Coyotes News

"The Coyotes re-signed the last of their restricted free agents on Thursday, agreeing on a two-year contract with center Joel Perrault. Financial terms weren't immediately available, but the second year of the contract is a one-way deal. Perrault, 25, set career highs in games played (49), goals (seven), assists (10), points (17), power-play goals (3) and game-winning goals (two) last season. "They gave me a great chance last year," Perrault said. "I really wanted to go back there. I like the group of guys. I think the team is going in the right direction. ... I think we're going to be even better next year." The 6-foot-1, 197-pound Perrault was selected to play in 2008 AHL All-Star game ..."

"Coyotes center Joel Perrault, the team's final restricted free agent, signed a two-year contract today. Terms were not immediately available. Perrault, 25, recorded 7 goals and 10 assists for 17 points and had 48 penalty minutes in 49 games last season, setting career highs in games played, goals, assists, points, penalty minutes, power play goals (3) and game-winning goals (2). The 6-foot-1, 197-pound Perrault has played in 80 career NHL games with Phoenix and St. Louis. He was originally drafted by Anaheim in the fifth round (137th overall) of the 2001 draft."

"The Phoenix Coyotes have created a companywide green initiative amid growing public concern for the environment. The Phoenix Coyotes Going Green initiative since July 30 has had the company focusing on raising employee awareness of ways to save the environment. "As a company, we want to get on board with the ecologically right thing to do," said Jeff Holbrook, executive vice president and chief communications officer for the Coyotes. Thea Crum, vice president of client services for the team, helped lead the changes - including using the double-sided option on copiers to save paper, and replacing plastic-foam cups with 32-ounce plastic cups that employees reuse. Crum said she is noticing ..."

"As Olli Jokinen gets ready for a fresh start with the Coyotes, he could be given slack were he to dwell on a horrendous on-ice incident late last season involving a teammate. But the high-scoring center vows to look ahead as he tries to make a playoff appearance for the first time in his 10th full season. Toward the end of last season with the Florida Panthers, Jokinen's skate inadvertently slashed the throat of teammate Richard Zednik, and Zednik lost a significant amount of blood. He is making a full recovery, and he's expected to be in training camp. "It was really a bad situation," said Jokinen, obtained in an off-season trade for defensemen Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton. "To be ..."

"The Coyotes signed veteran right wing Francis Lessard on Thursday. Lessard, 29, played in 14 regular-season games with the Hartford WolfPack of the American Hockey League last season. He appeared in 91 career NHL games with the Atlanta Thrashers from 2001 to 2006. Lessard, who is 6 feet 3 and 224 pounds, was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the third round (80th overall pick) of the 1997 NHL draft."

"The Coyotes re-signed left wing Daniel Carcillo to a two-year contract Tuesday. Carcillo, 23, recorded 13 goals, 24 points and a league-leading 324 penalty minutes in 57 games last season as a rookie. He also ranked fifth on the Coyotes and tied for ninth among all NHL rookies in goals (13). The 5-foot-11, 203-pound Carcillo registered five goals in the final two games of the 2007-08 season, including his first career hat trick in a 4-2 win over the Dallas Stars on April 4."

"The Phoenix Coyotes have signed left winger Daniel Carcillo to a two-year deal. "We are very pleased to have signed Daniel Carcillo to a new contract," said Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney in a statement. "He is a key member of our team who brings a unique combination of toughness, speed and skill to the lineup.""

"The Coyotes signed center Garth Murray to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Murray began last season with Montreal and appeared in one game before being claimed off waivers by Florida. He suffered a season-ending shoulder injury after playing in six games with the Panthers."

"The Coyotes released their 2008-2009 schedule Thursday. Under the NHL’s new schedule format, the Coyotes will play six games (three home and three away) against each of their four Pacific Division rivals (Anaheim, Dallas, Los Angeles and San Jose). In past seasons, the Coyotes had played eight games against division rivals. They will face the 10 remaining Western Conference teams four times each (two home and two away). In addition, they will face each of the 15 Eastern Conference clubs at least once, with the three remaining “at large” games to be played against teams from the East."

"Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced that center Martin Hanzal had successful back surgery to repair a herniated disk Thursday in Los Angeles. The surgery, performed by back specialist Dr. Robert Watkins, was necessitated when Hanzal was hurt while playing for the Czech Republic at the 2008 IIHF World Championship in May."

