Follow @james_tanner123 Of course I get sick and my computer crashes on the day the Coyotes make two trades - minor though they are. That's just how it goes.
The game against Los Angeles was remarkable only for the Play of Mike Smith, who almost got the team to overtime on his own. Unfortunately - unless at this point you're cheering for the reverse standings - Smith's heroics couldn't overcome a complete 3rd period barrage by the Kings.
Smith was at the all-star game the other day, and while some people who don't follow the Coyotes probably thought it was a token gesture because they have to take someone, he actually was very deserving.
Despite playing behind a horrifyingly bad team, Smith has single-handedly kept the Coyotes in so many games this year that I've lost track. Put it this way: the Avs have a ten point lead on the Coyotes for 30th place. The only reason the Coyotes are not in last place is because of Smith - he's been the sole cause of the Coyotes winning at least half the games they've won.
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The Coyotes made two minor trades yesterday:
First they sent Henrik Samuelsson to the Oilers in exchange for Mitch Moraz.
Sameulsson was once a prized prospect in the organization, but he fell out of favor because he was terrible at hockey. Yes, he broke his ankle and required surgery last season, but he was out of favor even before that.
Don Maloney had a fetish for the sons of ex NHLers when it came to drafting, and when you get Max Domi, that's pretty sweet. When you get the son of former cheap-shot king Ulf Samuelsson.....not so much. At one point I'm pretty sure the Coyotes even acquired his brother (Daniel?). It didn't do anything.
I don't know much about Mitch Moraz other than to say that if you get him for Samuelsson, he can't be that good.
As for the second trade, it was between the AHL teams of the Stars and Coyotes and has no effect on anything, ever. Two guys you've never heard of (Justin Peters and Justin Hache) in exchange for two other guys you've also never heard of (Brandan Ranford and Branden Trook).
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In big, possible huge news, Max Domi is back!!
He practiced yesterday and may play tonight against the Hawks, according to Craig Morgan.
Domi was injured twice while fighting. Hopefully he know realizes that he's a skilled player too important to this franchise to fight.
The season may be over, but there are still games to play and they'll be better to watch with Max Domi playing.