Selling The Coyotes

A lot of numbers were floating around Glendale, Arizona, the home of the Phoenix Coyotes, during the NHL’s 2009 offseason:

200, as in the estimated millions of dollars the franchise has lost since 2001.

212.5, as in the millions of dollars RIM kingpin Jim Balsillie offered, without the NHL’s knowledge let alone approval, to purchase the franchise from owner Jerry Moyes, a bankrupt shell of a trucking service *cough* “magnate” *cough*.

140, as in the reported millions of dollars the NHL offered to purchase the franchise, with the intent of keeping the dogs in the desert.

45, as in the number of miles between Buffalo, New York, home of the Sabres and Hamilton, Ontario, Balsillie’s proposed relocation site for the Coyotes.

99, as in the former playing number of Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky, arguably the greatest hockey player of all time.

161, as in the number of losses over The Great One’s Magic Johnson-esque four-year run behind the bench. And maybe the most important number on the list.

Ultimately, four potential buyers lined the field – the league, Balsillie, Chicago Bulls owner and title run spike strip Jerry Reinsdorf, and a group known as Ice Edge Holdings – and none were approved by bankruptcy court Judge Redfield Baum.

A win for the NHL’s right to approve franchise ownership and placement was equally a relief for local fans and, certainly, the players as the cloud of potentially wearing sweaters that read “Hamilton SwiftBerrys” lifted and the season could begin. And in one of the most surprising, and best, stories of the season so far, the Coyotes have taken the season by the throat – a 5-2-0 start as of this post has them sitting in 7th place in the Western Conference and one point back of the hot and cold San Jose Sharks in the Pacific Division.

How’s that, you ask? It’s the defense, Mr. Balsi- er, stupid. And puck possession. Let the players finally throw some of their own numbers around:

10, as in the number of goals allowed through 7 games, between goalies Ilya Bryzgalov (7) and Jason LaBarbera (2).

1.43, as in the Coyotes GAA. That’s #1 in the league, sports fans, up 23 spots from the 24th ranked 3.04 GAA in 2008-09.

26.9, as in the Coyotes’ Shots Against Per Game average, good for 5th in the league and a significant improvement over last season’s 31.6 SA/G. Makes sense – the less shots you allow, the fewer goals you should give up.

84, as in the Coyotes’ 2009-10 Penalty Kill % through 7 games, good for a respectable 11th in the league. Last season this was the 28th ranked unit in the league at 76.8%.

52.8, as in the Coyotes’ Face-off Win % so far in 2009-10, tied for fifth in the league. In 2008-09 the Coyotes ranked dead last in FOW% with a 44.8%.

30, as in the number of aforementioned super-goalie Ilya Brzygalov. Bryz leads the league in Save % (.953) and GAA (7) among the #1s in the league. Critics will note he’s only faced 148 shots (see that # 26.9), but prorating his numbers with the number of shots that current league leader Mikka Kiprusoff has faced, 265, still leaves him with an outstanding 12.5 GA and a 2.04 GA.

2, 18 & 33, as in the numbers, respectively, of offseason defensive acquisitions Jim Vandermeer, Sami Lepisto and Adrian Aucoin (no relation to the Caps’ Keith, Bears fans). A couple of gritty veterans in Vandermeer and Aucoin with career +/-s of +4 and +24, and a young, confident and slick-skating Finn in Lepisto whose offensive prowess could make his acquisition for a 5th rounder from the Capitals a real steal.

The defense is loaded with experience and athleticism, and just smart hockey sense. But let’s not let the defense steal the show…

14 & 17, as in the numbers of exciting newly signed wingers Taylor Pyatt and Radim Vrbata – Pyatt coming over from Vancouver after a pair of 37 point seasons playing alongside the Sedin twins, and the electric Vrbata returning to the team that drafted him and already leading the team with 3 goals.

23.75, as in the average age of the young guns that not only have a hand in the Coyotes current early success, but figure to play major roles in coming seasons – RW Peter Mueller (21), C Martin Hanzal (22), LW Lauri Korpikoski (23), D Keith Yandle (23), C Daniel Winnik (24), Lepisto (25), RW Scottie Upshall (26) and D and alternate captain Zbynek Michalek (26).

19, as in the number of career Winnipeg Jet/Phoenix Coyote left winger Shane Doan – one of the most respected players and captains in the league who’s off to a great start with 6 points in 7 games and attacking the season the only way he knows how – with the sack and controlled reckless abandon with which he laid into the Blue Jackets’ Jason Chimera in the Coyotes’ home opener.

17,532, as in the number of the announced crowd for said sold-out home opener in Glendale – a disheartening 2-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, but a served notice that there are living, breathing hockey fans here in the desert.

1, as in the number of guys dressed as the pope at the White-Out home opener. Enter your “need the help” and “don’t have a prayer” jokes here. But it’s also the number of catch-phrases picking up steam around the team. “Pack mentality” is that punny gem from head coach Dave Tippett, the man who has molded this group of NHL almost-nomads to his liking, a pretty impressive feat for a man given the job just weeks before the season began. He’s got them focused and believing in the system.

Will it last? Who knows. It’s early and speculation and wonder is half the fun right? But it may be that Tippett’s also instilled a bit of business sense in Glendale: the Phoenix Coyotes don’t need to be sold. They’re selling themselves. And you should be buying.