Phoenix Coyotes Hockey on AZ Vibe

The accolades for the Coyotes tremendous season keep on coming as the NHL named Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney as their General Manager of the year. Don Maloney accepted the award today at the NHL General Manager’s meeting in Philadelphia today in front of his peers.

In one of the most creative displays of asset acquisition not only in the off season but at the trade deadline, Maloney showed that he could not only build an extremely competitive team, that finished the season with a franchise record 107 points, but do so without mortgaging the future. With out a single marquee player on the roster, Coyotes Captain Shane Doan excluded, Don Maloney assembled a team that played like a team. No egos, no complaints about ice time. The Coyotes were the model of what a winning professional team should be on and off the ice.

Maloney’s true stroke of genius came when he brought Dave Tippett into coach the team. The combination of the roster Maloney assembled and the Coaching of Dave Tippett proved to be a nearly lethal combination throughout the regular season right from the first game of the season.

It was the trade deadline that pretty much solidified the award for Maloney by acquiring the following players for little to nothing in return:

RW Lee Stempniak
LW Wojtek Wolski
C Petteri Nokelainen
D Derek Morris
D Mathieu Schneider

After the trade deadline the Coyotes went on a nine game winning streak, Stempniak was named the NHL’s first star of the Month for March, Wolski was a scoring machine….you know the rest.

If anything, you know that Coyotes fans are stoked that not only are they getting some positive press but they’re ecstatic that Don Maloney is getting recognized….by his peers…for his tremendous work this season.

“You got to lose to know how to win” -- Aerosmith from ‘Dream On’

There’s not much to analyze here. The Phoenix Coyotes allowed the pace of the game to be dictated and they didn’t have any answer for the onslaught of the Red Wings offensive and defensive mastery in game seven.

In the very least, the Phoenix Coyotes can take the experiences from Game 7 and the series for next season as they had a hell of a 2009-2010 season.

Game Highlights:

Game Summary:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/GS030187.HTM

Event Summary:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/ES030187.HTM

Play by Play:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/PL030187.HTM

Face Off stats:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/FC030187.HTM

Shootout Stats:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/SO030187.HTM

Post game comments from Phoenix Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett (Courtesy PhoenixCoyotes.com):

Post game comments from Coyotes Captain Shane Doan (Courtesy PhoenixCoyotes.com):

Post game comments from Derek Morris (Courtesy PhoenixCoyotes.com):

Post game comments from Vernon Fiddler (Courtesy PhoenixCoyotes.com):

Post game comments from Lee Stempniak (Courtesy PhoenixCoyotes.com):

Post Game Presser from Red Wings Head Coach Mike Babcock:

Post game comments from Red Wings Captain Nicklas Lidstrom:

Post game comments from Pavel Datsyuk:

Goaltender Jimmy Howard:

We stated in our pre-game article that one of the keys to victory was for the secondary scoring to step up big time as they would be the key to victory. Well, they did that…..and then some. Just 4:10 into the game Lauri Korpikoski started off the scoring with a game changing short handed goal. From that point on the Red Wings were on their heels and struggling to keep up for the rest of the game.

Add to the mix the Coyotes playing solid defense that was one of their best disciplined performances of the season and you have two of the main keys to victory.

There’s really not much else to tell or analyze here.

Fans saw the Coyotes team that they had been familiar with for the majority of the regular season come out in force for game 6. The Coyotes not only made a statement during the game but also on national TV. The Coyotes performance opened the eyes of a TON of east coast based media that had overwhelmingly picked the Red Wings to dispatch the Coyotes in 6 games or less.

Don’t eat that crow just yet east coast hockey media, I have a feeling that the Coyotes aren’t done yet with the statement making.

Game Highlights:

Game Summary:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/GS030186.HTM

Event Summary:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/ES030186.HTM

Play by Play:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/PL030186.HTM

Face Off:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/FC030186.HTM

Shootout Stats:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/SO030186.HTM

Post game comments from Coyotes Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov (via Todd Walsh of FSN AZ):

http://filesocial.com/2sjccv7

Post game comments from Jovocop (via Todd Walsh of FSN AZ):

http://filesocial.com/2sjnwvs

Post game comments from Coyotes defenseman Mathieu Schneider (via Todd Walsh of FSN AZ):

http://filesocial.com/2sk6uj2

Post game comments from Coyotes forward Lauri Korpikoski (Courtesy of PhoenixCoyotes.com):

Post game comments from Coyotes defenseman Mathieu Schneider (Courtesy of PhoenixCoyotes.com):

