When talking to other hockey fans about the Phoenix Coyotes one of the questions that is always asked is if the defense will be strong enough in the future. 

Until recently I would be asking the same question. The departure of Keith Ballard in the Olli Jokinen trade was a huge blow to the future blue line. With the drafting tendencies going towards forwards with talent, the organization has been forced to draft blue-liners late in the draft and hope for the best, leaving a depth chart on the back end that is not exactly a star studded cast. 

However, that all changed when the Coyotes went to Montreal for the 2009 NHL Draft. Their first pick was spent on the skilled Swedish defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson who played for Leksand over in Sweden. He will return there for the coming season but his skill set is very high on both ends of the ice. He is highly praised for his offensive abilities with passing as one of his strong points. He can skate very well and always seems to be in position. He may need to add size but the Coyotes certainly are not going to rush a prospect who has been compared to a poor man's Nick Lidstrom. Some even went as far to say that he will end up better than fellow countryman Victor Hedman. 

Larsson really shined at the World Junior Championships for Sweden as he had eight points in six games for the Tre Kronor. He was one of the best defenseman at the tournament and raised his draft stock with his performance.

However, Larsson was not the only player at the WJC that impressed the Coyotes. Maxim Goncharov of Russia had his coming out party in Ottawa. His six points, five of them goals, at the WJC for Russia were critical to him getting on the map. What was even more impressive, and more exciting for the Phoenix Coyotes, was his defensive zone play. He was highly praised and was considered one of the top defenseman at the tournament.

With the development of these two young players, the blue line of the Phoenix Coyotes will only get stronger. Add them to a supporting cast of young defenseman like Keith Yandle, Zbynek Michalek, Chris Summers, Nick Ross, Jonas Ahnelov, and more, the Coyotes blue line could become very formidable. Combine this group with the forward corps of Kyle Turris, Mikkel Boedker, Peter Mueller, Martin Hanzal, and others, the Coyotes could be well on their way to being a contender in the West. 

With the financial situation of the Phoenix Coyotes becoming clearer in recent days, General Manager Don Maloney has been able to draw a more accurate picture of what his plan will be for the organization this summer as the franchise looks to fill holes and get ready for next season.

The year was going well for the Phoenix Coyotes. They went into the All Star Break fighting for the 5th seed in the Western Conference, a spot they had not been familiar with since the 2001-2002 season when they finished 6th in the conference, one point behind the Chicago Blackhawks who owned the fifth seed. The situation was looking strong and Don Maloney was in line of getting the team into the playoffs for the first time since that year.

However, the team began to unravel. The Coyotes could not get going again and went on a stretch where they lost 12 of their next 15 games. They were held to one goal or less in 8 of those games, including being shut out in back to back games and a scoreless drought which spanned over 180 minutes, the equivalent of three games. Inconsistent and poor play on the part of many players contributed to the rapid decline as rookies could not find a scoring touch and the veterans were snake bitten. Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov kept the team in many games but the inability to score on the Coyotes' part led to a padding of his loss column. When he failed, the team was doomed. 

The trade deadline saw a better team coming together, winning five of their last seven games, but it was not enough as the team finished 13th in the Western Conference and out of a top five draft lottery spot. 

There are many problems that this team needs to address and as I have mentioned throughout the season it starts behind the bench. Head Coach Wayne Gretzky and his staff are not the coaching staff needed to run this team. If this was a team of veteran players then Gretzky's approach may work but with such a young team, the players need someone who can teach and guide the team through good times and bad. Coaching experience is an aspect of the game that often gets overlooked but it is necessary for a team to succeed, especially if the situation involves a young team. There are a couple of candidates that should be considered by Don Maloney for the coaching position:

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via www.thehockeynews.com

According to the Russian hockey website Allhockey.ru, Coyotes forward Enver Lisin has been offered a contract in the KHL by Atlant Mytischi. A rough translation of the article can be found here. Lisin is a restricted free agent come July 1st.

 Lisin has been apart of the Coyotes organization since they drafted him in 2004 in the 2nd round, 50th overall. He has bounced between the Coyotes and their AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, since coming over during the 06-07 season before earning a solid spot this past season. Unfortunately, Lisin did not get as much playing time as I or other Coyote fans had hoped, despite being a difference maker on the ice with his speed and skill. He managed to finish with 13 goals and 8 assists for 21 points in 48 games this past season. 

