30 for 30 in 30 - Phoenix Coyotes

**AS OF TIME OF WRITING**

TJ Molland: With ownership still an issue it makes life for the Phoenix Coyotes so much more difficult. With so much uncertainty surrounding the team it makes it difficult to attract free agents, and for that matter, sign your own free agents. Captain (maybe soon to be ex-captain if they don't re-sign him) Shane Doan has only ever played for the Coyotes/Original Jets and has stated he would like to stay with the franchise. But with ownership issues STILL an issue it is making himuncertain of his future.

It is going to be a crazy off-season for the Coyotes as a lot of key players are up for contracts. Captain Doan, team point leader Ray Whitney and key veteran defensemen Adrian Aucoin and Michal Rozsival are all unrestricted free agents. Carrying a combined $15 millionish in salary they present an interesting conundrum for whoever ends up being the new owner. Signing all those guys will get you to the projected cap floor, but will these guys be offered contracts for one year just to make ends meet, or are they serious about locking players up long-term (just give Doan the 4 or 5 year contract he wants so he can finish his career with the franchise he started with!!).

It's a good thing the Coyotes have a great coaching staff who knows how to make the most out of little to no talent. Coach Dave Tippet is a genius at getting the most out of his teams. This year could be another year where he has not much to work with but will be required to keep hockey entertaining in the desert

Bik Nizzar: Dave Tippet has been remarkable with this team. Seriously, how is this team even competitive let alone ending up in the Western Conference Finals? Have you SEEN this team?!!? Taylor Pyatt is on this team. When has that ever been a recipe for success...

It was so great to see Shane Doan win a round, and you could just see how delighted he was to have all his work pay-off and then the team go on a mini-run. It’d be a crying shame if he left now. They need to do everything in their power to get him re-signed, and fast. I know they kind of hold the hammer cause Doan obviously wants to play there and finish his career there, but do you really want him getting to July 1st and getting even a whiff of some of the money/opportunity he might see?! He’s never mentioned amongst the top UFA’s because it’s just assumed he’ll end up back in Phoenix, but we’re 4 days away from July 1st.... tick tock Phoenix.

The name of the game is always going to be goal-scoring for this team. I know it begins and ends with defense and structure for this team, but if they don’t figure out how to score goals on the powerplay, the margin of error you create for yourself is so slim. They were 2nd to last in Power-Play % (which is really surprising and should improve next year because they’ve got 2 very capable powerplay QB’s in Keith Yandle and Oliver Ekman-Larsson) but now you’re looking at a team potentially without Ray Whitney, and it’s not like they’re flush with offensive prospects coming up through the ranks. Is it just that simple for this team – re-sign what you have and keep the status quo? Or do they try to dip into the free agent market, if they have the funds for it?

TJ Molland: They should be going to the free agency market to get some added help. But the cold reality is they won't be able to compete money wise for any big name. I mean look at their salary structure. Kieth Yandle is their highest paid player at $5.25 million. They don't go out and spend money recklessly, it just isn't in the budget. The other issue is not too many players are keen on going to a team with no owner.

Really why don't they just make contract offers to the few players they are losing. Doan to start obviously. Whitney would be a close second. Then convince Aucoin and Rozsival to come back for the same pay. You pretty much have the same team, with a bit more experience and understanding of what it takes to get close to playing for the Stanley Cup.

For the few holes you still have, there is enough prospects to fill the void. Brendan Shinnimin, a free agent signing if you can believe it, was the top scorer in the WHL this year. The 21 year old could be pushing for a roster spot this fall, and could be an offensive boost to a mediocre crop of forwards. On the back-end they have two former first rounders in Brandon Gormley and David Rundblad, both close to being NHL ready. So depth is there if they need to stay internal.

Bik Nizzar: Their defensive depth is INCREDIBLE. I don’t think you NEEEEED Aucion or Rozsival back. David Runblad played a bit for Ottawa last year, and had one of the best passes I saw all year. Oh my goodness, a pass that nice needs to be viewed twice, hold on........................................ Ok I’m back. Considering they have Yandle, Rusty Klelsa, Derek Morris, Ekman-Larsson, and just traded for Zbynek Michalek from Pittsburgh... That’s a decent top 5; add in Gormley and Rundblad... That’s a good top 7 and will give the latter 2 room to grow into bigger roles with top level play.

Doesn’t the whole ownership issue make “fixing” this team soooo difficult. Any resolution you want to propose involves spending money, and seeing as how they’re a budget team, isn’t the only resolution to keep the same group together but hope this time the bounces go your way?

They do have a few nice pieces to work with. Martin Hanzal doesn’t get anywhere near the amount of credit he deserves. Very underrated player and does so much good work in both zones. Radim Vrbata had 35 goals last year....... Radim ----- Vrbata..... Wow. He broke the 60 point barrier for the first time in his career. So basically what I’m getting to in a round-about way is – Bring back Doan, Whitney, and you might be able to replicate what happened last season.