Post game comments from Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle (Courtesy of PhoenixCoyotes.com):

Post game comments from Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock (Courtesy of PhoenixCoyotes.com):

Post game comments from Red Wings Captain Nicklas Lidstrom (Courtesy of PhoenixCoyotes.com):

Post Game comments from Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg (Courtesy of PhoenixCoyotes.com):

Post game comments for Red Wings Goaltender Jimmy Howard (Courtesy of PhoenixCoyotes.com):

I stepped away from the Computer today to get out and about in this beautiful weather but spent some of the time debating how I’m going to handle this article. At times when covering the Coyotes this season with the investment of time one can sometimes lose objectivity allowing the reporter to disappear and the emotional, boisterous hockey fan to appear. This is what happened in Game 5 over the course of the final 30 minutes of the game and had I posted what I was thinking after the game, it wouldn’t have been pretty.

I can sit down here and break down just about every aspect of the game along with what the Coyotes did wrong down to some pretty minute details (as many of you have seen over the course of a season). However, the more I sat back thinking about the game and going over post game comments from both teams, one theme kept coming up again and again that was the reason why the score ended up being 4-1 for the other team.

Mental errors.

It was mental errors that:

- Caused Vernon Fiddler to take not one but two stupid penalties in the first period
- That allowed the Red Wings to take advantage of lapses in the Coyotes defense for all three goals.
- Put the Coyotes in the Penalty Box six times totaling 12 minutes of ice time

The Coyotes are at a point in the series where mental errors like this are unacceptable. The Coyotes cannot afford any more games like this as the Red Wings are the type of team who are patient, methodical and calculating when it comes to finding times to strike offensively. They are extremely experienced in this manner. The Coyotes, as you know are but babes in the woods when it comes to team playoff experience like this.

As an example of this point, I want to show you Coyotes fans what Red Wings Captain Nicklas Lidstrom had to say following game 5:

“…sacrificing ourselves to get the win.”

THIS, was the difference in game 5 and is the difference in the series.

Going into game 6, the Coyotes are going to have to push themselves to the limits not only physically but mentally as well. Anything less? Well, I’d rather not have that enter the realm of possibilities.

Game 6 is Sunday at 11 AM on NBC.

Game Highlights:

Event Summary:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/ES030185.HTM

Game Summary:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/GS030185.HTM

Faceoff Comparison:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/FC030185.HTM

Play by Play:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/PL030185.HTM

Shootout Stats:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/SO030185.HTM

Post Game presser with Head Coach Dave Tippett (Courtesy of PhoenixCoyotes.com):

Post game comments from Coyotes players (Courtesy of PhoenixCoyotes.com):

Post game comments from Red Wings Head Coach Mike Babcock:

Zetterberg

Jimmy Howard:

Round 2 Playoff Tickets go on Sale today

Phoenix Coyotes Individual Round 2 Playoff Tickets go on sale today at 10:00 AM. Pick them up while you have the chance!

Fiddler Nominated for the Masterson Trophy

According to the NHL Player’s Association Website, Vernon Fiddler is the nominee for the 2010 Masterson Trophy. The three finalists for the Masterson Trophy will be announced on April 26th.

Post Practice interview with Tippett

The Coyotes were back at practice yesterday after taking the previous day off. Following the Coyotes practice, Phoenix Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett addressed the media (Courtesy of PhoenixCoyotes.com):

Doan talks to the media

Shane Doan addressed the media about his injury and the possibility of him playing in game 5 (Courtesy of PhoenixCoyotes.com):

http://coyotes.nhl.com/club/podcastplayer.htm?pid=335&iid=22284&navid=DL|PHX|home

As much as I hate to repeat myself this season, wins in the NHL sometimes come down to who makes the fewest mistakes on the ice for any given game. When it came to the three goals the Coyotes allowed against the Detroit Red Wings in game 4, the Coyotes made the most mistakes in their defensive zone.

Two main areas that explain the mistakes the Coyotes made were the mental lapses on defense that allowed all three goals along with stupid, undisciplined penalties by Coyotes players, one of which resulted in a goal for the Red Wings.

I’m just going to show one video from Game 4 that was (and is) an example of how a simple mental lapse on defense can change the course of a game:

How do you allow a player like Pavel Datsyuk to make a gift wrapped, wide open shot like that?!?!?! Credit the Red Wings for doing their homework on the Coyotes and their tendencies to allow open shots their defensive zone.

So how do you explain the lack of offense from the Coyotes?

