Inside The Penalty Box 03.24.08: Coyotes Success Breeds Need For More Acquisitions

Posted by Neil Borenstein on 03.24.2008

Claiming Ilya Bryzgalov off waivers in mid-November has immensely improved the Phoenix Coyotes. But while grabbing a bona fide No. 1 netminder takes this team to another level, it’s not enough. In this edition of Inside The Penalty Box, Neil Borenstein discusses Bryzgalov’s success and the further improvements needed to make Phoenix a legitimate playoff contender.

Continued Improvement In PhoenixBryzgalov Success Opens Door For More Moves By Coyotes

Photo Credit: Yahoo! Sports/Getty ImagesIlya Bryzgalov has given the Coyotes an instant boost since being claimed off waivers on Nov. 17.

t's become commonplace to expect very little out of the Phoenix Coyotes every year. A team absent from the playoffs since 2002 and known for making few organization-altering transactions, the Coyotes are typically primed more for a run at the first overall draft selection rather than a shot at the Stanley Cup Championship.

One savvy waiver move by first year general manager Don Maloney may have changed Phoenix' outlook for the next few years, however. The pickup of former Anaheim Ducks goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov and subsequent signing of a three-year extension gives the Coyotes a true number one netminder to build. Suddenly, Phoenix has shed its constant disappointment and become a team very much on the rise.

The chances of the Coyotes making the playoffs this year are fairly slim. Sitting in 12th place with 78 points, they're six points behind the eighth place Colorado Avalanche. With only six games remaining on their schedule, the Coyotes would have to be virtually perfect down the stretch and hope for a major collapse from the teams in front of them. That scenario is doubtful and leaves Phoenix without a playoff berth this season.

It doesn't change the fact that the Coyotes had a season that surpassed every expectation placed on this them. Most analysts spelled doom for them before the puck was even dropped in October. It wasn't uncalled for. The Coyotes finished dead last in 2007 and made little improvement over the offseason. Outside of signing Mike York, who is pretty much a third line talent at this point, they brought in two so-so goaltenders in Alexander Auld and David Aebischer, who teamed up with Mikael Tellqvist to form a three-way combination of netminders not ready to step up as the team's top starter. In fact, the congestion in Phoenix' net made the Bryzgalov pickup all that more surprising from Maloney. It's a good thing he gave acquiring a goalie one more shot.

Since joining the Coyotes on Nov. 17, 2007, Bryzgalov has been nothing short of a stud in between the pipes. He made an immediate impact with his new team the very day he was claimed, posting a clutch 1-0 shutout over the Los Angeles Kings. With Phoenix, he's 25-20-4 and boasts a 2.38 goals against average (GAA), .921 save percentage (SV%) and three shutouts.

What's even more telling of his success is the fact that he's been very solid during divisional games. Against Pacific Division rivals, Bryzgalov is 12-5-0 in 20 games (17 starts) with a 1.93 GAA and .929 SV%. Granted, five of those games came when he was with the Ducks. But those five games consisted of only three starts, no wins and nine goals against. As a Coyote, Bryzgalov's performance in divisional games has been immense, which is even more important considering the amount of times they play each other – at least before next year's new schedule structure kicks in.

Though a stretch, Bryzgalov should definitely get some recognition in the Vezina Trophy race. He won't win because he doesn't have enough wins and the Coyotes aren't going to make the playoffs. But he's really the sole reason this organization even sniffed a shot at the postseason this year. If what he's done isn't excellence in net, I'm not sure what is. The hardware will end up with Martin Brodeur or Evgeni Nabokov. But if Bryzgalov gets completely looked over, that will be a huge shame.

For as good as Bryzgalov has been, it's going to take more moves for the Coyotes to become legitimate playoff contenders. Getting a bona fide No. 1 netminder with playoff success is a huge step in the right direction. But more needs to be done, including the acquisition of true defensive talent to play in front of him and some high-scoring forward that alleviates Shane Doan of having to be the top point-producer, a role he's really not suited for. (While Doan is a good talent, his point-per-game production this season is pretty exceptional for him. He's more of a 60-point scorer, give or take. And Phoenix needs somebody who can really go near 90-100 points every season. Doan's true value is Ryan Smyth-esque – not the team's top scorer, but good enough to post 25 goals and 40 assists while captaining his team through solid two-way play.)

Fortunately, Phoenix has plenty of cap space to acquire some talent this offseason. They're going to head into the summer with around $32 million on the books and some low maintenance assets they'll need to re-sign. That's going to leave them with probably $15 million to play around with. Granted, Phoenix won't spend it all. But if they chose to spend in free agency, they could bring in one of the best forwards available and some decent defensive talent to compliment the likes of Ed Jovanovski and 25-year old Zbynek Michalek.

The top thing on Phoenix' agenda needs to be the pursuit of a top goal scorer. Currently, Radim Vrbata leads the team with 27 goals, one ahead of Doan's 26 and nine more than his own previous career-high of 18 that he achieved during his rookie season with Colorado (2001-02). This team needs more; especially since I doubt Vrbata will be a 30-goal scorer next season even if the Coyotes choose to re-sign him.

There are going to be options on the market for Phoenix. The most notable is Marian Hossa. Hossa is a terrific all-around player and would lift the Coyotes in every area of the game. He is a 35 to 40-goal scorer, with the ability to tip over 40 on a really good year. Luring Hossa to Phoenix might be tough considering there will be plenty of contenders for his services over the summer. But it has just as much money as any other team and has the legendary Wayne Gretzky behind the bench. That has to count for something.