 With the Coyotes in a financial bind, high end talent off the free agent market will almost certainly be impossible to get this offseason, forcing the Coyotes to go with inexpensive veterans and young players still looking to break out in the NHL. Lisin has the skills to not only play in the NHL but also be a good goal scorer. He is one of the fastest skaters in the league and can, at times, look like a Pavel Bure or Alexander Mogilny when the whole package comes together. Offense has been a problem for the Coyotes the past few seasons but someone like Enver Lisin will be able to spark the offense and create opportunities not only for himself but for his teammates. 

 His defensive play does need work but he has come a long way in that respect since making the trip across the Atlantic to join his NHL club. Don Maloney should make it a priority to try and retain the young Russian speedster. When he did play this season, Lisin was one of the few bright spots when the Coyotes were crashing and burning in the middle of the season. Consistent playing time and consistent line mates will give the young Coyote a chance to really make a difference. He already has a few times...just look at these goals. 

via www.mtscentre.ca

With the rejection of Jim Balsillie by the bankruptcy court the Phoenix Coyotes have a bit of a clearer picture of their future. 

 While the occurrences of the ice have been dominating the headlines, an important issue that needs to be looked at is how the Phoenix Coyotes can be better on the ice and start climbing their way out of the rebuilding phase and into the contender status. There is no step by step guide to building a Stanley Cup championship team but there is a key component that is needed for this happen. 

The head coach and his staff are responsible for making their team ready to go every night. Whether it is going over strategies they use, those the opponent uses, or simply working on the fundamentals of the game, a head coach needs to be able to do these things well if a team is to succeed. The coach needs to have a system that his players believe in and one the team is willing to work in. 

Wayne Gretzky has been coaching the Phoenix Coyotes for 4 seasons now. He has only finished with a .500 record or better just once with the team never finishing above 4th in the Pacific division in his tenure. 

I understand that Wayne Gretzky is one of, if not the, best player to ever lace up a pair of skates. However, as sports history shows, success playing on the ice, court, or field does not necessarily translate into success as a head coach. 

When the Great One first became head coach, I was skeptical about the whole idea but I gave Wayne a shot. I was hoping he would prove me wrong and really become a great head coach. However, unfortunately, the situation has not improved for Phoenix and it is because Gretzky is the head coach. 

If this was a team of veteran NHL players who knew their way around the NHL I would not mind having Gretzky around. However, the Phoenix Coyotes are a team with 13 players on the active roster who are 25 years of age or younger. Many of them are still learning the rigors of the NHL and need a veteran coach who knows how to teach and motivate players. They need a coach who has a system that they know forwards and backwards. When the system breaks down, they need to know what went wrong and how the system can be improved to maximize a team's chances of winning. 

Wayne Gretzky has not shown anything that makes me believe that he knows what he is doing as a head coach. He has benched and scratched players who are playing well, has not improved any of the special teams over his few seasons, and has a staff with him that is not fit for the NHL. I loved Ulf Samuelsson as a player but I highly doubt he knows what he is doing with the power play which finished in 28th this past season with a success rate of just 14.5%. 

The penalty kill is another story that is dark and dismal for the Phoenix Coyotes. Also finishing in 28th this past season, the PK has been absolutely dismal and led to many losses late in games when the Coyotes would take late penalties with a small lead. The Coyotes have responsible defensive players such as Martin Hanzal, Daniel Winnik, and Steven Reinprecht, but they need a system that works to combat opposing power plays. 

There are some candidates out in the hockey world, such as Peter Laviolette and Mike Sullivan, but this team needs a group of leaders behind the bench who can teach and mold the young players of the organization into successful and responsible NHL players. The Coyotes do need many aspects if they want to win the Stanley Cup, but bringing in a coach who knows how to run a team properly will go a long way in bringing success now and in the future. 

When the home team is on the brink of elimination in the playoffs, the biggest advantage that they have is the crowd. No matter what the score of the game or who has the momentum, the crowd is always behind the team to support them 100%. 