The Coyotes simply didn’t make the best of the opportunities that were given to them.

The biggest offensive concern in game 4 was the lack of shots on goal for the game. In this series, when the Coyotes lead a game in the shots on goal department, they have won. In Game 4 the Phoenix Coyotes led only the second period in shots on goal and did not have a single shot on goal for well over 10 minutes into the third period. One of our keys for the Coyotes to win this series was to shoot a ton of pucks on Red Wings Goaltender Jimmy Howard.

Here’s more samples of the Coyotes shooting woes from game 4:

- The seven times when the Red Wings had a player in the penalty box, the Coyotes only managed only 9 shots on goal

- The Coyotes managed only 19 Coyotes shots on goal for the game when playing 5 on 5 hockey.

- On the flip side, when the Wings were playing in situations with a Coyotes player in the box, they generated seven shots on goal on 4 opportunities. One of those shots was a goal. (Since one of these four situations was a co-incidental minor that sent a Coyote and Red Wing player to the box, the Red Wings really had three man advantage situations.)

The Red Wings took advantage of offensive opportunities when they were presented to them. The Coyotes did not.

The Red Wings also played aggressively on both ends of the ice by pressuring the puck carrier in the Coyotes defensive and offensive zones along with crashing the crease around Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard (to prevent Coyotes secondary scoring chances). These three items (shots on goal, pressuring the puck carrier, and crashing the crease around Howard) prevented the Coyotes from generating any form of offense.

Here’s an example of the Wings ‘crashing the crease’ around Jimmy Howard. Note how the Wings players descend around their goaltender when a shot on goal is made:

The Coyotes did not have an answer for this.

It’s now a best of three series with the Coyotes holding home ice advantage. This series is the Coyotes for the taking. The entire team has worked extremely hard to get to this point in the playoffs. It’s all up to the Phoenix Coyotes now to decide if they want to move on in the playoffs or not.

Game Highlights:

Game Summary:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/GS030184.HTM

Event Summary:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/ES030184.HTM

Play by Play:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/PL030184.HTM

Faceoff Stats:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/FC030184.HTM

Shootout Stats:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/SO030184.HTM

Post game comments from Coyotes Head coach Dave Tippett (Courtesy of PhoenixCoyotes.com):

http://coyotes.nhl.com/club/podcastplayer.htm?pid=337&iid=22228

Post game comments from Coyotes forward Vernon Fiddler (Courtesy of PhoenixCoyotes.com):

http://coyotes.nhl.com/club/podcastplayer.htm?pid=335&iid=22221

Post game comments from Coyotes defenseman Derek Morris (Courtesy of PhoenixCoyotes.com):

Post game comments from Coyotes forward Robert Lang (Courtesy of PhoenixCoyotes.com):

Post game comments from Coyotes defenseman Ed Jovanovski (Courtesy of PhoenixCoyotes.com):

Post game comments from Red Wings Head Coach Mike Babcock:

Post game comments from Red Wings Forward Todd Bertuzzi:

Post game comments from Red Wings Captain Nicklas Lidstrom:

Post game comments from Red Wings Forward Henrik Zetterberg:

Post game comments from Red Wings Goaltender Jimmy Howard:

Monday was a practice day for both the Red Wings and the Phoenix Coyotes.  Here’s the best of what went down after both teams practiced Monday.

Coyotes news via Twitter:

- Last Fri’s Coyotes/Red Wings game 2 got 2nd best all-time rating for Yotes on FSAZ, Best since ’99. #1 rated show that day in Phoenix (4.7) – FSN Arizona

Shane Doan skated for a few minutes and then left the ice. He’s not being made available to us. Tippett will address us in a few min. – Pierre LeBrun – ESPN

Forgot to mention Rafalski didn’t practice today. Babcock said it was a “maintenance day” and he would play tomorrow – Pierre LeBrun – ESPN

Shane Doan is listed as day-to-day. He will be re-evaluated tomorrow following the Coyotes’ morning skate at Joe Louis Arena. – Sergey Kocharov – Coyotes Director of Media Relations

- Dave Tippett: “It’s been a fun year to watch the progress of the team coming together. The players have played so hard.” – James Mirtle – Globe and Mail

- Mikkel Boedker, Alexandre Picard,Joel Perrault skated with the Coyotes today and are on stand by should Shane Doan not be able to go Tuesday - John Gambadoro – KTAR 620

Coyotes News and Press Conferences:

- Todd Walsh of Fox Sports Arizona recorded Dave Tippett’s press conference from Monday in Detroit – Includes comments about Shane Doan’s and Vernon Fiddler’s status for Game 4:

http://filesocial.com/1odcl7m

- Todd Walsh of Fox Sports Arizona and Dave Strader (The TV Voice of the Phoenix Coyotes) talk about Game 3:

http://filesocial.com/1qe9w71

- Todd Walsh Talks with Martin Hanzal Monday:

http://filesocial.com/1qd0iuc

- Interview with Coyotes GM Don Maloney from PhoenixCoyotes.com

http://coyotes.nhl.com/club/podcastplayer.htm?pid=335&iid=22200

- Red Wings Head Coach Mike Babcock addresses the media Monday (Courtesy PhoenixCoyotes.com):

http://coyotes.nhl.com/club/podcastplayer.htm?pid=335&iid=22196

Before last night’s home game with the Nashville Predators the Phoenix Coyotes announced the team award winners for the 2009-2010 season. Some of these awards were voted on by the fans.

Team MVP – Ilya Bryzgalov

Leading Scorer Award – Wojtek Wolski

Hardest Working Player Award – Vernon Fiddler

Man of the Year – Jim Vandermeer

Beth Champie Memorial Award – Keith Yandle

Phoenix Coyotes vs Nashville Predators Bridgestone Arena- Nashville, TN Puck Drops at 5:00 PM AZ Time TV: FSN-AZ Radio: KFNX 1100 News-Talk Radio

The Coyotes and Predators meet for only the third time this season and for the final time at the Bridgestone Arena. Coyotes fans may remember the last time these two teams met in Nashville as both teams battled to a 0-0 tie through over time and Adrian ‘The Closer’ Aucoin scoring the winning goal in the tenth round of the shootout. Both teams played a perfect game as no mistakes were made that allowed their opponents any form of a scoring chance.

That game took place on February 2nd. A lot has changed since then.

The Predators are are on a tear right now. They are about to play the 14th of 17th game this month and have a 9-4-0 record to show for it. In the last seven games they have allowed only 10 goals and have been on the penalty kill for a league low of 2.83 times per game.

What does this mean?

If both teams bring their ‘A’ games, we’re in for a hell of a defensive battle tonight folks, just like the last time these two teams met in Nashville.

In addition, Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne has been spectacular since the Coyotes and Predators last met in February. He has been one of the main reasons that the Predators have risen to 7th in the Western Conference.

Check out these stats:

- Has started 10 of 13 games this month which includes a string of seven straight
- On Monday he was named the NHL’s first star of the week. For that week Rinne had a 4-0-0 record with a 1.22 GAA, a .958 save percentage, and two back-to-back shutouts.

Had Nashville not been leveraging both of their goaltenders this season instead of just starting Rinne, I’m pretty sure that we would have another name added to the Vezina Trophy finalists list along with Bryzgalov and Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller.

Both teams will be expecting a playoff type atmosphere tonight and we will be looking forward to a hell of a battle.

Game Notes:

- Tonight’s game will be broadcast on KFNX 1100 News-Talk Radio

- Coyotes Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov is expected to start in goal tonight.

- Todd Walsh of Fox Sports Arizona reported that Coyotes Forward Vernon Fiddler may be out of the lineup tonight. The Coyotes reported that he may be leaving the team for the birth of his second child before the start of the game.

Things to watch for:

Scoring – Just how few goals will be scored tonight? If both teams are on their game, it’s entirely possible for another ’0-0-all-the-way-into-the-10-th-round-of-the-shootout” result.

Keys to the game:

Faceoffs – After two extremely poor showings against the Blackhawks, the Coyotes have set of alarm bells for their inability to win faceoffs on a regular basis….especially in critical situations. They can’t afford another game where they lose the majority of faceoff battles.

Fewest mistakes – The winner of tonight’s game will be the one who makes the fewest mistakes on the ice. It’s going to be a tough defensive battle coupled with a playoff intensity. Discipline is going to be needed tonight.

Solve Rinne – Rinne has been nothing short of spectacular as of late. It seems that the Coyotes will be playing a mirror image of their team in most aspects of the game. This includes goaltending. The Coyotes are going to have to find a way to solve Rinne to be able to win tonight.