Other forwards eligible for free agency this summer include Markus Naslund, Pavol Demitra, Miroslav Satan, Martin Straka and perhaps even Ladislav Nagy. I have a feeling Demitra will re-sign with the Minnesota Wild and the New York Rangers will bring Straka back for another year. Satan is way past his prime and won't have much more success in Phoenix than he's having with the New York Islanders – 14 goals this season. Nagy also couldn't be the sole acquisition by the Coyotes considering he didn't get them over the hump in his previous tenure with the team and hasn't scored more than 24 goals in a season (and is seemingly getting less productive as a goal scorer.) But he could be a good source of secondary scoring for at a cheap price.

Photo Credit: Yahoo! Sports/Getty ImagesMarkus Naslund would make a worthy free agent pickup capable of proving much needed offense to the Coyotes' roster.

Naslund is actually the best option out of this crop if Hossa is out of reach. His play has diminished a bit in Vancouver. But I think he's being phased out in favor of the Sedin twins and could really boost his career with a change of scenery. In Phoenix, he could definitely reach 35-40 goals and 90 points again. Plus, he's going to come cheaper than Hossa.

On defense, players like Marek Malik, Keith Carney, John-Michael Liles and Brooks Orpik should intrigue the Coyotes. Malik might not be the most popular player with Rangers fans, but he does have good defensive abilities. I think there's a chance the Rangers will bring him back, but I think he's more likely going to be allowed to walk. And at what will probably be no more than $2.5 million (his salary this year), Malik can definitely help the Coyotes in their own zone. Carney is also a good defensive zone option. Carney is known as a defensive-defender and is certainly a big reason why the Wild are as solid a defensive team as they are. At 37 years old, Carney is not a long-term investment. And that might make him less valuable than Malik. But even at two-three years, he could help in the rebuilding process for a relatively cheap price.

Orpik doesn't have the reputation Malik and Carney do, but he will probably come cheaper than both of them and be willing to sign on for a much longer period of time. The 26-year old might not be brought back by the Pittsburgh Penguins, which would be a big mistake considering he's actually a defensive asset with a bit of grit to his game.

What all three of those defensemen lack is an offensive game. Since Ed Jovanovski is Phoenix' money defenseman and has 50 points, it's not a desperate need for the team to go after a point-getter. But it can't hurt Phoenix, either, to go after a good offensive-defenseman, especially one that can quarterback the power play. Enter Liles, who I could see being allowed to test the market by Colorado since he's having a bit of a down year – five goals and 30 points. The 26-year old has incredible talent on the offensive end, though, and should be more than capable of rebounding next year with a 40- to 50-point campaign. He might be pricey and will likely command a long-term deal (four to seven years), but I think he's very much worth it.

In the perfect world while remaining somewhat realistic, the Coyotes should really pursue Nasland, Liles and Orpik. They'll get that forward they need without going after the player that's going to be the most sought after, i.e. a bit cheaper. They land another blue liner that can put up some points in Liles. And Orpik gives them some defensive help for Bryzgalov.

In total, that could cost the team around $14.25 million on a per season basis (Naslund - $6 million, Liles - $6 million, Orpik - $2.25 million). But the Coyotes will have the money to invest. And they have the responsibility to their fans and players that have waited long enough to get the kind of talent that can put this team back in the playoffs.

Getting Bryzgalov was step one. Now the ball's in Maloney and Gretzky's court to keep stocking this Phoenix team with the necessary pieces to be a contender. This summer will dictate just how invested they really are in looking for success for the Coyotes.

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Feedback

Gary Bettman should step down. This is shameful. That [Chris Pronger's stomp] should have been the rest of the season and the first two rounds of the playoffs, no questions asked.

I can't believe that. It's heinous.

- Eric

Yeah, Eric, it's pretty unreal that Pronger was given such a lenient penalty. He should have received the same 30 games Chris Simon got, as they have the same background when it comes to discipline from the NHL and performed the same exact infraction. It just doesn't make sense for Pronger to get 22 fewer games. And that's just another blemish on Bettman's already horrid record as commissioner.

Couldn't have said it better myself, Neil. I was just discussing this with some friends of mine this past weekend and of course during the NBC broadcast of the Flyers/Penguins game on Sunday, they debated it and Mike Milbury (who I have some respect for) clearly stated that the 8 game suspension was politically motivated. However, the other idiot on the panel [Pierre McGuire] stated that Milbury was nuts to claim that and that the difference between the two was that Pronger's stomp was only "a reactionary thing" while Simon's was "a predatory thing." I've had a problem with NBC and VS. hockey coverage since day one, but that was the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Brett Hull was pretty much fired from NBC's hockey coverage last year because he was himself; i.e. outspoken, hilarious, and to the point. He was promptly replaced this year by people who go by the rule and opinion of the people at the top.

It just goes to show how much power Gary Bettman has and shouldn't have because he is repeatedly named the worst commissioner in sports.

- mostvaluableprimate

I have to agree that Pierre McGuire is a pretty lousy analyst. I've never been a fan of him. I think he not only is a horrible television personality, but a lot of his opinions are pretty baseless. Regardless, this is the guy they grabbed from TSN. Too bad they can't get Bob McKenzie. Overall, though, I'll admit that I don't hate NBC and Versus coverage of the NHL. ESPN is definitely better and I long for the days of Steve Levy calling some playoff action with John Buccigross, Barry Melrose and "Chicken Parm" Ray Ferraro ready to analyze things on "NHL 2 Night". But I think at least Versus has improved since being an immediate flop once the league returned from its lockout. There is still much work to be done with both stations, though.

Thanks for the comments, guys, and everybody keep it coming!

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Until next week, you have just been Inside The Penalty Box!

~ Neil Borenstein