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…
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…
There is a hallway through which every Coyotes player, including Jakob Chychrun, must pass on the way from their dressing room to the Ice Den Scottsdale’s APEX rink where they practice. It is closed off by double doors on either side and it is heated, making it the place to be for cowardly media members who don’t want to brave…
The Coyotes informed Dylan Guenther after the NHL All-Star break that he would be heading back to the Western Hockey League to help the Seattle Thunderbirds in their quest for a league title and the organization’s first Memorial Cup championship. The timing of the news was surprising to Guenther’s agent, Kevin Epp, who thought the Coyotes might do it before…
Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun was all the rage on Twitter this past weekend. According to amateur sleuths, he had scrubbed all reference of his current team from his social media accounts during the All-Star break. He had recently followed a bunch of Toronto Maple Leafs players. He had recently followed a bunch of Boston Bruins. He had recently followed a…
On Jan. 5, the Coyotes were 11 points ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks, seven points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets, five points ahead of the Anaheim Ducks, tied with the San José Sharks, and two points behind the Montréal Canadiens in the NHL standings. The odds of landing Connor Bedard — or even Adam Fantilli or Leo Carlsson —…
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…
I have long believed that the entire period between Christmas Eve Day and New Year’s Day should be a national holiday. Business leaders probably don’t agree. The US is so hyper focused on productivity and work ethic that it fails to consider the benefits that more balance might be create. An entire week off probably sounds like blasphemy. Some smaller…...
Before a Friday meeting at Mullett Arena, the last time the Coyotes had beaten the Boston Bruins was Oct. 9, 2010 in Prague, Czechia, when they won 5-2 behind two goals from Czech native Radim Vrbata. It made sense then that it was another Czech who ended the Bruins’ 19-game winning streak against the Coyotes. Karel Vejmelka made 43 saves in…
Chronicling Jakob Chychrun is strange these days. The one player whom everyone assumed would be an immovable cornerstone of the Coyotes’ rebuild is now the focal point of the next sledgehammer stroke, with GM Bill Armstrong eyeing further renovation. Make no mistake: The Coyotes are still looking to trade Chychrun and Chychrun still wants to be traded. Nothing has changed…