Yardbarker: Phoenix Coyotes

COYOTES LOAN TIKHONOV TO KHL

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:46:00 -0500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009 GLENDALE, ARIZONA -- Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have loaned forward Viktor Tikhonov to KHL (Kontinental Hockey League) for the remainder of the 20...

2 Sorta Hat Tricks, 1 Near Miss and A Little Redemption for the Yotes

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:29:35 -0500

We are going to rearrange a few rules for the Coyotes vs Dallas game on Saturday night. Normally a hat trick consists of 3 goals by a single player in a single game. Well, after tonight’s performance I am handing out 2 “honorary” hat tricks to Matt Lombardi and Scottie Upshall for both chalking up [...]

Phoenix Coyotes recall Mikkel Boedker after 12 games with AHL affiliate

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:01:33 -0500

The Phoenix Coyotes recalled forward Mikkel Boedker from their minor league affiliate on Friday.

Coyotes recall forward Boedker from minors

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:57:00 -0500

The Phoenix Coyotes recalled forward Mikkel Boedker from their minor league affiliate on Friday.

'Yotes activate defensemen Jovanovski, Michalek

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:14:49 -0500

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- The Phoenix Coyotes have activated defensemen Ed Jovanovski and Zbynek Michalek off injured reserve.

Coyotes activate Jovanovski, Michalek from IR

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:04:00 -0500

The Phoenix Coyotes have activated defensemen Ed Jovanovski and Zbynek Michalek off injured reserve.

Norway hires Jarle Pedersen to replace Peter Mueller as speedskating coach

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:06:49 -0500

The Norwegian Skating Association has appointed Jarle Pedersen as coach of the national speedskating team after dismissing American Peter Mueller for alleged sexual harassment.

Jovo and Michalek back in the fold for Coyotes

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:58:33 -0500

When the Phoenix Coyotes take the ice against the Calgary Flames at the Pengrowth Saddledome tonight, they’ll have two of their regular defensemen back in the fold. Ed Jovanovski and Zbynek Michalek were activated off of Injured Reserve by the Coyotes today, and will be on the ice tonight in Alberta. Jovanovski has missed the 8 games [...]

COYOTES ACTIVATE JOVANOVSKI AND MICHALEK OFF INJURED RESERVE

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:05:00 -0500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 GLENDALE, ARIZONA -- Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have activated defensemen Ed Jovanovski and Zbynek Michalek off of Injured Reserve. In ad...

Ex-U.S. skater Peter Mueller is fired as Norway's speedskating coach

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:36:36 -0500

Former U.S. skater Peter Mueller has been fired as Norway's speedskating coach following an accusation of sexual harassment.

COYOTES RELIEVE SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE HEAD COACH GREG IRELAND OF COACHING DUTIES

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:36:00 -0500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, November 23, 2009 GLENDALE, ARIZONA --- Phoenix Coyotes Assistant General Manager Brad Treliving announced today that the Club has relieved Greg Ireland of his head coaching duties with the San Antonio Rampage, t...

Flyers-Coyotes: Because Nothing Says "Hah-key" Like Wet Ice in the Desert Night

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:39:09 -0500

For the time being, there's still a professional hockey franchise in Arizona. Phoenix ain't a bad place to visit, maybe go to school, or ride off to retire. But build a hockey hotbed? It's been a longshot since the beginning, when the franchise was moved from Winnipeg during the Canadian franchise migration. Unlike the Quebec Nordiques, who moved to Denver, where hockey is somewhat more natural, the Coyotes have endured sustained struggles and even some embarrassment, culminating ...

