The Coyotes have, in recent days, changed owners, fired the President of the team, put their general manager back in charge like a normal team, traded their starting goalie, exiled their captain and face of the franchise, fired their coach and made two blockbuster trades.
It's been an awesome time to be a Coyotes fan. At least if, like me, you've been clamoring for an end to the Doan/Tippett era for about two years. On facebook there used to be ten or so groups of Coyotes fans that I was in, but over time 100% of them kicked me out for my views on Doan and Tippett.
Good riddance!!
The candidates are rumoured to be:
- Todd Nelson, the once interim coach of the Oilers.
- Dallas Eakins, the once coach of the Oilers.
- Sheldon Keefe , the coach of the Marlies.
So that's two ex-Marlies coaches and and two ex-Oilers coaches. I would like to see them hire Ralph Kruger, but I guess I don't really have a strong opinion. Unless a guy has coached a team you watch all the time, it's hard to really know anything about them.
As long as they get a coach who wants to play an uptempo game then I'm on board.
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Yesterday day didn't see the Coyotes sign anyone, but they did lose a player.
Radem Vbrata - the final holdout of the Hanzal/Tippett/Smith/Doan/Michalek era is gone to Florida to finish his career.
Vbrata is a good player and could have helped the Coyotes, but frankly, just his connections to the past team they are moving on from probably made bringing him back a dumb idea.
And who can blame him? Tippett barely playing him in the first game of the season, and it was all down hill from there.
Bringing back Vbrata, is easily Chayka's worst move so far as GM. I suspect it was done at Tippett's request anyways, but who knows?
In other noteworthy events, Peter Holland signed with Montreal, Burmistrov signed with the Canucks and the team is better off with both players leaving.
The Coyotes did sign Adam Clendenning, ex of the Canucks, Hawks, Oilers, Penguins and Rangers. He's a guy who can never seem to catch on, but he is right shooting and only 24. For the price, a decent pick-up.
I suspect he could be an upgrade over Luke Schenn if given a chance.