David Tanabe, D (Trade-Car); Tyson Nash, LW (Trade-StL); Dan Cleary, RW (FA-Edmonton); Cale Hulse, D (FA-Nashville); Mike Sillinger, C (Trade-Clb); Nikos Tselios, D (Trade-Car)
Danny Markov, D (Trade-Car); Teppo Numminen, D (Trade-Dal); Kelly Buchberger, RW (FA-Pit); Deron Quint, D (FA-Chi); Drake Berehowsky, D (FA-Pit)
Probably no team in the NHL relies more on their goaltender than the Phoenix Coyotes.
When Sean Burke plays, the Coyotes win. Last season, Phoenix won 14 of the 22 games
in which Burke saw ice. Without him, the Coyotes record was 17-29-9-5.
The problem: Burke is 37 years old and becoming prone to injury. Over the last
two years, Burke has missed more than 50 games due to a variety of aches and pains.
Last season, he was plagued by knee and groin problems.
If the Coyotes do lose Burke again, the goaltending duties will fall to either
Brian Boucher or Zac Bierk.
Despite a 4-9-1 record, Bierk opened eyes with his play last season. Bierk's .932 save-percentage was third best in the league. His .217 goals-against average was also impressive.
The Coyotes' defence will have a different look in 2003-04.
During the offseason, GM Michael Barnett included long-time Coyote Teppo Numminen in a three-way deal that landed defensive-forward Mike Sillinger in Phoenix.
Barnett also traded Danny Markov to the Carolina Hurricanes for David Tanabe and signed free agent David Hulse.
Hulse is a big physical presence who knows how to take care of his own end.
Tanabe is strong skater and is creative offensively. The big knock against Tanabe is that at times seems disinterested in his defensive responsibilities.
Paul Mara's game steadily improved last season. He'll be quarterbacking the Coyotes'
power play. Ossi Vaananen is big, strong and loves to use the body. He'll get
more responsibility now that Numminen has moved on.
Offensively, the Coyotes' top line will feature Daymond Langkow, Shane Doan and Ladislav Nagy. Langkow, a creative centre, and Doan, a rugged, physical forward, have shown good chemistry. Nagy is developing into a serious offensive threat. Last year, in just his second full NHL season, the imaginative winger scored 22 goals and added 35 assists.
The key to the Coyotes' attack may be Chris Gratton. Acquired from the Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline, Gratton only registered one assist in 14 games last season with Phoenix. He'll likely centre a line that includes Jan Hrdina and Mike Johnson, who led the Coyotes in scoring last season with 63 points.
If Gratton can play to expectations, he'll give the Coyotes two formidable lines and excellent depth up the middle.
They may have a new arena and new jerseys, but the story is still the same for the Coyotes. The team's success depends on Sean Burke's health. Two seasons ago, Burke was pretty much injury free and led the Coyotes to an improbable playoff berth. Coyotes owner Wayne Gretzky called Burke the league's MVP. Last year, Burke was banged up and Coyotes missed the playoffs.