The Coyotes are on the brink of utter elimination from the NHL and fans of the Phoenix franchise have come out to show their support. But in a situation like this, the fans need help from people who have larger voices than their own. The media plays a role in shaping public opinion in our world and in sports it is no different. 

Unfortunately for the Coyotes much of the media outlets in North America have taken either of two positions. Either they want the organization to move or the outlet is ignoring the situation. 

On the opposing side of the argument are many outlets. It is understandable that many, if not all, Canadian news mediums are supporting a Coyotes move since the most likely destination would be to Hamilton, Ontario, giving Canada seven NHL franchises. Canadians have brought out every statistic and bit of information possible to show why the Phoenix Coyotes should no longer reside in the desert, not to mention attacking the fan base of the organization. The news has been relentless in Canada about moving the Phoenix Coyotes. Whether they are still bitter about losing the Winnipeg Jets or Quebec Nordiques may be an undertone that Canadians are not willing to admit is part of the agenda. 

Research-in-Motion's CEO Jim Balsillie has noticed this and has taken advantage of the whole situation. His Make It Seven campaign has exploded and become a major movement in the Great White North even producing a song supporting the move of the Coyotes. 

Not every Canadian is for the move to Southern Ontario and Coyote fans have taken solace in the fact that they are not alone in their fight against losing their franchise. As a sports fan, the worse thing that you can wish upon an opposing fan is that their team either fold or move. No matter how much you despise the opposing team you can not wish that on any sports fan. Unfortunately, many Canadians are doing this to Coyotes fans. 

However, what is hurting the cause of the Phoenix Coyotes the most in the media world is the fact their own hometown outlets are not supporting the team either. Is the situation bleak? Yes. Would it be very hard for the Coyotes franchise to dig themselves out of this hole? Of course it would be. However for a hometown media to either desert, or even speak out against their own franchise is a blow to the organization and especially the fans. 

If there is any consolation to Desert Dog fans it is one thing. If the Phoenix Coyotes somehow survive to stay in Phoenix longer, the hope is that they can turn things around and prove to all the nay-sayers that hockey can thrive in Arizona. Much like living through the bad times of a franchise on the ice only to see them finally lift the Stanley Cup, it would be bittersweet to have Coyote fans be able to point and laugh about how wrong the opposition was. 

Many media outlets around the United States have stayed relatively silent on this whole issue only reporting the facts of the situation to hockey fans around the country. Hockey in the United States takes a back seat to most other sports with many large outlets, such as ESPN (which is supposed to be the world wide leader in sports), completely ignoring the proceedings which could not only ultimately decide the fate of the Coyotes, but affect every other major sport in the United States. 

But for now Coyote fans will have to wait and hope that a Rocky IV type ending will take place. Coyote fans are taking the blows now but are just waiting for the chance to fight back and, despite all the odds, get the victory. 

via cdn2.sbnation.com

[Editor's Note: Gootz here is auditioning for a writing gig here at Five for Howling, so be sure to leave your comments here and make him feel welcome!]

With all of the legal proceedings going on for the Phoenix Coyotes comes discussion as to why the Desert Dogs are in this position in the first place. To try and get some answers lets compare the Coyotes and one of their rivals, the Dallas Stars.

 Up until the recent future Texas was not a hockey market. Before the Stars were moseying into town Texas was known for the football, both professional and collegiate, and baseball. Basketball was a small piece as well. In 1993 that all changed when the Minnesota North Stars relocated down south. 

It was going to take a lot of work for a hockey team to work in Dallas when the sport itself was not very big at the time. However, early success in growing a sport in an area where said sport may not be very popular is through winning and a face to the franchise. Dallas had both. In their first season as the Stars they made it to the second round of the playoffs before losing to the eventual Western Conference champions in the Vancouver Canucks. 

As for a face to the franchise, the Stars had the future of not only their franchise but of USA Hockey as well in Mike Modano. At just 23 years of age Modano scored 50 goals and 93 points to lead the team in scoring by a wide margin. The Stars and their fans had their star. Along with Modano they had a young Derian Hatcher who was not afraid to be tough and intimidating on the blue line. These two combined with the rest of the young cast led to fans immediately falling in love with the Dallas Stars. 

