has taken. The Coyotes will open a slate of six preseason games against the Los Angeles Kings at Gila River Arena...