2008–09 Phoenix Coyotes season NHL hockey team season
The 2008–09 Phoenix Coyotes season was the team's 37th season, 30th season in the National Hockey League and 13th season as the Phoenix Coyotes. It saw the Coyotes attempt to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2002 . However, during the month of March, they were eliminated from the playoffs, and ended up 13th in the NHL's Western Conference .
Preseason
The Phoenix Coyotes played eight preseason exhibition games to prepare for the regular season. Three games were at home, and the other five were on the road, including the franchise's first game back in Winnipeg , Manitoba , since the team moved from there to Phoenix in 1996. The Coyotes finished the preseason with a 2–5–1 record.
2008 Preseason Game Log: 2–5–1 (Home: 2–2–0; Road: 0–3–1)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Recap
1
September 22
Phoenix
4–6
Los Angeles
Montoya
8,221
0–1–0
[1]
2
September 24
Calgary
3–2
Phoenix
?
15,015 (Winnipeg)
0–2–0
[2]
3
September 25
Phoenix
1–3
Calgary
Tellqvist
19,289
0–3–0
[3]
4
September 27
Anaheim
3–1
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
8,417
0–4–0
[4]
5
September 29
San Jose
1–5
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
7,305
1–4–0
[5]
6
September 30
Phoenix
3–4
San Jose
OT
Montoya
15,843
1–4–1
[6]
7
October 3
Phoenix
1–4
Anaheim
Tellqvist
16,371
1–5–1
[7]
8
October 4
Los Angeles
2–5
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
8,621
2–5–1
[8]
Regular season
On December 23, the Toronto -based The Globe and Mail newspaper reported that the Phoenix Coyotes team was receiving financial assistance from the NHL in the form of advances on League revenues. The Coyotes have pledged all of their assets to New York company SOF Investments LP to cover an estimated debt of $80 million. The team has lost an estimated $200 million since 2001 and may lose $30 million this season. One of the team's owners, Jerry Moyes ' principal source of revenue, Swift Transportation, is also in financial difficulty.[ 1] ESPN reported that the League has become involved with the operations of the Coyotes and their revenues. The NHL apparently wants to work with the City of Glendale , which owns Jobing.com Arena and receives revenues from the team. If no investors are interested in keeping the team in Phoenix, Kansas City , Winnipeg or Hamilton will likely be healthier destinations for the franchise to relocate. ESPN also reported that Moyes wants to sell his share of the team and that Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer is a possible interested purchaser.[ 2]
Divisional standings
[ 3]
Note: No. = Division rank, CR = Conference rank, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.
Conference standings
bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, p – Presidents' Trophy winner
CE – Central Division, NW – Northwest Division, PA – Pacific Division
Schedule and results
2008–09 Game Log
October: 4–4–0 (Home: 3–1–0; Road: 1–3–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
1
October 11
Columbus
1–3
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
17,125
1–0–0
2
[9]
2
October 12
Phoenix
4–2
Anaheim
Bryzgalov
17,174
2–0–0
4
[10]
3
October 15
Phoenix
1–4
Chicago
Bryzgalov
20,522
2–1–0
4
[11]
4
October 17
Phoenix
3–6
Ottawa
Bryzgalov
20,179
2–2–0
4
[12]
5
October 18
Phoenix
1–4
Montreal
Bryzgalov
21,273
2–3–0
4
[13]
6
October 23
Washington
1–2
Phoenix
Tellqvist
14,722
3–3–0
6
[14]
7
October 25
Calgary
4–1
Phoenix
Tellqvist
15,038
3–4–0
6
[15]
8
October 30
Pittsburgh
1–4
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
15,178
4–4–0
8
[16]
November: 6–7–2 (Home: 3–3–1; Road: 3–4–1)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
9
November 1
Minnesota
3–2
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
14,817
4–5–0
8
[17]
10
November 4
Phoenix
4–2
Calgary
Bryzgalov
19,289
5–5–0
10
[18]
11
November 6
Phoenix
0–1
Vancouver
Bryzgalov
18,630
5–6–0
10
[19]
12
November 8
Florida
1–4
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
14,807
6–6–0
12
[20]
13
November 9
San Jose
2–4
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
15,056
7–6–0
