Try this: ask all your hockey friends who they think will be the worst team in the NHL next season...
Invariably you'll find the answer to be "the Phoenix Coyotes".
I feel for their few, long-suffering fans, I really do. The Franchise seemed to take a step in the right direction this summer when they axed Mike Barnett. But since then, they've released some players, put Nick Boynton on waivers and signed Mike York. That's it as far as I know.
That leaves the Coyotes with 8 signed NHL-caliber forwards (inluding the likes of Freddy Sjostrom, Mike Zigomanis and Kevyn Adams), 4 NHL caliber defensemen (including the aforementioned Boynton) and a starting goaltender named Mikael Tellqvist. To my knowledge, they haven't even re-signed Keith Ballard yet, one of their few highly valuable young assets (now there's a guy worth tendering an offer sheet to).
Ugly. At least Oilers fans will be able to look down their noses at someone this upcoming season. With apologies to Shane Doan, if something quite drastic doesn't happen between now and October, Phoenix will be hard pressed to win 20 games all year. As it stands, they have a 140 goal roster with a sub-0.900SV% goaltender. Not a winning formula. Hell, they need to spend another $10M+ just to get to the salary cap basement.
With the latter point in mind, I think Tony Amonte's career might find a stay of execution this summer - simply because the Coyotes have to fill their roster with some contracts. Maybe Friesen too.
On that note, here's Mirtles big UFA "who's left" list. What other unwanted pariahs will make their way down south this summer? Yashin? Niinimaa? Auld? Stefan?
What a hideous patch-work quilt that roster's going to end up being. Gretzky coaching this group next year will be akin to Michaelangelo sculpting marble with a carrot and a wet paper bag.
The future is grim for this organization Im afraid. Perhaps a chance at drafting Tavares is all Coyotes fans have to look forward to...