Relocating NHL Franchises to Canada

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:11:47 -0500

Despite Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie’s recent failed attempt to buy the Phoenix Coyotes and re-locate the franchise to Hamilton ON., there is plenty of activity and conjecture which suggests that Canada could yet be home to one or more struggling presently US based franchises. At the same time, a number of struggling franchises in the “Sun Belt”, combined with a strong Canadian dollar and an abundance of available infrastructure dollars for new arenas make re-location(s) a realistic possibility. And does the willingness of Canadian politicians to commit to “public investment” in support of NHL franchises mark a change from previous eras when such proposals were met with a populist backlash against “corporate welfare”? If the “Sun Belt” implodes, will it cost Commissioner Gary Bettman his job? Earlier this month while in Toronto, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the local sports media that the NHL has no objection to a second franchise in the GTA. During the same discussion, Toronto Maple Leafs president and general manager Brian Burke said that under the right circumstances, Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE, the Leafs owner) would not oppose the NHL locating a second franchise in “their” market. “I don't think it's a point of contention even with the Leafs,” Daly said. “I can see a situation where by adding a franchise to a market, you can raise the tide for all boats. I don't think that because you put a franchise here, it necessarily makes the Leafs any less successful. And, in fact, it could create new revenue opportunities.” Brian Burke, the Maple Leafs president and general manager, said the club has never officially opposed the idea of another franchise in its territory. Burke said if a study proved a second team would be beneficial to the Leafs and the NHL, the Leafs would not be opposed. Richard Peddie, president of the Leafs' parent company, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, has also said this. The GTA is the most bountiful professional hockey market in North America (see recent Forbes NHL valuations) and nobody doubts that a second NHL franchise would be enthusiastically supported. However, the devil is always in the details and much would need to be resolved before a second franchise in the GTA becomes a reality. Whether or not the Leafs and maybe the Sabres (depending upon how close to Buffalo a second franchise would be) are entitled to “territorial indemnification” and what the value of that is, is somewhat a guessing game. And whether or not the Leafs and Sabres have a veto preventing a franchise from entering their market is another guessing game. In his aforementioned remarks to the Toronto sports media Mr. Daly remarked on the speculation surrounding a Leafs “veto”, “They can be dead set against it, but that doesn't mean they can stop the league from putting a franchise here if the league thinks a franchise here makes sense.” Mr. Daly’s remarks will do little to quell the speculation and uncertainty over the “veto”. During the bankruptcy auction of the Coyotes, Mr. Balsille’s lawyers presented a letter from the Leafs to the NHL stating that they (the Leafs) had a “veto”. There has also been much conjecture over the interpretation of the NHL constitution as it relates to franchise re-location. Some believe that franchise re-location requires a unanimous vote amongst owners - a de facto veto for the Leafs - while the league claims (at least publicly) that a simple majority vote is sufficient. Ultimately these negotiations are solely about money, the details and legalities of the league constitution and territorial indemnification will be irrelevant if a deal can be brokered. (I.E. Leafs and/or Sabres satisfactorily compensated) A more fundamental concern to any owner wanting to bring a second team to the GTA is finding or constructing a suitable arena. Could MLSE (also owners of the Air Canada Centre arena) be landlord to a second NHL franchise or is it a necessity that a second franchise control “their” arena? Is a second NHL calibre arena in the GTA a realistic proposition (land acquisition, construction costs, zoning, transportation infrastructure, politics, public investment)? Mr. Balsillie’s plan was to move the Coyotes in to Copps Coliseum in Hamilton. (capacity approx 19,000) In Mr. Daly’s recent remarks in Toronto, he was cynical about the viability of an NHL franchise operating out of “Copps“, “….Copps Coliseum doesn't provide modern-day NHL economics.” Mr. Balsille recognized that Copps Coliseum required significant investment in order for it to generate the revenue necessary to sustain an NHL franchise. While Mr. Daly questioned where that investment would come from, local, provincial and federal politicians all eagerly pledged their support for Mr. Balsille’s plans to upgrade “Copps”. And upgrading “Copps” is a much less costly option than constructing a new arena. If the NHL is opposed to re-locating a franchise to Hamilton, it could be a result of wanting to protect the Buffalo market (vastly more vulnerable than the Leafs) or a vindictive response to local Hamilton officials unbridled and public support for Mr. Balsille’s "Make it Seven” campaign. Select Read More to see the rest of "Relocating NHL Franchises to Canada" by Pete Toms

Vrbata, Bryzgalov lead Coyotes past reeling Wild

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:11:12 -0500

ST. PAUL, Minn.(AP) Radim Vrbata had a goal and an assist, and Ilya Bryzgalov made 24 saves in the Phoenix Coyotes ' 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night.

Puck Daddy chats with new Florida co-owner Stu Siegel about finding success, being labeled 'the next Phoenix' and his jerseys

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:54:58 -0500

The Florida Panthers play in a city called Sunrise, a moniker in juxtaposition with the notion suggested by some in the hockey world that the sun is slowly setting on this 16-year-old franchise. The Globe & Mail greeted Stu Siegel and Cliff Viner, announced at the new majority owners of the Panthers yesterday, with a sobering assessment of the team's fortunes, or lack thereof. That Florida didn't turn a profit under Alan Cohen, missing the playoffs in all eight of his years as maj...

Legal Fallout from Phoenix Coyotes - NHL Saga

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:00:00 -0500

Over on the American Lawyer Daily, Zach Lowe has a good piece on the legal fallout of the Phoenix Coyotes likely sale to the NHL. He interviews me for his story, and I tie-in the American Needle case. Here's an excerpt:The [NHL] apparently doesn't want the Coyotes for long, and they are already in talks to sell the team to an investment group represented by Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft . . . Monday's hearing at the federal bankruptcy court in Phoenix . . . was the first major...

Judge approves NHL buying Coyotes franchise

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:19:16 -0500

The Phoenix Coyotes' bumpy six-month journey through U.S. Bankruptcy Court has come to an end with a judge's approval of the sale of the franchise to the NHL. Judge Redfield T. Baum signed the order on Monday after a quiet, brief hearing in a mostly empty courtroom, a stark contrast to earlier scenes of high drama featuring countless high-priced attorneys locked in often-bitter arguments. The NHL's bid totals about $140 million. The official figure listed in the sale order i...

Coyotes’ Backup Goalie Has All-Star Caliber Mask

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:00:38 -0500

Jason LaBarbera, a career backup goalie on his third team in as many seasons in the league (fourth overall), is just a couple months shy of his 30th birthday and doesn’t show any signs of being a big-time goalkeeper. Only the more ardent NHL fans would know off the top of their heads who LaBarbera [...]

Coyotes Giving Away Free Tickets ... If They Win

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:26:00 -0500

by Christopher BottaFiled under: Coyotes, NHL Fans, NHL Economics, FanHouse ExclusiveThe Phoenix Coyotes, in need of building up a wounded fan base and putting warm fannies in the seats, have come up with quite the marketing initiative. Branded "Join The Pack!" (their exclamation point) with the kicker "We Win, You Win," the Coyotes will give fans attending any of the following five games a free ticket to a game later in the season if the team wins:Coyotes Giving Away Free...