Posts Tagged ‘phoenix coyotes’

Phoenix Coyotes Stanley Cup Odds 2010/2011

October 3rd, 2010 by Rob | Comments Off | Filed in NHL Betting

They say that adversity makes you stronger. There are few better examples of that than the performance of the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2009/2010 season. It was a pack mentality headed by Coach Dave Tippet that helped the Coyotes surprise everyone last year with their standout performances in the Western Conference. The superb team displays drew supporters’ attention away from their off the ice franchise concerns and helped secure the Coyotes a much deserved play-off berth. While they eventually lost to the Detroit Red Wings in their match-up, the team were strongly commended for their concentration and hard graft during a season that had all the makings of being one of the most difficult in franchise history.

Most credit their change in playing fortunes last season with their switch in coaching staff. Dave Tippet’s arrival added organization and defensive steel to a team that had previously been known to ship goals on a regular basis. With Tippet’s coaching ability and the raw talent on the roster ready to be moulded, they formed one of the strongest defensive units in the NHL.

Coyotes Stanley Cup Odds:

2010-2011 Cup Odds for Phoenix = +3000 ($100 bet pays $3000)
2010-2011 Western Conference Odds for Phoenix = +1300 ($100 bet pays $1300)

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coyotes odds

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Their performances last season saw the team secure 50 victories and become one of the most closely watched up and coming teams in the conference. The player that most believe to be responsible for their superb winning record last season is goaltender, Ilya Bryzgalov. A league-leading eight shutouts and a .925 save percentage in the 2009/10 season speaks to the quality possessed by the Russian and the Coyotes’ hopes for this season will again depend on his quick reflexes and effortless consistency.

Defenseman Zbynek Michalek will be a big loss to the Coyotes in the new season. His move to the Penguins, as well as James Vandermeer’s switch to the Oilers will put more pressure on the likes of the veteran talismanic figures Derek Morris and Ed Jovanovski as well as 24-year old Keith Yandle. As the Coyotes’ highest scoring defencemen last year, Yandle is widely considered to be on the verge of becoming one of the best offensive-minded blue liners in the NHL. This season will answer the question as to how the young star can adapt to all the extra focus on his play.

With the considerable talent still available around the blue line, the Coyotes defensive prowess is likely to remain. In offense however, Coach Dave Tippet will be hoping his team experiences a change in fortune from last year.

There was a stark contrast between the Coyotes efforts in defensive and offensive play in the 2009/2010 season. The team’s offensive line-up struggled for much of the campaign and finished 24th in scoring overall. For a team with continued playoff ambitions, that record has to improve drastically this time around. They have enough depth in the offensive department to provide the ammo, but their weak 2009/2010 statistics must be disconcerting for Coyotes fans.

The good news on that front is that the talent is certainly available and ready to be harnessed. Wojtek Wolski was retained for the upcoming season and most hockey analysts can only see the young Polish-Canadian left-winger improving on his 18 points in 18 games last year. With speed, strength and mesmeric skill in his locker, Wolski is likely to be the team’s leading light this season in offensive play. Captain Shane Doan might have struggled with just 18 goals last season but the forward is one of the most enigmatic characters at the franchise. Doan’s courage and positional play on the ice were instrumental in the team’s overall performances and again, the team will look to their Captain for inspiration as they attempt to recreate last season’s heroics. While the franchise might be struggling and in financial disarray, the Coyotes will be as hungry as ever to bite back against those few who still doubt their ability to handle the pressure.

The Coyotes are listed with generous odds headed into the 2010-2011 NHL season… Click Here to place at bet on the Phoenix Coyotes to win the Stanley Cup right now at Sportsbook.com!

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Pens Take It All – What's Next?