"The Coyotes announced their 2008-09 schedule on Thursday, with 82 regular-season and eight presason games. The Coyotes will open the regular season by hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, Oct. 11 at Jobing.com Arena and conclude against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, Apr. 11. The month of October features visits from Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Thursday, Oct. 23 and Sidney Crosby's Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, Oct. 30."

"The Coyotes announced their 2008-2009 schedule Thursday. The team opens the regular season by hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 11 at Jobing.com Arena and concludes against the Anaheim Ducks on Apr. 11. Under the NHL’s new schedule format, the Coyotes will play six games (three home, three away) against each of their four Pacific Division rivals (Anaheim, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Jose) for a total of 24 games. In past seasons, the Coyotes had played eight games against division rivals."

"Coyotes second-year center Martin Hanzal is scheduled to undergo back surgery Thursday to repair a herniated disk. Hanzal suffered the injury in May while playing for the Czech Republic in the world championships. Back specialist Dr. Robert Watkins will perform the surgery in Los Angeles. Coyotes second-year center Martin Hanzal is scheduled to undergo back surgery Thursday to repair a herniated disk. Hanzal suffered the injury in May while playing for the Czech Republic in the world championships. Back specialist Dr. Robert Watkins will perform the surgery in Los Angeles."

"Agents for the last two Coyotes restricted free agents, forwards Daniel Carcillo and Joel Perrault, are continuing negotiations with General Manager Don Maloney. "Don and I are working through it, it's a bit of a difference of opinion, not gapped by that far, about different terms right now," Pat Morris, Carcillo's agent, said Tuesday. The differences are in both length of contract and salary."

"Coyotes center Martin Hanzal is scheduled to undergo back surgery to repair a herniated disk on Thursday in Los Angeles. The procedure will be performed by back specialist Robert Watkins, and Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney said Hanzal should be ready for training camp in mid-September. Hanzal sustained the injury while playing for the Czech Republic at the 2008 IIHF World Championship in May. "While it is unfortunate that Marty was injured during the World Championship, we consider ourselves fortunate that we caught this early," Maloney said. "With proper procedure and rehab, Marty should be ready to go for training camp.""

"The Coyotes hired former NHL forward Doug Sulliman as an assistant coach. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. "We are excited to add Doug to the Coyotes coaching staff," Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney said. "He has a great hockey background and I believe will provide the kind of support our young players require to advance their development. He will be a valuable addition to our staff.""

"Former Winnipeg Jets forward Thomas Steen was hired by the Coyotes as a professional scout Wednesday. "Thomas is a welcomed addition to our scouting staff," Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney said. "Not only does he have a tremendous playing history with our organization, but he is an experienced scout with a good hockey mind.""

"The Coyotes signed goaltending coach Grant Fuhr to a contract extension. The club also hired Gord Pell as an amateur scout and Robert Nordmark as a European scout. Fuhr will enter his fourth season with the Coyotes. Last season, Coyotes goalies had a 2.70 goals against average, a .911 save percentage and six shutouts. Starter Ilya Bryzgalov, who set career-highs in wins (28) and shutouts (three) as well as career bests in GAA (2.44) and save percentage (.920), finished in a tie for sixth in NHL save percentage."

"The Coyotes filled out their blue line Thursday by signing a pair of stay-at-home defensemen. Phoenix added unrestricted free agent David Hale and also re-signed Matt Jones. Both received two-year, one-way contracts. Financial terms were not immediately available. The Coyotes also re-signed right wing Brian McGrattan, acquired last month in a trade with Ottawa, to a one-year deal."

"The Coyotes signed a new two-year affiliation agreement with the American Hockey League's San Antonio Rampage for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. The Rampage have been the Coyotes' sole AHL affiliate since the 2005-06 season."

"As he gets ready to join the Coyotes - his third team following stops in New Jersey and Calgary - defenseman David Hale is looking for two things: a fresh start and his first NHL goal. "I haven't scored, but I wished I'd had," a chuckling Hale said. "I've come close, and I'm pretty confident it will come . . . but I've got to get in the record book one way or another." Hale, 27, was New Jersey's first-round pick (22) in the 2000 draft. Last season with Calgary, he played in 58 regular-season games with two assists and 46 penalty minutes. He also saw time in six playoff games. His two-year contract is in the $1.5 million range."

