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2003-04 Phoenix Coyotes Preview



By Matt Canamucio, NHL Editor

(Sports Network) - To say that the franchise-record 462 man-games lost to injury the Phoenix Coyotes racked up played a large role in their 11th- place finish in the Western Conference would be fair.

But we really won't know if it was the only factor, as this year's club will be significantly different than the one that began last season. Just like the one that started in 2002 was different than the one in '01. Just like... Well, you get the idea.

A promising and exciting team that was anchored by All-Stars like Jeremy Roenick and Keith Tkachuk has become a punchless and mediocre squad that will rely on big years from castoffs like Chris Gratton and Brian Savage.

Tkachuk was traded during the 2000-01 season, while Roenick was allowed to flee via free agency the following summer. To its credit, the team did lure Tony Amonte away from Chicago in '02, but before the March trading deadline he was shipped away for what was essentially nothing. The dumping continued this offseason with the dealing of team captain and defensive staple Teppo Numminen and fellow blueliner Danny Markov.

So, instead of sporting a team that spurs optimism as they move into the spanking new Glendale Arena and don new jerseys, the Coyotes are more likely to resemble an expansion club.

As for what the Coyotes do have going for them, you must start in goal, where Sean Burke has resurrected his career the last few years. However, his 37 years of age might be catching up with him, as he missed much of last season with various injuries.

Phoenix also has a respectable top scoring line to hang its hat on. Ladislav Nagy, Daymond Langkow and Mike Johnson have been together for much of the last two seasons, and combined for 65 goals and 107 assists in 02-03.

But none of those three names offer the kind of star power a team needs to sell a new building, and there isn't much on the rest of the roster either. The only thing the folks in the Valley of the Sun can hope for is that coach Bob Francis has himself a group of overachievers, as he did two years ago when the Coyotes made an unexpected playoff run.

AT THE HELM - Francis won the Jack Adams Award in 2002 after leading Phoenix to a second-place finish in the Pacific Division. The club really had no business being in the postseason, but Francis was able to get through to his young troops with a stern demand for discipline and accountability.

Francis' message didn't quite work the same with an injury-plagued squad, but if healthy we should get to see if he can work his magic once again. Although, accountability might help in some areas of the ice, but it doesn't put pucks in the net, and Francis' coaching might not be able to compensate for a lack of firepower.

ON THE ATTACK - Despite the fact that they aren't a trio of All-Stars, Nagy, Langkow and Johnson are a serviceable first unit. After putting up very respectable numbers in his first six NHL seasons, Johnson, obtained in the Nikolai Khabibulin deal with Tampa a couple years back, emerged with a career- high 23 goals and 40 assists in 82 games. As with any breakout year, though, it's a wait and see as to whether or not he'll repeat.

Nagy, meanwhile, is only 24 and has the biggest upside of the three first liners. Acquired in the Tkachuk trade back in '01, the Czech native has natural goal-scoring instincts and has yet to totally tap into the skills that helped him score 71 goals in his last Junior season.

The diminutive Langkow stands at only 5-11, 180 pounds, but has found his niche as a top-line center in Phoenix. He may not have the ideal makeup of a No. 1 pivot, but he does all the things asked of him, from back checking to taking draws.

Gratton will hopefully add strength in the middle of the ice, although the one assist and minus-11 rating he posted in 14 games after coming over in a trade from Buffalo doesn't spark much hope. Now 28, Gratton hasn't come close to living up to his 6-4, 225-pound frame and is now with his fourth organization. The one area he should definitely help is faceoffs, as he placed second in the NHL with a 58.6 winning percentage.

Mike Sillinger, who won 56.5 of his draws with Columbus last season, came over in the three-way Numminen trade and will solidify the middle too. He is another guy too small to be your ideal center, but like Langkow he has produced. He's almost a certainty to score between 15 and 20 goals and be a serviceable third-line forward.

Jan Hrdina was obtained from Pittsburgh late last season and should be a boost to a sagging Coyote power play that converted on only 14.3 percent of its chances in 02-03. In 57 games with the Penguins, Hrdina scored 11 of his 14 goals with the man-advantage.

Shane Doan is the new Coyotes captain in the wake of Numminen's departure, and he will have to lead on the ice as well. While the rugged winger isn't on that top line, he is the most consistent producer on the roster, having averaged 23 goals and 32 assists the past four seasons. Doan is a power forward in the true sense of the term and loves using his 223-pound frame as a weapon.

ON DEFENSE - To say Francis' defense corps is young and inexperienced would be more than an understatement. With Numminen and Markov gone, expect the likes of Ossi Vaananen and Paul Mara to log increased ice time. Vaananen just turned 23, while Mara is only a year older.

Vaananen learned a lot playing with countryman Numminen, and we'll see if he can take that knowledge and utilize it properly without his mentor. The 215- pound Finn is a pure "defensive defenseman" and knows how to use his size to full advantage. Again, though, he has had Numminen there to bail him out when a mistake was made, so you may see him playing with someone like Todd Simpson, one of the few veterans of the corps.

Mara has similar size to Vaananen but is more of a threat on the attack, evident by his 12 goals and 15 assists posted last season.

A wild card is David Tanabe, who was acquired from Carolina in the draft weekend deal for Markov. Tanabe was full of promise a few years back, but injury and a horrible team season with the Hurricanes has sent his stock down. He possesses the skating ability and vision to be a lead offensive blueliner, although he tends to be a defensive liability due to his aggressiveness.

Hard-nosed veteran Cale Hulse, Brad Ference and Radoslav Suchy are others who will likely be in the fold.

IN THE CREASE - If Burke is healthy he gives the Coyotes upper echelon netminding, which makes you wonder why he was being shopped around early in the summer.

Aside from the fact that his salary is higher than the team would prefer, the Coyotes also have two youngsters waiting for their respective chances. Brian Boucher, obtained from Philadelphia last summer, proved his rookie year with the Flyers that he can strap a team on his back, but the three years since have been anything but stellar. He tends to let his psyche interfere with his play.

Zac Bierk is the third man in the situation, and he played very well in his 16 appearances last season. He went 4-9-1 with a 2.17 goals-against average and .932 save percentage.

X-FACTOR - Let's single out one player -- Gratton. With its top line set, Phoenix needs support from the lower units. And why not look to the biggest figure of those units for help. Granted, it isn't likely for the former Lightning, Flyer and Sabre to suddenly wake up and realize his potential, but if he can be the 30-goal scorer he once was and provide an imposing presence in the middle of the ice, the Coyotes might have something to be excited about.

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE - When you're banking on an underachiever like Gratton, you've got problems. Enough said.

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