Success was hard to achieve but the Stars did it beginning in the 1996-1997 season when they began a six year streak of finishing in first place and reaching the Stanley Cup Finals two years in a row, capturing the title in the 1998-1999 season. Since moving to Dallas, the Stars have failed to reach the playoffs just three times. 

Dallas now has a great fan base and the sport of hockey is widespread in the big state of Texas with teams at all levels of play. In the American Hockey League, the San Antonio Rampage and Houston Aeros have served as development teams for the Phoenix Coyotes and Minnesota Wild respectively. College hockey is slowly growing as schools known for football, basketball, and baseball such as Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech all have growing hockey programs while minor and junior hockey teams have sprung up all over Texas.

With young players such as James Neal, Loui Eriksson, Fabian Brunnstrom, and others the Stars are set for the future.

What about Phoenix? Arizona had minor league hockey since 1967 with the Phoenix RoadRunners. Could NHL hockey work though? The city of Phoenix was going to be given a chance to show they could support a team when the Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix for the 1996-1997 season. As I mentioned before, two aspects of a franchise that are needed to attract a fan base are early success and a face to the franchise. 

Small success for the Coyotes came as they made the playoffs in six of their first seven seasons in the desert. However, they never made it out of the first round, a tough curse that still exists today. This was a problem in helping to grow the fan base and establish a foundation to build on. 

Instead the franchise had to use faces and personalities to get fans to games and supporting the team, and they had a few. Keith Tkachuk came over with Winnipeg to Phoenix and was an instant hit with fans as he was the go to man for scoring on the team. At just 24 years of age, Tkachuk scored 52 goals and finished with 86 points on the season. In goal Phoenix had a young Nikolai Khabibulin who won 30 games that first season at just 24 years old. 

However the main attraction and face to the franchise was center Jeremy Roenick. Known as JR, Roenick was an immediate hit with the fans of Phoenix. His comedic personality and skill on the ice combined to make a city love a player and embrace an entire team. Having been a star in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks before, he was a name that people in Phoenix came to know and love. 

Other NHL veterans such as Teppo Numminen, Dallas Drake, Craig Janney, Cliff Ronning, and Mike Gartner helped to form a team that had the potential to be great. 

Unfortunately, the love affair seemed to end as success whimpered along with the departure of faces. Poor drafting made it tough for the team to get success. Phoenix seemed to lose interest despite a new building and the arrival of Wayne Gretzky as a part owner and the present head coach of the team. 

If anything did happen for the Phoenix Coyotes, even if it was not at the ticket window, it was that the sport of hockey grew in Arizona. Small leagues and teams began to spring up around the area and kids began playing ice hockey all with the help of the Coyotes who helped finance rinks all over Phoenix. Community service and training camps for youngsters furthered the efforts even further and now Arizona has hockey. A minor league team in Prescott, AZ began and a very successful hockey program began with the PF Chang's hockey club with teams at all levels of play. The Coyotes even have a player born, raised, and trained in Arizona in David Spina. Playing with the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL, Spina is an example that Arizona can be successful in developing ice hockey players and that the Coyotes had a very large influence on that. As the prime financiers of youth hockey in the Valley, the Coyotes have continued to be a catalyst for growth among the younger generation of Phoenicians. 

The Coyotes do have a plethora of young players who have the ability to bring the team success in the future. Youngsters like Kyle Turris, Mikkel Boedker, Peter Mueller, Martin Hanzal, and others are being shouldered with the responsibility of getting the team back to the playoffs. Whether they get the chance to do so in Phoenix is a question still waiting to be answered.

When comparing and contrasting the Stars and Coyotes, it really comes down to success on the ice. Both franchises have cultivated a hockey community in their respective areas as youth, minor, college, and professional franchises have formed all over the states of Texas and Arizona, showing hockey can work in these desert states.

However, winning is the key to building up sports in areas where they were previously not very popular and that is something the Dallas Stars have excelled at while the Coyotes have languished at the bottom of the standings for more than half a decade as they now have six straight years with no playoffs. 

The Coyotes have been in Phoenix for 12 seasons now. Franchises like San Jose, Anaheim, and Dallas have been in their present locations for a decade and a half and success has been found. Will Phoenix rise from the ashes?