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head coach: Jim Schoenfeld

roster: C - Jeremy Roenick, Craig Janney, Cliff Ronning, Bob Corkum, Mike Stapleton, Juha Ylonen, Daniel Briere. LW - Keith Tkachuk, Darrin Shannon, Jim McKenzie. RW - Rick Tocchet, Dallas Drake, Mike Gartner, Brad Isbister, Jocelyn Lemieux, Shane Doan, Jim Cummins. D - Teppo Numminen, Oleg Tverdovsky, John Slaney, Norm Maciver, Murray Baron, Deron Quint, Gerald Diduck, Keith Carney. G - Nikolai Khabibulin, Jimmy Waite, Scott Langkow.

standings:

Western Conference - Central Division
Team         GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA   
p-Dallas     82  49  22  11   109  242  167  
x-Detroit    82  44  23  15   103  250  196  
x-St Louis   82  45  29   8    98  256  204  
x-Phoenix    82  35  35  12    82  224  227  
Chicago      82  30  39  13    73  192  199  
Toronto      82  30  43   9    69  194  237  

x - Clinched playoff spot
p - Clinched President's Trophy

team news:

by Matthew Secosky, Phoenix Correspondent

Season Recap

As time passes, sports teams tend to develop an image that encompasses and defines that team. This image in turn seems to become a part of the teams' collective consciousness to the point that it dictates present events in some sort of mystic self-prophecy.

For example, what is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the Montreal Canadiens? Or the Detroit Red Wings? Or perhaps even, dare I say, the Tampa Bay Lightning?

In all those cases you can conjure an idea of what you'd expect from those teams. It could be pride, it could be tradition, or it could be a dire lack of both. As they say during those football referee quizes - you make the call.

So where do the Phoenix Coyotes stand in the mist of this adjectivial waterfall? Well let's just say they're neither up or down, left or right, or slightly off center. You see my friends, the Coyotes are caught in the land of mediocrity.

It just seems every year that Phoenix fields a good team full of promise on the ice and every year they just finish up o.k. Not good or great, not terrible or bad...but somewhere in the middle. Just think of the Coyotes as the show that came between Seinfeld and ER on NBC must-see-tv. I think that sums it up.

As for this year's memorable moments: Oleg Tverdovsky held out for mad cash, Rick Tocchet got suspended not once but twice for mauling people with his knees of death, and half of the team was injured for the playoff race at the end of the year. Sure, Phoenix made the playoffs and put a scare in Detroit early but then Mr. Mediocrity reared his ugly head and Detroit continued on to the Cup. What a year, what a year, what a year.

TEAM MVP: Captain Keith Tkachuk led the team with 40 goals and 66 points so he must be team MVP, right?

Rick Tocchet by Meredith Martini

Well in one word, no. Keith may have led the team in scoring but when it came to directing and leading the troops he was sitting out games trying to negotiate a new big $$$ contract for himself. A team MVP has to be a leader on and off the ice not just on the score sheet.

In that regard, Rick Tocchet is an easy choice for MVP. He was the heart and soul of Phoenix for most of the year and especially in the playoffs when he scored in five consecutive games. He will do anything to win and inspires others to match that intensity. If that is not MVP stuff then I don't know what is.

GOOD SURPRISE :-) Good surprises make me smile. And this year little Cliffy Ronning made me grin from cheek to cheek. At the end of the year when fellow centers Craig Janney and Jeremy Roenick were battling injuries, Ronning took over the offensive load and kept the Coyotes in the playoff race. It was the first time all year he got the chance to play a major role in the teams' success and he didn't back down from the challenge.

BAD SURPRISE :-( Bad surprises make me cry and I'd rather not re-live such negative experiences. Gotta make way for the positive day.

OFF-SEASON CHANGES:

Janney Go, Janney Gone

As expected, the Phoenix Coyotes dealt Craig Janney in a less-than-blockbuster deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning. In exchange for Janney, Phoenix received left wing Louie DeBrusk and a fifth-round pick in last weekend's NHL entry draft.

Janney has appeared in 704 games during an 11-year career. Last season he had 10 goals and 43 assists in 68 games for the Coyotes.

"Craig Janney is a premier playmaking center in this league, and that was one of our biggest needs," Lightning general manager Phil Esposito said. "He's a player who has proven he can make players around him better."

DeBrusk, 26, had one goal and two assists in 54 games for Tampa Bay last season.

Craig Janney's Regular Season Stats

 Year     Team    GP   G   A  PTS
 1987-88  BOS     15   7   9   16
 1988-89  BOS     62  16  46   62
 1989-90  BOS     55  24  38   62
 1990-91  BOS     77  26  66   92
 1991-92  BOS-STL 78  18  69   87
 1992-93  STL     84  24  82  106
 1993-94  STL	  69  16  68   84
 1994-95  STL-SJS 35   7  20   27
 1995-96  SJS-WIN 84  20  62   82
 1996-97  PHO     77  15  38   53
 1997-98  PHO     68  10  43   53
      Totals     704 183 541  724

Hey Ma! I've Been Drafted!

Sure, Nikolai Khabibulin played all but 12 games last season, but Phoenix still lacks goaltending depth in the organization. To remedy this they opted to pick Patrick Desrochers, who was ranked as the top goaltender by NHL Central Scouting, with their 14th overall pick.

"I honestly didn't have any idea where I was going today," Desrochers said. "I was excited and looking forward to seeing where I'd end up. My only real goal is to play in the NHL some day and get a chance at the Stanley Cup. The last year or so, it crossed my mind about being the first goalie taken. It's definitely a nice feeling."

Desrochers covers a lot of net with his 6-3 1/2, 195 pound frame and was 26-17-11 with a 3.35 goals-against average for Sarnia of the Ontario League. He also led the OHL with four shutouts in 1996-97.

Below is a round-by-round list of Phoenix draft picks.

1. Patrick Desrochers, G, Sarnia (OHL)
2. Ossi Vaananen, D, Jokerit Jr. (Finland)
3. Pat O'Leary, C, Armstrong (USHS)
4. Ryan Vanbuskirk, D, Sarnia (OHL)
5. Jay Leach, D, Providence (Hockey East)
5. Josh Blackburn, D, Lincoln (Jr.A)
5. Robert Schnabel, D, Red Deer (WHL)
6. Rickard Wallin, C, Farjestad (Sweden)
7. Erik Westrum, C, Minnesota (WCHA)
8. Justin Hansen, RW, Moose Jaw (WHL)

Mike Gartner a Coyote No More

Rumor has it that Phoenix right wing Mike Gartner has already sold his Phoenix house and has moved back to his native Toronto home, despite the Coyotes giving him an option to return to the team next season.

Gartner has also stated that after 19 years of hockey it may be time for him to retire. But he was hesitant to close this chapter of his life so fast, especially if the right team came calling. "I know I still have some hockey left in me -- there's no question in my mind about that. Signing with the Maple Leafs would be great. That's a situation that could be appealing."

Till Next Time --- Have a Bitchin' Summer

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