11/21/24
March 29, 2010
Coyotes Celebrate First Playoff Berth in Eight Years: The Phoenix Coyotes celebrated their first playoff berth since 2002 with a 6-2 victory Saturday over the Colorado Avalanche. Despite being owned by the NHL after a bankruptcy, the Coyotes have become the third team to reach 100 points this season. "It's special for us as a team," said Shane Doan, the captain of the team since it moved from Winnipeg 14 years ago.
This has a wonderful "Major League" vibe to it.
[Dressed in tuxedos, every team member, except Ilya, stands in front of the hockey net and looks at us]
Everybody: Hello. Do you know us?
[Everybody, except Shane, puts on their helmets]
Everybody: We're an NHL team.
Ed Jovanovski: But since we haven't been to the playoffs in 8 years, nobody recognizes us - not even in our own home town.
Matthew Lombardi: That's why we carry the American Express card.
Shane Doan: No matter how far out of first we are, it's cool. You know, it keeps us from getting shut out at our favorite hotels and restaurant-type places.
Adrian Aucoin: [pointing to us] So if you're looking for some NHL clout, apply for that little green overtime winner.
Robert Lang: Look what it's done for US. People still DON'T recognize us but...
[Robert snaps his fingers]
Dave Tippet: We're contenders now.
[Also dressed in a tuxedo jersey, Ilya slides into the scene, stacking the pads and holds up a green credit card]
Ilya Bryzgalov: The American Express card: Don't leave home (for Winnipeg) without it!
posted by grum@work at 03:49 PM on March 29, 2010
Good on them. It's hard for any team to get 100 points, but to do it with everything else they're dealing with is phenomenal. Don't know how much this will help to build a fan base in the desert, but I doubt a hockey team could ever be realistically viable in that environment.Once Weaselboy accepts that he's running a winter sport league, and that it's not a sport that can be successful everywhere, things might turn around for the NHL...
As a side note, Shane Doan has been with the team since they moved to Phoenix, but he hasn't been the captain that whole time...just sayin...
posted by MeatSaber at 04:15 PM on March 29, 2010
Does this mean Wayne Gretzky is a terrible coach?
posted by fabulon7 at 04:21 PM on March 29, 2010
Or that Dave Tippett is a very good one? Wish he were still in Dallas.
posted by graymatters at 04:38 PM on March 29, 2010
Happy for the players, but ...
It is a crime that other teams are footing the Coyotes payroll. Even moreso when the Coyotes are one of the biggest spenders at trade deadline.
Folks left running that organization have a real GMish reek about them ... "spend as much as you can, we don't have to pay for it anyways".
posted by cixelsyd at 05:01 PM on March 29, 2010
Except that the NHL has a salary cap so the Coyotes can only spend so much. And if they've been given a designated maximum why should they not spend as much cash (while staying under the max) as they deem necessary to contend?
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 05:52 PM on March 29, 2010
why should they not spend as much cash (while staying under the max) as they deem necessary to contend?
Because they have no cash, and no right to place further financial burden on others.
If Phoenix wins the cup (and they could - they have a solid team) financially viable teams like Montreal, Boston, etc will still be mailing checks to cover the Coyotes' losses.
posted by cixelsyd at 06:10 PM on March 29, 2010
Does this mean Wayne Gretzky is a terrible coach? Yep.
Good for the Coyotes. Don't sleep on them. They play great on the road and have the leagues lowest Goals Against.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 06:29 PM on March 29, 2010
Because they have no cash, and no right to place further financial burden on others.
So using this logic they might as well fire all of their players, coaching staff, and employees. After all, their salaries are a financial burden on the rest of the league.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 06:49 PM on March 29, 2010
YYM, I'm pretty sure that's what companies which can't meet payrolls generally do. Unless they can convince some sucker to give them a loan. Why should an NHL team be different?
posted by billsaysthis at 08:38 PM on March 29, 2010
Not to change the subject or anything, but is there a more underrated player and leader in the NHL than Doan?
posted by tahoemoj at 12:15 AM on March 30, 2010
YYM, I'm pretty sure that's what companies which can't meet payrolls generally do. Unless they can convince some sucker to give them a loan. Why should an NHL team be different?
I suppose Gary Bettman is the US government to the failing company that is the Coyotes.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 12:27 AM on March 30, 2010
Why should an NHL team be different?
Because firing everybody would destroy the value of the franchise, and even after it sold at a bargain basement price they'd have to hold an expansion draft to restock it.
posted by rcade at 12:38 AM on March 30, 2010
Because firing everybody would destroy the value of the franchise, and even after it sold at a bargain basement price they'd have to hold an expansion draft to restock it.
Agree.
The kicker is there are people willing to pay market value for the team and remove the burden from others. For whatever reason, Bettman feels keeping the team on the dole is a better solution.
Not to change the subject or anything, but is there a more underrated player and leader in the NHL than Doan?
Doan's a solid player and a class act on and off the ice. I hope someday he has an opportunity to play in a community where his skills are appreciated.
posted by cixelsyd at 10:06 AM on March 30, 2010
Remaining players in the NHL who played in Winnipeg at some point in their careers:
Shane Doan*
Keith Tkachuk*
Teemu Selanne*
Nikolai Khabibulin*
Kris Draper
*played in the final season in Winnipeg
posted by grum@work at 10:16 AM on March 30, 2010
Remaining players in the NHL who played in Winnipeg
I was at the last Winnipeg playoff victory in '96, couldn't hear properly for days afterwards. Khabibulin stole the win, Detroit outshot the Jets the entire series.
Because of financial issues the Jets were forced earlier that year to reduce the payroll and were forced to trade Selanne to the Ducks. Interestingly, Bettman was a prime figure in the situation then as well.
posted by cixelsyd at 03:42 PM on March 30, 2010
That's a warm & fuzzy story, but will they survive in the desert ? Winnipeg an NHL backup plan