The big news on the Coyotes front is that they are on the verge of their first playoff spot in eight years. But there is old news that remains relevant: General Manager Don Maloney will not sacrifice what he considers top assets to bring in a player who might be gone at season’s end.

Money is not the issue for Maloney; it’s his belief that success is built and then ensured through a solid foundation. Any deal he makes would fit that parameter.

“I still believe we are growing this franchise,” he said. “We expect to win. We’re a playoff team, and we think when we get there we have a chance to win, so that’s why we’re looking (for) help, but . . . the price right now on some of these players, that’s the challenge.

“This isn’t a money decision for us right now. We’ve been able to save enough in our budget to give ourselves room for paying the next six weeks. This is more of the asset price that we have to give up to acquire, and a second-round pick and prospect for a guy for six weeks, that doesn’t cut it for me at all.

“That’s where maybe somebody else is wiling to pay, but I’m not. We think we’re good enough, and we like the group. If we can find a way to be better, we’ll do it.”

Click here to read the full article – By Arizona Republic

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Nineteen games separate the Coyotes from their first playoff berth in eight years. They have had a few chances in the interim but always seemed to find a way to lose.

They finished play before the Olympic break in fourth place in the Western Conference with 79 points, equaling last season’s total. The Coyotes are 11 points ahead of No. 9 Dallas and No. 10 Detroit,both with 21 games left.

It took 91 points to make the West playoffs a year ago, but that number likely will not be enough this time. The Coyotes do not need perfection: They can go 8-8-3 and finish with 98 points; the Stars and Red Wings could storm to the finish line with 15-6 records and only match that number.

Teams can resume trading after the break, and with Scottie Upshall (knee) out for the season, the Coyotes could be active.

Click here to read the full article – By Arizona Republic

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Radim Vrbata joked that when the Coyotes journey to the Czech Republic they could save money by staying at his house. “We’ll have a party there,” he said.

The Coyotes will play the Boston Bruins on Oct. 9-10 in Prague to conclude the NHL’s overseas schedule. The Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild meet in Helsinki Oct. 7-8; and the Columbus Blue Jackets face the San Jose Sharks in Stockholm Oct. 8-9.

“I played a game there (Prague) with Tampa last year,” Vrbata said. “I think it’s going to be exciting, a lot of travel but once you’re there, especially for us Czech guys, it’s going to be special.”

Coach Dave Tippett has been to the Czech Republic before, and during the lockout worked with a team in Prague. He said the trip will bring challenges.

“I haven’t dug into it enough yet, but I’ve talked to a lot of the coaches who have gone over there, just to find out what they thought went right, went wrong on their trip, just to make sure we’re on top of everything,” he said.

“With the amount of Czech players we have, it will be a great trip for them.”

Click here to read the full article – By Arizona Republic

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Coyotes coach Dave Tippett appreciated the opportunity to chat with friends from around the rink and visit with his daughter when he made his first trip to Dallas on Sunday night as a coach for the visiting team.

“I have a lot of great memories but once the puck dropped, it was just game on again, and I really enjoyed the way our guys played,” Tippett said following the Coyotes’ 4-2 win against the Stars.

The win maintained the Coyotes’ hold on fourth place in the Western Conference and also marked the first game without forward Scottie Upshall, who is out indefinitely with a torn ACL. He is awaiting surgery.

“He’s one of those guys when the game kinda isn’t going the right direction for you, he has the ability to grab that back just with a burst of energy, with a great play,” Tippett said. “He’s definitely a player that will be missed.”

Coyotes captain Shane Doan said Upshall’s “kamikaze” style will be hard to replace.

“We always tease him about how excited he is when he scores, he loves to score, and that’s what makes ‘Uppy’ so valuable to us,” Doan explained.

Click here to read the full article – By Arizona Republic

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Glendale City Manager Ed Beasley is expected to meet as early as next week with an investment group interested in buying the Phoenix Coyotes.

Montreal businessman Steve Stotland met with National Hockey League officials earlier this month.

He went public with his interest last week. Although acting as spokesman for the investors, called Camelback Hockey Group, Stotland said he would be a 15-20 percent shareholder. The rest of the yet undisclosed four or five investors would be from the Valley, he said.

