Pros & Cons: Colorado Avalanche vs San Jose Sharks
Our newest feature, Pros and Cons, holds a debate between two of our featured writers as they make an argument for each team in the series. We will continue this series throughout the playoffs as we delve deeper into how these two teams will interact.
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, Colorado Avalanche, NHLHS Features, Northwest, Pacific, Playoff Coverage, San Jose Sharks, Western Conference Tags: Brandon Yip, Chris Stewart, Craig Anderson, Dany Heatley, Devin Setoguchi, Evgeni Nabokov, Joe Thornton, Matt Duchene, Patrick Marleau, Paul Stastny, Peter Mueller, Ryan O'Reilly, Stephane Yelle, T.J. Galiardi, Thomas Greiss, Todd McLellan
The Value of: Peter Mueller
NHL Hot Stove presents it’s “The Value Of” series which will look at some of the names discussed around the NHL who likely will be moved at the March 3rd trade deadline.
In the beginning of the 2008-2009 season nobody in Arizona would think about trading away their top young player: Peter Mueller. The former eighth overall selection potted 54 points in his rookie season, only two years after his draft year.
Categories: Atlantic, By Teams, Deadline Speculation, Eastern Conference, New York Rangers, Pacific, Phoenix Coyotes, Value Of:, Western Conference Tags: Bobby Sanguinetti, Brad Boyes, Christopher Higgins, Dave Tippett, Dennis Wideman, Don Maloney, Lauri Korpikoski, Peter Mueller, Robert Lang
The New Coyotes
After a hectic and worrisome summer, the Phoenix Coyotes came into the 2009-2010 season completely revamped. With a new coach, Dave Tippett, and a new owner, the Coyotes have remodeled their roster, acquiring fourteen of its 25 players in the year 2009.
The new roster has proven to be a successful change, as the Coyotes with 45 games played sit fourth in the Western Conference with 26 wins, and 56 points. They are on pace to shatter the Phoenix Coyotes franchise record, of 95 points (achieved in the 2001-2002 season)*, with a total of 106 points. If the Coyotes want to establish the Coyotes fan support in Arizona, they will need to make the playoffs—and ideally, win the first round. Through half the season, the Coyotes have proven they are a new, rejuvenated team (average age of team is 27.8 years) that can win.
Though attendance has not been outstanding this season at Jobing.com Arena, the Coyotes have posted a great home record (16-6-1), and fared decently on the road (10-8-3). Hopefully the days of 5,000 fans in attendance are gone, as they will need the support to continue winning.
Though the Coyotes dropped their home opener to the Columbus Blue Jackets (2-0), bringing back the White-Out showed how great the momentum and energy can feel when the Coyotes play in front of a nearly sell-out crowd.
Categories: Around the League Tags: Adrian Aucoin, Daniel Carcillo, Daniel Winnik, Dave Tippett, Ed Jovanovski, Ilya Bryzgalov, Jason LaBarbera, Martin Brodeur, Martin Hanzal, Matthew Lombardi, Paul Bissonnette, Peter Mueller, Petr Prucha, Robert Lang, Ryan Miller, Sami Lepisto, Scottie Upshall, Shane Doan, Wayne Gretzky, Zbynek Michalek
Peter Mueller on His Way to Broadway?
Look closely at the picture to the right, it may be the last time you see Peter Mueller in a Coyotes jersey.
The 21-year-old native of Bloomington, Minnesota continues to baffle both his coaching staff and fans alike with his minimal effort and limited offensive production. With only one goal and six points all season, Mueller sits on the hot seat almost begging GM Don Maloney to trade him elsewhere.
If you are keeping score at home, those totals project to an impressive three goals and 18 points.
Since the inception of Dave Tippett into the coaching staff, the entire Coyotes organization seems to thrive. Tippett implemented his system quickly as he took over in preseason with little time to spare. The system teaches his youngsters solid two-way play and evidently turned Ilya Bryzgalov into a Vezina Trophy candidate.
Meanwhile Mueller’s totals have only plummeted from a successful rookie campaign under Wayne Gretzky. Greatly slowing down over the second portion of last season many people had high hopes the talented youngster would turn it around. The right wing played 28 games before watching from the press box since December 14th.
So what will Maloney do with Mueller?
Categories: Atlantic, By Teams, Eastern Conference, New York Rangers, Pacific, Phoenix Coyotes, Western Conference Tags: Bobby Sanguinetti, Christopher Higgins, Dave Tippett, Don Maloney, Ilya Bryzgalov, Jonathan Toews, Jordan Staal, New York Rangers, Peter Mueller, Phil Kessel, Phoenix Coyotes, Vincent Lecavalier, Wayne Gretzky
Trade Rumors Hitting the Presses
Busy day in the rumor market, lets take out our magnifying glasses and take a closer look to the Hot Stove:
Larry Brooks of The New York Post discusses the shortcomings on the current Rangers roster. The controversial reporter notes that the pieces that may have value are the same that the team wants to keep.
Most importantly he discusses a trade proposal supposedly between GM Glen Sather and former assistant and current Coyotes GM Don Maloney. Sather would send AHL defenseman and promising defensive prospect Bobby Sanguinetti for struggling forward Peter Mueller.
Although the former 8th overall pick managed a measly six points in his first 26 games it will take more to land him. Still young at 21 years of age, Mueller averaged 48 points through his first two seasons. Regardless of his slump he remains a vital part of a young Coyotes core and probably would not be moved until the trade deadline if at all.
Categories: Atlantic, By Teams, Central, Columbus Blue Jackets, Eastern Conference, New York Rangers, Northeast, Ottawa Senators, Pacific, Phoenix Coyotes, Western Conference Tags: Aaron Portzline, Bobby Sanguinetti, Brian Lee, Columbus Blue Jackets, Don Maloney, Glen Sather, Larry Brooks, New York Rangers, Nikita Filatov, Ottawa Senators, Peter Mueller, Phoenix Coyotes, Scott Howson, The New York Post