June 13th, 2009 by Brent | 1 Comment | Filed in NHL News, Opinion

First things first, congratulations to captain Sidney Crosby and his Penguins for winning the 2009 Stanley Cup. Well done, guys, you put on quite a show. It was a hard fought series, right until the final seconds when goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury had to dive across the crease to rob Detroit captain Niklas Lidstrom of a sure goal. Wondering what Fleury was thinking when all that was happening? Take a look:

Now while Pittsburgh soaks up the next few days, you can guess what the other 29 teams will be thinking about. Next season, starting with the Draft, then the opening day of free agency. You can tell that’s what they’re thinking about just by looking at some of the stories that have been reported in the past few days.

Lets start with the Flyers and their goaltending situation. Earlier this week the Flyers announced the signing of Ray Emery to a one-year $1.5 million contract. Many see it as a low-risk, high-reward kind of deal. I think any time you deal with Ray Emery, the situation is high risk. I’m not saying he’s a bad guy, but he has the capability of bringing down a team from the inside. What’s the best scenario? He has a stellar year, the Flyers go far in the playoffs riding his play, and he asks for major bucks in the off season, or leaves the team. That being said, this is Emery’s second chance at an NHL career, so to speak. He blew his first chance in Ottawa, so you can bet he won’t want to screw up his second chance in Philly. I really hope he stays on his best behaviour and succeeds, I really do. Then today we are hit with another shocker. Darren Dreger of TSN reports that the Flyers are interested in bringing Robert Esche back! He had a stellar year playing in the KHL, posting a 1.87 goals against average and .912 save percentage. If that report turns out to be true, you can kiss Martin Biron and Antero Niittymaki’s butts goodbye.

But then we’re forced to wonder, is a Emery-Esche tandem that much of an upgrade over a Biron-Niittymaki tandem? Is it even an upgrade at all? Sure they save a few bucks under the cap, but is it really worth taking such a risk with your goaltending situation? Only time will tell.

Then there was the Score’s report of Pronger being traded to LA for Jack Johnson and the 5th overall pick in this year’s draft. I saw that as soon as I turned on my TV and sat back, thought about it for a second, then muttered “What the hell is Los Angeles thinking??” Sure, lets trade away the 5th overall pick (Who I have as Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson in the Everything Hockey mock draft) and Jack Johnson, a former 3rd overall pick, for an older Chris Pronger, who has 1 year left on his contract and makes just over 4 million dollars more than Johnson. I really really hope LA has some kind of plan for this, like signing him to an extension and naming him captain or something. Seems to me like they could have just kept Rob Blake, a much cheaper leader.

I said that 29 teams will be thinking of next season already, but one team has a very unique situation. The Phoenix Coyotes aren’t just worried about their product on the ice, they are also worried about where the ice they will skate on will be located. Let me begin by saying I am a completely biased Hamiltonian. I have refrained from writing about the deal because of my bias. I would thouroughly enjoy having an NHL team in this city, as would hundreds of other people I know, but especially me seeing as how it would open all sorts of doors for jobs, especially in the media. So when you make the argument about how moving the team out of Phoenix will take away hundreds of jobs, think of all the jobs it would open up, especially to people like me! We all know what’s happening in terms of the court preceedings and so-on, so I won’t bore you with that. I just want you to know that the fan support for an NHL team in Hamilton is very real. The team will be immensly popular, and the area is a hockey gold mine. Oh…and Jim Balsillie for Prime Minister!

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Everything Hockey Mock Draft 09 – Part 2

June 7th, 2009 by Brent | Comments Off | Filed in Draft Preview

Well, we are in the finals now. Good luck to both Pittsburgh and Detroit in their quest for the 08-09 crown. Detroit is up 3 games to 2 and looks to be well on their way towards back-to-back Stanley Cups. Too bad it seems like most people I know are cheering for Sidney Crosby and his Penguins to win. I would like to see that as well, but more importantly, I want to see good hockey, and 7 games. Hopefully some overtime as well, if that’s not too much to ask.

Now, without further ado, here are picks #6-#10 in the Everything Hockey Mock Draft 09:

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