"Eager to get their first-round draft picks under contract, the Coyotes locked up Mikkel Boedker and Viktor Tikhonov. Hours after the official start of NHL free agency, the Coyotes jumped into the first-day frenzy of activity Tuesday, signing free agent defenseman Kurt Sauer and forward Todd Fedoruk to multi-year deals."

"The Coyotes signed first-round draft picks Mikkel Boedker and Viktor Tikhonov to entry level contracts. "We are thrilled to sign Mikkel and Viktor to contracts," Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney said. "We feel that both players have bright futures ahead of them in the Coyotes organization and we look forward to seeing them develop over the next several years." Boedker, 18, was selected by the Coyotes with the eighth overall pick"

"The Coyotes addressed two key needs on the first day of the NHL free agency period: defense and toughness. The signing of Kurt Sauer from the Colorado Avalanche helped shore up a defensive gap created when the Coyotes traded Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton to the Florida Panthers for center Olli Jokinen. And with left wing Todd Fedoruk, the Coyotes get a physical player who amassed almost 140 penalty minutes last season with the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars. The Coyotes lost two players Tuesday, forwards Radim Vrbata (Tampa Bay) and Craig Weller (Minnesota) but also signed their two first-round draft choices for three years"

"The Tampa Bay Lightning signed unrestricted free agent Radim Vrbata to a three-year, $9 million contract Tuesday. Vrbata, who played one year for the Coyotes, had a strong start in 2007-08 but tailed off down the stretch. He finished with 27 goals and 29 assists for 56 points, the second-highest point total on the team. " Radim played well for us and we wish him good luck," Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney said. "However, with the signing of Mikkel Boedker and Victor Tikhonov plus other top offensive prospects Kevin Porter, Chad Kolarik and Brett MacLean, we feel we can replace his offense production with top young players with upside.""

"In a move which surprised few, former Coyotes forward Radim Vrbata signed a three-year deal with Tampa Bay worth $9 million on Tuesday."

"The Coyotes filled one hole on their blue line and added an enforcer Tuesday . They signed 27-year-old defenseman Kurt Sauer to a four-year contract reportedly worth $1.75 million per season, and agreed to terms on a three-year contract with forward Todd Fedoruk, according to TSN."

"The Phoenix Coyotes signed veteran defenceman Kurt Sauer to a four-year contract Tuesday. The move fills a gap created when Phoenix sent two defencemen to the Florida Panthers in a draft-day trade for Olli Jokinen. Sauer, 27, played for the Colorado Avalanche last season, and had a goal and five assists in 54 regular-season games. He added a goal in 10 postseason contests with Colorado."

"Lightning owner Len Barrie said the team signed left wing Radim Vrbata to a three-year, $9-million contract. "It's great," he said, "and we're not done yet.""

"Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced Tuesday that the club has signed forward Blake Wheeler to an entry-level contract. Per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed. Wheeler, a Plymouth, Minnesota native, has spent the last three seasons playing for the University of Minnesota. In his 2007-2008 season, he led the team in scoring with 15-20-35 totals in 44 games, and was named to the third team, All-WCHA."

"Needed: Defenseman. One, maybe two. Mid- to late 20s. Strong in own end. Plays physical. Can be offensive. Still possesses upside. That's the description on the help-wanted sign the Coyotes will be hanging in their window at 9 a.m. today when the free-agency period begins in the NHL. The position of greatest depth the past two seasons quickly became the position of greatest need last month, when Phoenix traded away blue-line mainstays Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton in the Olli Jokinen deal."

"The Coyotes will set their sights on a quality defenseman when NHL free agency opens today. However, one big name is off the board - John-Michael Liles re-signed with Colorado, for four years at about $16 million. The need for a defenseman, and possibly two, arose when the Coyotes traded Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton to Florida for center Olli Jokinen, getting the big strong center they needed."