“Life is short, dream big,” said Stotland, as he shrugged off skeptics who question why he would chase a team that has struggled financially.

Click here to read the full article – By Arizona Republic

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It appears as though Nikita Filatov has started a trend.

Phoenix Coyotes’ prospect Viktor Tikhonov has left the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL and has returned to Russia to join CSKA Moscow of the KHL.

Tikhonov has been seen in the stands of a KHL game between Spartak and CSKA, watching with his grandfather, the legendary Soviet National team coach Viktor Tikhonov.

It is rumoured that Tikhonov will finish the season in Russia before returning to North America next year to try and crack the Coyotes roster.

Click here to read the full article – By TSN.ca

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The expected Coyotes fourth line of Lauri Korpikoski, Vernon Fiddler and Daniel Winnik moved up a couple notches Saturday night, and they came through with a quality effort.

“I thought they were a good line,” coach Dave Tippett said. “They had a couple shifts early where they got run around their end a little bit, but that line was a solid line for us most of the night, controlled a lot of pucks, and it’s great to see them get rewarded with a (Winnik) goal.”

Throughout his career, Fiddler has had a knack of winning faceoffs, and he prevailed in 12 of 15 against the Kings.

“Vern to me is one of those players that at the end of the day helps you win,” Tippett said. “Sometimes it’s not with scoring. He’s just a solid, solid competitor. He can put him in a lot of situations that he’ll get the job done for you.”

Click here to read the full article – By Jim Gintonio of Arizona Republic

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In Paul Bissonnette, the Coyotes have a tough player not afraid to mix it up.

Bissonnette played 15 games with 22 penalty minutes last season for the Penguins. He was plucked off the waiver wire this week.

At all his stops, his outlook has remained the same.

“I know my role, and I don’t really look at the guys or what they thought,” he said. “Let’s say for instance, a guy like (Raitis) Ivanans (6-4, 250-pound Kings forward), was going to take a run at one of our guys, I wouldn’t be shy to ask him (to fight) . . .

“Is he a big, strong guy, and can he hurt you? Yeah, he can, but that’s the risk of my job, and I know that, and that’s OK.”

Tippett noted how Bissonnette, a converted defenseman, has responded to a new situation.

Click here to read the full article – By Jim Gintonio of Arizona Republic

The future for Coyotes center Martin Hanzal is open-ended, and the big Czech has made a definite impression on coach Dave Tippett.

“I think he’s a great player,” Tippett said. “He’s a big strong guy that I think we’re just starting to get into what he can do. “

Hanzal, entering his third year at 6-foot-6 and 228 pounds, is bigger and stronger than a year ago, when the early part of his season was compromised as he was recovered from back surgery. He finished with 11 goals and 31 points in 74 games, but his major contributions came defensively, where he became adept at shutting down opponents’ big centers and winning faceoffs.

He’ll likely start the season on the “Czech Line” with Radim Vrbata and Petr Prucha.

“He wants to be a top player,” Tippett said. “I like that about him. He says he wants to be a go-to guy, and we’ll put him in some of those positions.

“I think there’s a lot of room for improvement offensively from him, but he’s got to remember that he’s going to be a strong two-way player, has the ability to play against top players but also has the ability to produce offense from his role on our team.”

Click here to read the full article – By Jim Gintonio of Arizona Republic

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With a nasty injury behind him, veteran center Robert Lang is eager join a Coyotes team that he says could be a surprise this season.

“I think people look at this team and say, ‘Oh, yeah, it’s a younger team and last year and this and that,” Lang said, “but I think they have a real solid goalie (Ilya Bryzgalov), and if you look at this team now, they have a few veteran players and the younger guys are a year older, have a year behind them. If we do our job, we could do well.”

Lang, 38, signed a one-year contract Tuesday.

The 15-year veteran had registered 50 or more points for eight consecutive seasons. Last season, he had 18 goals and 39 points in 50 games for the Canadiens before his Achilles’ tendon was severed.

The 6-foot-3, 217-pounder has appeared in 925 games with seven teams (252 goals, 674 points):Los Angeles, Boston, Pittsburgh, Washington, Detroit, Chicago and Montreal, with a plus-59 rating. He also has appeared in 87 postseason games.

Click here to read the full article – By Jim Gintonio of Arizona Republic

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