14
[21]
14
November 12
Phoenix
5–2
Columbus
Bryzgalov
11,350
8–6–0
16
[22]
15
November 13
Phoenix
0–4
Minnesota
Bryzgalov
18,568
8–7–0
16
[23]
16
November 15
Dallas
3–2
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
15,508
8–8–0
16
[24]
17
November 18
Chicago
3–2
Phoenix
SO
Bryzgalov
14,682
8–8–1
17
[25]
18
November 21
Phoenix
2–5
Carolina
Bryzgalov
14,848
8–9–1
17
[26]
19
November 22
Phoenix
3–4
Philadelphia
OT
Tellqvist
19,520
8–9–2
18
[27]
20
November 24
Phoenix
1–4
NY Rangers
Bryzgalov
18,200
8–10–2
18
[28]
21
November 26
Phoenix
3–2
Columbus
Tellqvist
14,569
9–10–2
20
[29]
22
November 28
Colorado
1–2
Phoenix
Tellqvist
14,031
10–10–2
22
[30]
23
November 29
San Jose
3–2
Phoenix
Tellqvist
14,007
10–11–2
22
[31]
December: 8–4–3 (Home: 6–1–1; Road: 2–3–2)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
24
December 2
Los Angeles
2–4
Phoenix
Tellqvist
11,473
11–11–2
24
[32]
25
December 4
Toronto
3–6
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
13,777
12–11–2
26
[33]
26
December 6
Phoenix
3–4
St. Louis
Bryzgalov
19,150
12–12–2
26
[34]
27
December 7
Phoenix
1–7
Chicago
Bryzgalov
21,217
12–13–2
26
[35]
28
December 10
Phoenix
5–3
Dallas
Bryzgalov
16,374
13–13–2
28
[36]
29
December 11
Minnesota
1–3
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
13,296
14–13–2
30
[37]
30
December 13
Detroit
5–4
Phoenix
SO
Bryzgalov
16,339
14–13–3
31
[38]
31
December 16
Phoenix
1–2
Dallas
OT
Bryzgalov
15,387
14–13–4
32
[39]
32
December 18
Nashville
1–2
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
14,193
15–13–4
34
[40]
33
December 20
Columbus
0–2
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
16,125
16–13–4
36
[41]
34
December 22
Phoenix
2–4
Edmonton
Tellqvist
16,839
16–14–4
36
[42]
35
December 23
Phoenix
4–5
Colorado
OT
Bryzgalov
14,625
16–14–5
37
[43]
36
December 26
Phoenix
2–1
Los Angeles
Bryzgalov
18,118
17–14–5
39
[44]
37
December 27
Los Angeles
4–0
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
16,199
17–15–5
39
[45]
38
December 31
Colorado
1–3
Phoenix
Tellqvist
15,008
18–15–5
41
[46]
January: 6–7–0 (Home: 4–3–0; Road: 2–4–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
39
January 2
NY Islanders
4–5
Phoenix
Tellqvist
14,547
19–15–5
43
[47]
40
January 4
Phoenix
0–2
Anaheim
Bryzgalov
16,878
19–16–5
43
[48]
41
January 6
Chicago
6–0
Phoenix
Tellqvist
14,651
19–17–5
43
[49]
42
January 8
Tampa Bay
2–3
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
13,736
20–17–5
45
[50]
43
January 10
Dallas
0–1
Phoenix
SO
Bryzgalov
14,557
21–17–5
47
[51]
44
January 13
Phoenix
3–6
Minnesota
Bryzgalov
18,568
21–18–5
47
[52]
45
January 15
Phoenix
4–1
Vancouver
Bryzgalov
18,630
22–18–5
49
[53]
46
January 17
Phoenix
4–3
Calgary
Bryzgalov
19,289
23–18–5
51
[54]
47
January 18
Phoenix
3–6
Edmonton
Bryzgalov
16,839
23–19–5
51
[55]
48
January 20
Detroit
3–6
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
16,368
24–19–5
53
[56]
49
January 27
Anaheim
7–3
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
15,383
24–20–5
53
[57]
50
January 29
Phoenix
0–2
San Jose
Bryzgalov
17,496
24–21–5
53
[58]
51
January 31
Buffalo
2–0
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
16,253
24–22–5
53
[59]
February: 3–9–0 (Home: 1–5–0; Road: 2–4–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
52
February 3
Phoenix
1–2
Nashville
Bryzgalov
13,195
24–23–5
53
[60]
53
February 4
Phoenix
4–5
Detroit
Bryzgalov
19,821
24–24–5
53
[61]
54
February 7
Carolina
7–2
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
15,229
24–25–5
53
[62]
55
February 11
Phoenix
1–0
Dallas
Bryzgalov
16,440
25–25–5
55
[63]
56
February 12
Vancouver
4–3
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
14,872
25–26–5
55
[64]
57
February 14
Calgary
7–5
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
16,981
25–27–5
55
[65]
58
February 16
Edmonton
3–1
Phoenix
Tellqvist
14,547
25–28–5
55
[66]
59
February 19
Atlanta
3–4
Phoenix
SO
Tellqvist
15,341
26–28–5
57
[67]
60
February 21
Phoenix
6–3
Los Angeles
Bryzgalov
17,177
27–28–5
59
[68]
61
February 24
Phoenix
1–2
St. Louis
Bryzgalov
17,512
27–29–5
59
[69]
62
February 26
Phoenix
1–4
Nashville
Bryzgalov
14,954
27–30–5
59
[70]
63
February 28