""Rink wars" were daily childhood rituals on the Staal family's sod farm in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Youngest brother Jared, 17, has battle scars from hockey games against his three brothers in the 50- by-100-foot rink that father Henry built. The Coyotes' second-round draft pick now hopes to prove he's more than just a kid brother to NHL players Jordan (Pittsburgh Penguins), Marc (New York Rangers) and Eric (Carolina Hurricanes), often dubbed the "first family" of the NHL. But Jared's transition to the NHL might take longer than those of his heralded older brothers, all of whom were first-round picks."

"By going young last season, the Coyotes played with lower expectations and ended up being the surprise team of the Western Conference. Using that path worked so well for them, the plan is to follow it again. Phoenix's average age at the end of last season was 26.1, among the youngest in the league, but there's a good chance the team will start this season even younger. "Without a doubt. I can see it happening, especially up front," general manager Don Maloney said. "I can really see three or four rookies again in our lineup.""

"Left wing Mathias Tjarnqvist, an unrestricted free agent who was one of the Coyotes' top penalty killers a year ago, became a victim of the numbers game on a young team, and it appears doubtful that he will be returning. The NHL free-agency period begins Tuesday, and Tjarnqvist will test the open market, as will the Coyotes' other unrestricted free agents, forwards Radim Vrbata and Craig Weller. General Manager Don Maloney continues his talks with Vrbata's agent, Rich Evans."

"The new Coyotes enforcer Brian McGrattan figures that he and Daniel Carcillo, who led the NHL in penalty minutes last season, could be a potent one-two punch. "He can concentrate on other things, and he can stir things up a bit, and I'll finish it off for him," he said laughing. Opponents might not find much to laugh about when the 6-foot-4, 234-pound right wing, who once compiled 551 PIM in the minors, patrols the ice to protect his teammates. In the past three seasons, his penalty minutes dropped (141, 100, 46), but he does not believe he was used to his full potential by the Ottawa Senators in 2007-08. He played in only 38 games and missed three due to a shoulder injury."

"The Senators may be looking for another heavyweight after dealing tough guy Brian McGrattan to the Phoenix Coyotes today, in exchange for a 2009 fifth-round draft choice."

"Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney, in the midst of building a young and quick team, also has sent a message with the acquisition of enforcer Brian McGrattan from the Ottawa Senators. "The coaches and Wayne (coach Wayne Gretzky) . . . we just thought, 'We don't want to be pushed around' - not that we were a lot, but I thought nobody's going to come into Phoenix and take liberties anymore with us, and he's gonna help in that." The 6-foot-4, 234-pound right wing, 26, was obtained Wednesday for a fifth-round draft choice in 2009, acquired from Boston last season in the Alex Auld deal."

"The Coyotes on Wednesday traded a fifth-round pick in 2009 (acquired from Boston last season) to the Ottawa Senators for big right wing Brian McGrattan. McGrattan, 26, has played parts of the past three season with the Senators, contributing five, two and three points, respectively, while piling up penalty-minute totals of 141, 100, 46, respectively. McGrattan, 6 feet 4, 234 pounds, was the Los Angeles Kings' fourth-round pick (No. 104 overall) in 1999."

"The Coyotes' two first-round draft choices from a year ago have a chance to benefit from the trade that brought Olli Jokinen from Florida for defensemen Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton. Center Kyle Turris, the third overall pick in 2007, will be able to gain a lot of insight from one of the high-powered centers in the NHL and not have to rush his learning curve. Defenseman Nick Ross, the 30th pick, has a better opportunity to work his way onto the roster at training camp."

"The Tampa Bay Lightning acknowledged for the first time that Rick Tocchet would be an assistant coach Tuesday when Barry Melrose was introduced as the team's new head coach. Tocchet, whose contract with the Coyotes expires at the end of the month, has yet to comment publicly about his decision to leave Phoenix, but Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said the move is good for everybody. "I think it's a breath of fresh air on both sides," Maloney said. "Rick is a good man and a good coach. I was going to take my time to evaluate what happened here with our team and what we need going forward. In that time, Rick got presented with a very good offer.""

"Viktor Tikhonov was mad. His junior hockey team had just lost a game, he had played poorly, and he was reacting like many 16-year-olds would: He stomped around in his skates, venom dripping from his body language and words. Slowly, Tikhonov's grandfather approached him. He put a consoling arm around Viktor's shoulder and imparted some of the wisdom he had gathered over the years. "The most important lesson you can learn from me is to take losses as a positive thing," he said. It was good advice, particularly given the source."

