Follow @james_tanner123 The Coyotes finished a very disappointing season Saturday night with a 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild.
Unfortunately, an ill-advised win vs the Canucks the game before means the Coyotes finish in 28th and will be tied with the Las Vegas team in terms of % chances of winning the first overall pick.
The loss marks the end of a season that was terrible in every way.
Starting with Craig Cunningham suffering a cardiac arrest during a Roadrunners (AHL) game in November, the Coyotes season just wasn't meant to be.
As terrible as what happened to Cunningham is, it was inspirational and extremely emotional to see him return Saturday to drop the puck for the opening faceoff.
Incredibly, even though a portion of his leg was amputated, he has been fitted for skates and can even (according to NHL.com) do cross-overs.
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The game on Saturday was also notable because it was the last game (likely) for Shane Doan and Z. Michalek, two of the most beloved players in Coyotes' history.
I wasn't at the game (obviously) and since I don't live in Arizona, I'll pass this along from someone who does. WhatthepuckAZ, a long-time Coyotes season ticket holder and a friend I've made covering the Coyotes, PMs me from time-to-time to tell me about his experiences with the team.
Then post game on-ice events...last game of the season all players give their jerseys to fans. During that time fan screamed for Z and Doan chanting thank you and seeing the last 2 guys on the ice alone after the rest of the players skated off it was crazy....Doan and Z. all i can say is the fans were amazing.People can rip on az for not being hockey fans but it was amazing seeing so many fans staying late after a loss and crying for players... And it was cool that.... not just the Doan stuff...but that they also gave props to Z in equal fashion. Z and Doan stayed in the tunnel signing autographs and shaking hands for a good 10 min.
Doan had to leave to do TV but Z stayed down and signed every person's stuff and i have to give credit, with my tickets I have a clear shot of the tunnel and and Z was streaming tears as he talked to fans and hugged them signing autographs. He gave away everything... no joke he already gave away his jersey during the on ice event but in the tunnel signing he gave away his helmet gloves stick elbow pads and even shoulder pads.
Its weird to see players actually shedding tears out with the fans but it was something i have never seen. Not so much Doan, but Z. He even went back and got his sticks and was handing them out to kids, and then when his sticks ran out which was probably like 4 or so he went back and came out with 10 or so generic Coyotes sticks that the players sign and toss to the fans during the 3 stars announcement.
Michalek and Doan are all class. Everyone said, when Michalek went down, even though his career is essentially over and he has to spend the last year in the minors, that he was awesome...a total pro.
Overall, he played parts of nine season, on three different stints, with the Coyotes. Aside from Doan, and maybe Smith, he's the quintessential Coyote.
This should be the last year where the Playoffs are an impossibility. The Coyotes will hopefully be icing a team next year that can at least play games that matter in March.
It wasn't the best season, but with Doan, Michalek, and especially Cunningham, it was strangely inspiring, considering all the losing.
Another fun year covering the Coyotes, I look forward to next year when they'll (at worst) be more fun to watch.