St. Louis
3–1
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
15,893
27–31–5
59
[71]
March: 5–6–2 (Home: 4–1–1; Road: 1–5–1)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
64
March 5
Phoenix
2–1
Boston
Bryzgalov
16,818
28–31–5
61
[72]
65
March 6
Phoenix
1–5
Buffalo
Bryzgalov
18,690
28–32–5
61
[73]
66
March 8
Phoenix
2–3
NY Islanders
Tordjman
13,413
28–33–5
61
[74]
67
March 10
Phoenix
2–3
Detroit
OT
Bryzgalov
20,066
28–33–6
62
[75]
68
March 12
Phoenix
2–5
New Jersey
Tordjman
14,578
28–34–6
62
[76]
69
March 14
Nashville
2–0
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
13,197
28–35–6
62
[77]
70
March 17
San Jose
3–4
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
15,563
29–35–6
64
[78]
71
March 19
Anaheim
3–2
Phoenix
SO
Bryzgalov
12,739
29–35–7
65
[79]
72
March 21
Vancouver
1–5
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
17,125
30–35–7
67
[80]
73
March 22
Phoenix
2–6
Anaheim
Bryzgalov
17,215
30–36–7
67
[81]
74
March 26
Edmonton
2–3
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
14,337
31–36–7
69
[82]
75
March 28
Phoenix
2–3
San Jose
Bryzgalov
17,496
31–37–7
69
[83]
76
March 30
Dallas
5–6
Phoenix
OT
Bryzgalov
13,831
32–37–7
71
[84]
April: 4–2–0 (Home: 2–1–0; Road: 2–1–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
77
April 1
Phoenix
3–0
Colorado
Montoya
13,437
33–37–7
73
[85]
78
April 2
Los Angeles
1–2
Phoenix
Montoya
13,177
34–37–7
75
[86]
79
April 4
Phoenix
1–6
Los Angeles
Montoya
18,118
34–38–7
75
[87]
80
April 7
St. Louis
5–1
Phoenix
Bryzgalov
13,761
34–39–7
75
[88]
81
April 9
Phoenix
4–1
San Jose
Montoya
17,496
35–39–7
77
[89]
82
April 11
Anaheim
4–5
Phoenix
SO
Bryzgalov
16,438
36–39–7
79
[ 4]
Legend :
Win (2 points)
Loss (0 points)
Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)
Playoffs
The Coyotes failed to make the playoffs for the sixth straight season. They last made the playoffs in 2002 . This season, they were officially eliminated from playoff contention in mid-March.
Player statistics
Skaters
Goaltenders
† Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Coyotes. Stats reflect time with the Coyotes only.
‡ Traded mid-season.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record.
Awards and records
Records
Milestones
Regular season
Player
Milestone
Reached
Transactions
Trades
June 20, 2008
To Phoenix Coyotes Olli Jokinen
To Florida Panthers Nick Boynton Keith Ballard 2nd-round pick in 2008 – Jared Staal
June 20, 2008
To Phoenix Coyotes 1st-round pick in 2008 – Viktor Tikhonov
To Anaheim Ducks 2nd-round pick in 2008 – Nicolas Deschamps 2nd-round pick in 2008 – Eric O'Dell
October 9, 2008
To Phoenix Coyotes Future considerations
To Pittsburgh Penguins Michael Zigomanis
November 3, 2008
To Phoenix Coyotes Alexander Nikulin
To Ottawa Senators Drew Fata
November 25, 2008
To Phoenix Coyotes Wyatt Smith
To Tampa Bay Lightning Future considerations
December 3, 2008
To Phoenix Coyotes Joakim Lindstrom
To Dallas Stars Logan Stephenson
March 4, 2009
To Phoenix Coyotes Matthew Lombardi Brandon Prust 1st-round pick in 2009 or 2010 1 – Brandon Gormley
To Calgary Flames Olli Jokinen 3rd-round pick in 2009 2 – Josh Birkholz
March 4, 2009
To Phoenix Coyotes 4th-round pick in 2010 3 – Mark Macmillan
To Buffalo Sabres Mikael Tellqvist
March 4, 2009
To Phoenix Coyotes Scottie Upshall 2nd-round pick in 2011 – Lucas Lessio
To Philadelphia Flyers Daniel Carcillo
March 4, 2009
To Phoenix Coyotes Nigel Dawes Petr Prucha Dmitri Kalinin
To New York Rangers Derek Morris
Phoenix Coyotes elected to use the pick in the latter.
Pick later traded to Calgary Flames .
Pick later traded to Montreal Canadiens
Free agents
Player
Former team
Contract terms
Claimed from waivers
Player
Former team
Date claimed off waivers
Draft picks
Phoenix's picks at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in Ottawa , Ontario .
See also
Farm teams
San Antonio Rampage
The San Antonio Rampage are the Coyotes American Hockey League affiliate in 2008–09 .
Arizona Sundogs
The Arizona Sundogs are the Coyotes affiliate in the CHL .
References
Franchise History Personnel Arenas Culture and lore
Information related to 2008–09 Phoenix Coyotes season