"Coyotes assistant Rick Tocchet has decided not to return to the team, according to an NHL source, and is expected to join the staff of new Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Barry Melrose, whose appointment is expected to be announced at a news conference today. Tampa Bay officials say the 8 a.m. news conference is only to announce a head coach, although other media outlets say Tocchet's position also will be announced. Tocchet's contract with Phoenix was to expire at the end of this month."

"When Brett Hextall was a center for Bishop Eustace Prep, his hockey coach, Mike Green, knew he wasn't simply coaching the son of an NHL star. "He was a skilled player, but the thing you liked most was his heart and his aggressiveness," Green recalled Sunday. "He had that NHL demeanor, that edge about him back in high school." Saturday, Brett Hextall became a fourth-generation Hextall to be taken in the NHL draft, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Bryan Sr., his great-uncles, Bryan Jr. and Dennis, and his father, Ron. Brett Hextall, 20, was selected by the Phoenix Coyotes in the sixth round (159th overall) of Saturday's draft. His father, Ron, was also taken in the ..."

"In a largely uneventful weekend that featured more tweaking than blockbuster dealing, the Canadiens emerged with top-six forward Alex Tanguay and the possibility of perhaps adding Mats Sundin, two pieces that may help them derail the emerging powerhouse coming out of Pittsburgh. In the end, the greatest gains may have come in - of all places - Phoenix, where the Coyotes picked up a new No.1 centre, Olli Jokinen, and then landed three prospects with famous pedigrees, one of whom they believe can play almost right away."

"As part of a questionnaire passed out every year prior to the NHL draft, prospects are asked to name the three people they would most like to invite to dinner. Danish left wing Mikkel Boedker (pronounced Mik-hail Bod-ker) listed Wayne Gretzky, Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin and his older brother, Mads. That dream dinner could easily become a reality after the Coyotes selected the 5-foot-11, 195-pound speedster with the eighth overall pick in Friday's NHL draft. "That would be a lot of fun," Boedker said of the potential sit-down. "I hope I have a chance to have a few dinners with Wayne. I wouldn't mind that." Until then, Boedker will have to settle ..."

"Two players with NHL bloodlines highlighted the Coyotes' picks from the second day of the NHL draft. Phoenix used its second-round selection on right wing Jared Staal, whose three older brothers are all in the NHL, and in the sixth round took forward Brett Hextall, who could become the fourth generation of his family to play in the league. With their other four picks, the Coyotes added three defensemen and a high-scoring center. “I think this really sets us up well going forward,” general manager Don Maloney said. “I think we had a couple good days.”"

"The business end of hockey caught up with Keith Ballard. Ballard, one of the most popular players in Phoenix whose hip checks brought the crowd to its feet many times, says it is time to look ahead after his trade, along with fellow defenseman Nick Boynton, to the Florida Panthers for Olli Jokinen. "I was a little shocked, but at the same time I understand it's part of the game, the business part," Ballard said Saturday. "I understand Phoenix needed a good big forward, and you've got to give up guys to get guys."

"One of the worst-kept secrets in all of hockey is expected to be announced, possibly by next week, when Tampa Bay names ESPN analyst Barry Melrose as its coach. The former Los Angeles Kings bench boss might have last coached in the NHL at the end of the 1995 season, but Melrose received a great endorsement Saturday from one of the best to ever play the game. "I think it's wonderful. It's a great opportunity for Barry. He's a tremendous coach," said all-time leading scorer Wayne Gretzky, who played under Melrose for the Kings. "He's a player's coach, and just as important he understands the media and he understands the marketplace that he's in at Tampa Bay. It's not the same as ..."

"The Sharks were all but invisible as the NHL conducted the first round of its 2008 entry draft Friday in Ottawa, but the Los Gatos-raised son of a former San Jose assistant coach ended up being a surprise selection of the Phoenix Coyotes. Viktor Tikhonov, 20, played his first hockey for the Santa Clara Blackhawks at age 5, but for the past five seasons has competed in Russia. His father, Vasily, was part of the Sharks' organization from 1993 to 1999. And his grandfather, whom he is named after, is the legendary former coach of the Soviet Red Army team."