Officials:

Referees: Kerry Fraser (#2), Brad Meier (#34)
Linesmen: Michel Cormier (#76), Shane Heyer (#55)

Injuries/Scratches:

Coyotes: Kurt Sauer(IR), Scottie Upshall(IR), Robert Lang(Day to Day)
Predators: Joel Ward (Out), Denis Grebeshkov(Out), Jason Arnott (questionable)

When it comes to the days leading up to the Oscars, the Golden Globes or any major Hollywood TV, Movie, or Music awards shows, there are many promotions for awards categories that go on that many are not familiar with. When voting season comes around all the major movie/record/TV studios place ads in major industry publications to let award voters know who would be a great choice for any given award. Entertainment industry executives use carefully created ads and place them in locations that will get the maximum return from voters.

Some examples of these ads are in the two images below.

It should also be noted that these ‘For your consideration’ ads are in no way a prediction of what is going to come for the given awards ceremonies. No, these ‘For your consideration’ ads are nothing more than the entertainment industry version of political ads letting voters know who they think the best candidate(s) to win the awards ‘election’ are. Just as in any election, it is up to the voters to decide whom the winners will be.

Here’s two samples of these ads that have run in the past (you can right click each of the images and select ‘view image’ to see the full sized images:

So where am I going with this?

Imagine if this process transferred to the NHL and the upcoming NHL awards.

Picture NHL beat writers from around the league writing columns stating whom voters should vote for a given NHL Trophy from the individual team that they cover and why these players should be considered for said trophy.

These articles would actually serve as a better guide for the NHL awards as the NHL beat writers would have better first hand experience knowing who would most deserving of an award.  I mean these writers are around these players quite a bit over the course of a season are they not?

Wouldn’t you all like to read something like this as opposed to reading the yearly articles that pigeon hole a few popular players around the league into who should/shouldn’t win the NHL awards at the end of a given season?

I am not saying this method will be leveraged at all for current or future NHL Awards. This article is just for fun. In addition, this article was meant to serve as a way to promote more discussion of the NHL Awards.

Anyways….

I would now like to present, for your consideration, the following Phoenix Coyotes players for the following NHL awards:

For explanations of all the NHL Trophies, check out the NHL’s Trophies Page:

http://www.nhl.com/trophies/index.html

Selke Trophy – Vernon Fiddler – I wanted to do this award first as the Selke Trophy is probably THE most undefined AND improperly awarded Trophy in all of pro sports. For years, it seems like this award has been more of a media popularity contest as opposed to an award that truly focuses on the best defensive forward in the NHL.

I lost count of how many times over the years I came up with a truly defensive forward for a given team only to be countered with some form of a ‘not enough goals’ counter argument. I mean come on what does goal scoring has to do with a forward’s defensive skills?

Vernon Fiddler is truly one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL that no one knows about. This is mainly because of the team he is on and the lack of media coverage of the Coyotes outside the state of Arizona. Fiddler is a penalty killing specialist who can work with just about any line-mate he’s on the ice with. His dedication to his craft and his defensive skills continue to amaze me with every game. From blocking shots, to his ability to turn Penalty Kill time into repeated offensive chances (Fiddler has two shorthanded goals and a shorthanded assist this season), Fiddler plays responsible hockey in the defensive zone.

Oh, and if you want to add points into the discussion, this season he’s got 7 goals and 19 assists with a +9.

I would love to break down stats. However, since there is not a clear definition of what a ‘model’ Selke candidate is, I am just going with what I have seen in Fiddlers game this season.

In short, Vernon Fiddler is one of those key defensive specialists that teams drool over to have on their roster. He is a team player that specializes in keeping the puck away from his net as much as humanly possible. In addition, Fiddler is the type of player that is a key piece for any team to make a serious challenge for the Stanley Cup.

Lady Bing  – Radim Vrbata – The thing about the Lady Bing award for the Coyotes is that with the exception of a few players, the majority of the team displays great sportsmanship and play like gentlemen so it’s tough to choose just one. If I had to pick just one, it would be Radim Vrbata.

The Lady Bing Trophy is awarded by the Professional Hockey Writers Association to the player who represents the best ’sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high playing ability’

With only 24 penalty minutes this season Radim Vrbata has been a model of sportsmanship while maintaining a high level of excellence whenever he is on the ice. You would never equate fighting, dirty tricks or any sort of negative on ice attitude from Vrbata. He is just not the kind of player that would draw the attention and ire of the officials. He is a talented player that performs to the best of his abilities night in and night out like any model sportsman would.

Masterson Trophy – Radim Vrbata – Each team in the NHL submits a candidate every year for the Masterson Trophy, which again is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The Masterson Trophy, according to the NHL’s website, is “given to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.”

I cannot think of anyone more deserving than Radim Vrbata to be nominated for this award. Given the challenges, he had after signing a Free Agent contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the summer of 2008.

