Celebrated our country’s birthday in grand style with most of the ususal suspects and some family from Tucson. Interesting mix of people from lots of walks of life, Much like our country, it was a melting pot event. I’d like to take the time to send a quick shout out to all you service folks who drop by to keep up with the Coyotes from far away places! Thank you all for all you do to make America one of the greatest countries on earth. If it wasn’t for the warriors, no one else would have the freedoms and the great life we all enjoyed so well yesterday.

Well its back to work for me. Sizing up how we did during the last few weeks is not an easy task.

Draft day we did phenomenally. Our new rookies have seriously got it goin on. From Bods (#8) to Billingsley (#189) we picked up some quality kids, some kids who have skills, a few with hockey pedigrees and mostly kids who could someday stand on Coyotes ice and make us all proud. I have to say it was definitely and A grade run.

Our free agent run is a very mixed bag in my eyes. Was I disappointed? I have to be truthful, yes. I thought we would concentrate about 6 or 7 mill on 2 fair quality, proven defensemen. But there is a reason that I sit here typing and GMDM is out there shopping. We picked up Sauer (to replace our beloved Ballard) and Hale (to replace the stalwart Boynton) and we will probably be running 7 defensemen as Jonesy and Yandle try to step up into expanded roles alongside Z, Jovo and DMo.

These guys aren’t on many people’s radars (certainly were’nt on mine). But Sauer and Hale were certainly on GMDMs since he let it be known that Sauer was his first pick at D and although Hale hasn’t scored that life changing 1st NHL goal yet, I think GMDM is thinking THIS will be the year. I like Sauer’s stats, I like his attitude (”You can’t let any people take liberties on your players, no matter what. You have to be physical right back at them. If they pick on your top guys, whoever we’re playing, you make them pay twice as much.”)I think I’m gonna like this guy… a lot.

On the forward side of free agency, I didn’t even know there was gonna be one and I am still not sure there shoulda been but when GMDM says things like (”Todd’s a guy that has played with some good players, he drives to the net, provides a presence, not unlike Danny Winnik, only he’s big and thick and strong and gives us a presence, so I like the fit. So far we have done two things that we started out to help - we helped our defense and gave ourselves a little more toughness up front.”) you gotta give it the benefit of the doubt.

Given that we know we needed more physical presence (due to the very, very young stature of the team for the next 3 years) and that we definitely need someone who not only understands the terms, drive to the net and crease camping and that we are feeling a pinch on our blue line but have plenty of D coming up soon, all three signings make sense. So I’ll give our FA activities a B- for now and see how it all shakes out when the roster makes its debut.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/coyotes/articles/2008/07/01/20080701yotes-sauer.html

http://coyotes.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=367788

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/119932
 

The second day of the draft was just as crazy if not crazier than the first. Lots of trading and action. With so much depth, the swinging for the fences didn’t really start until the 4th and 5th rounds.

we had no 5th round pick - I think it went to TOR?

I really hope Tiki pans out because the Ducks picked a couple of kids w/ our traded picks that I wouldn’t have minded having in the system at all. We didn’t bother swinging for any fences thank goodness. We picked up solid kids with potential or bloodlines or both. Nobody startling and off the charts really. Seriously, that far down they start looking the same to me so except for maybe someone like Jenks or Azevedo still being available I think we picked just fine.

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It’s finally here! (I need cheering icon or emoticons) Draft day and we have 8th pick for today. No drama for the #1 overall but lots of drama available for the rest of the round.

With Stamkos still leading the pack and TBL (not being fools) will watch him don the blue lightning bolt. But everything after that will be interesting. Deep in defenseman and surprisingly interesting forwards, I expect this draft round to be complex.

Doughty, Bogosian, Schenn, Myers aand Pietrangelo are all making a case for themselves and the remainder of the top 5 spots. But Filatov, Boedker, Wilson and Hodgson will figure in that mix heavily.

I want a forward…specifically Filatov or Boedker. But of course the organization is touting the defensive angle. They are also saying they will be going for an NHL ready player which knocks a couple of my hopefuls off the list. That and the fact that most of the best DMen are BPA for the top 6 spots… but maybe Pietrangelo falls?

Personally, this has to be THE most anticipated draft of my hockey loving career.

With home repairs and needing to get out of the house to get to the draft party I neglected to post that entry… d’oh

But I’ll just leave it at the top of this one… impressions, thoughts and whatnot of Day 1 Round 1 Draft 2008

So we get to Upper Deck and it is really small looking, the sports bettors are all sprawled lazily throughout the upstairs portion of the bar and barely look up as we troup in. We congregate and secure space for the 14 expected members of the Patio 6 Posse (we actually ended up being like 25 fanatics as sweeties like Carcillo1 from theNHLarena.com joined us, along with a visiting Aussie favorite DesertDingo from the LockerRoom, WhiteTiger and Ghosthoffa from the CoyotesCorner.net, Synergy from HFBoards as well as many others) It almost felt like a hockey game where everyone gathers before hand to talk Yotes and speculate.

We got introduced to the new radio folks. They have good sense of humor and were upbeat and approachable throughout the event. Heeter and Louie were their regular fun and crazy selves. Desert Dingo and SCOTT had a lot of fun razzin the two of them and exchanging old tyme hockey palaver.

DMO and Mules showed up to sign autographs and do the picture thang. Dmo was his lively and sweet self. Mules however was chillin and sportin a new do… A faux hawk! and a great new tat too. *pics will be posted as soon as BTinAZ can get them processed for us.*

There was a bit of confusion at the start, Xtra910 was doing live broadcast simultaneously

and at times we could not hear the VS broadcast. But then everything settled down… in an almost eerie kind of lull as the big Coyotes trade flashed up on the screen…

OLLIE JOKINEN HAS BEEN TRADED TO PHOENIX!

the place lit up like a roman candle. But just as the high fives began to circulate throughout the room, we saw the fine print and realized that we lost Bally and Boynk in the deal. I swear it was like a tsunami of grief. First disbelief, then denial, then anger… then acceptance (very reluctant acceptance) but we all know you gotta give to get in this business. I for one am just thankful the GMDM pays less than most GMs, when it comes to bargain hunting GMDM is a championship shopper.

Good luck and godspeed Boynton and Bally. Florida better appreciate you two. You will be missed… sorely missed.

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