When you cover the Coyotes, there is no offseason. While Canadian writers retreat to their summer cottages on lakes, and American writers use up all those accrued Marriott points, the news keeps flowing in the desert in what we now call arena season. This summer may turn out to be the most extreme example of that annual tradition. In order…...
When Clayton Keller reached the medical room at Gila River Arena shortly after breaking his right femur in two clean pieces, the first thing that he asked the team’s orthopedic surgeon, John Tokish, was this: “Will I be able to play again?” Keller’s evolution into a bona fide NHL superstar didn’t begin that night. That process began as a child whom…
After the 2020-21 season, the eight-year, $57.2 million contract extension that Clayton Keller signed in 2019 was viewed as an albatross; an immovable contract to which he would never live up. Nearly two years, 117 games, and 105 points later, that critique has vanished. While Keller will freely admit that there are elements of his game that need work, he…
Up until the past seven games, the Coyotes had exceeded most external expectations. They were as close to a playoff spot as they were to the NHL basement. Their middle core was showing further signs of progress. Goaltender Karel Vejmelka was among the league leaders in goals saved above expected. They were beating elite teams and they were winning with…
It’s rare to see a Coyotes draft pick play in Arizona in the same season in which he was drafted. Jakob Chychrun made the NHL roster in his draft year of 2016 and Clayton Keller played three games for the Coyotes late that same season; games in which former coach Dave Tippett humorously noted that he looked like a child…
NEW YORK — The Coyotes weren’t far away from having a great road trip. They won their first three games, they were tied with the red-hot New Jersey Devils halfway through a game on Saturday, and on the back end of a back-to-back, they outshot the New York Rangers 17-3 in the first period at Madison Square Garden. They just…
PITTSBURGH — We’ve told you about TD Garden’s inhospitably, but PPG Paints Arena has been the Coyotes’ true house of horrors. In 10 previous games at Pittsburgh’s 12-year-old arena, the Coyotes were 1-9 and had been outscored 41-11, so when the schedule makers added insult to injury this season by launching the Coyotes’ stretch of 20 road games in their…...
Stanley Cup winning teams look for a way to sustain the previous season’s fire. Playoff teams look for a way to get over the hump in their quest for a championship. Non-playoff teams hope to take the next step in their evolution toward contention. The Coyotes goals for the 2022-23 season are a bit more esoteric. As a team, they’ll…...
The Coyotes opening night roster wasn’t officially released until after practice and media availability had ended on Monday at the Ice Den Scottsdale, but GM Bill Armstrong tipped his hand over the weekend with a flurry of moves that brought the roster to 27 players, with five of them expected to land on IR. When the Coyotes claimed goalie Connor…...
Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun made it clear that he wants to win now and is not interested in a lengthy rebuild, but GM Bill Armstrong will not trade him without getting what he deems fair value.
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