Just 18 games in to the 2008-2009 season, Vrbata asked and was given permission to play in his native Czech Republic.

Many pundits speculated the reasons why Vrbata left the Lightning for the Czech Republic.  Some of the speculated reasons were Vrbata losing his passion to play hockey, complications with the pregnancy of his first child and so on.

The only public statement that was made regarding Vrbata leaving the Lightning were from Vrbata’s agent Rich Evans and Tampa Bay Lightning GM Brian Lawton. Both said that Vrbata’s reasons for going back to the Czech Republic was that it was a personal matter.

It was clear that Vrbata lost a step or two in his game between then and the time he was ready to come back to the NHL. Not wanting to take a chance with Vrbata on his return to the NHL, the Lightning traded Vrbata to the Phoenix Coyotes. Back in familiar territory, Vrbata a regained his previous form by being a solid contributor on the ice, being responsible on the ice, and his impact scoring department. Vrbata has been one of the key pieces of the Phoenix Coyotes success this season.

By the way….Vrbata leads the Coyotes in goals so far this season with 23.

Norris – Keith Yandle – One of the biggest surprises this season in the NHL has to be the emergence of defenseman Keith Yandle as a solid, play-making defenseman.  When thrust into top three minutes at the beginning of the season due to injury, Yandle not only stepped into the role, he stepped up his game many levels to the point to where he is on the cusp of becoming an elite defenseman in the NHL.

To his benefit, he is 6th on the Coyotes in points (tops among all defenseman) tallying 11 goals and 23 assists. His average time on the ice this season is over 20 minutes (20:05 to be exact). He has been solid on the point and a great asset to the power play unit (5 goals and 11 assists on the power play. I know that may not be a lot. Just keep in mind that the Coyotes do not score that many goals to begin with).

The drawback is that 1) he is on a team with deep defensive talent so his skills are not always in the spotlight like a Chris Pronger, and a 2) lack of media exposure locally and nationally that prevented other people around the league from seeing how Yandle has really taken his game to another level.

IMO, Keith Yandle along with Rob Scuderi were wrongly not chosen to represent their country in the Men’s Hockey tournament at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics partially for reasons #1 and #2 above.

Vezina Trophy – Jason LaBarbera – Ok, just seeing if you were paying attention. According to the NHL’s website, the GM’s around the NHL vote on the Vezina. The Vezina Trophy consideration from the Coyotes is Ilya Bryzgalov. His stats are worthy of being, in the very least, a finalist for the Vezina.

As of today, here are his stats:

- Leads the league in shutouts with 8
- 5th in the league in Goals Against Average with a 2.28
- Tied for second in the league in wins with 39 (1 behind league leader Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils)
- Tied for 7th in the league (with three other people) with a .921 Save percentage

Hart Trophy – Ilya Bryzgalov – This is the MVP trophy of the NHL awarded by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.  The way I look at MVP candidates is to take away the potential candidate for the award out of the lineup and imagine how the rest of the team would fare without that person in their lineup.

So imagine if we took Bryzgalov out of the lineup and put…say…. Bob McKenzie of TSN in his place.(Nothing against Mr. McKenzie here.  Just trying to explain my point.)  How many games do you think the Coyotes would have won this season with Mr. McKenzie in net?

Not many at all.

Bryzgalov was and is the MVP of the Coyotes this season.  There isn’t another person on this roster or in the NHL that comes close.

Jack Adams – Dave Tippett – After watching every game this season, the most common thing said by the TV commentators for opposing teams was that Tippett was either the front runner for the Jack Adams or the voters should just hand the award to him right now.

With the other worthy candidates in the league, Dave Tippett stands above the rest of the Jack Adams candidates right now as he has taken a Coyotes team that wasn’t expected to reach anywhere close to single digits in the Western Conference standings this season to being on the verge of their first playoff birth since the 2001-2002 season.

Given about a week from the time he was hired as coach of the Phoenix Coyotes to the start of the regular season, Tippett put his defensive minded system into place and made an immediate impact. The Coyotes immediately started the season at or near the top of the Pacific Division standings. As you can see now the Phoenix Coyotes are ending their season in the same manner.

Tippett and his coaching staff have been fine tuning the system over the course of the regular season. This system has worked so well, other teams want to model their teams around the work ethic, team chemistry, lack of egos, and other factors that make up the successes the Phoenix Coyotes have had this season. Tippett lets players know where they stand with him and he is not shy about letting the public know his pleasure or displeasure in regards to the play of his team on the ice.