If the Phoenix Coyotes folded today . . .

[mjlegend 155]

And there's a dispersal draft of Coyotes players . . .

And let's say the league does reverse order of current NHL standings . . .

Who do we take with the 27th overall pick?

The players taken would have to be able to fit under the cap (or replace players currently underperforming). I was thinking about this this morning and after some deliberation with the first three picks, came up with the following list:

I based it on which players would best fit into the needs of the teams in the rest of the league and the types of players they normally take. Plus, if there's a guy with a connection to another team, I generally had him going to that team (Reinprecht - COL, Ruzicka - BOS).

1. NYI: Shane Doan

2. OTT: Ilya Bryzgalov

3. ATL: Ed Jovanovski

4. TBY: Keith Yandle

5. STL: Olli Jokinen

6. TOR: Kyle Turris

7. LA: Michael Boedker

8. DAL: Peter Mueller

9. NSH: Daniel Carcillo

10. EDM: Kurt Sauer

11. MIN: Viktor Tikhonov

12. CLM: Derek Morris

13. PIT: Ken Klee

14. COL: Steve Reinprecht

15. FLA: Todd Fedoruk

16. ANA: Enver Lisin

17. BUF: Zbeynek Michaluk

18. CAR: Kevin Porter

19. VAN: Daniel Winnik

20. NJ: Mikael Tellqvist

21. CHI: Garth Murray

22. NYR: Joakim Lindstrom

23. CAL: Brian McGratton (susp)

24. PHI: David Hale

25. MTL: Brett MacLean

26. WSH: Nick Ross

27. DET: Chris Summers

28. BOS: Vladimir Ruzicka

29. SJ: Al Montoya

Beyond what's in the Show right now, Phoenix' prospects are somewhat disappointing. While Michigan kid Summers is . . . OK . . . the only way a dispersal draft becomes of any real use to the Wings is if there are a pair of teams (or more) folding.

[soultrain 43]

they would move them back to winnipeg...i hope.

[mjlegend 155]

Have alot of time on your hands or what?

Sadly, today, yes...

[Hiei 192]

Phoenix would be moved to Winnipeg before folding i hope.

[webwing91 4]

Though it may be selfish, I for one hope the Coyotes don't fold. How else am I going to see the Wings play? It's been nice seeing them try and build a young core but having a star prospect leaving your club because you aren't very good doesn't help. I hope they can become a good team. But the few times I've gone and seen them this past year it's been painful to watch. That arena would be really awesome with a raucous crowd in a playoff atmosphere though. Still they've always worked hard with what they've had and that is always refreshing to see. Most of their up and comers always seem to leave though... that is somewhat dissappointing as well.

[Donaldjr2448 43]

I have not heard anything about the Coyotes folding!! Is this a possiblity?? I have noticed watching some of their home games that they don't draw anything in the stands!! I would hope that like someone else said, that they would go back to Winnipeg!! Bust out the old Jets jersey!! I always liked the Jets jersey!

[12Newf 0]

where is hanzal????

[thedisappearer 291]

Jovo going third? No way.

Besides, as mentioned, they go back to Winnipeg first anyway.

Good thread idea, though.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I have not heard anything about the Coyotes folding!! Is this a possiblity?? I have noticed watching some of their home games that they don't draw anything in the stands!! I would hope that like someone else said, that they would go back to Winnipeg!! Bust out the old Jets jersey!! I always liked the Jets jersey!

Its unlikely that they fold immediately, but theres speculation that the NHL might be contracted in a few years. Reports are that the Coyotes are so deep in debt that the NHL is overseeing their management operations, or has at least toyed with the idea.

At the very least, the Yotes are in bad, bad shape. They just laid off about 10% of their staff a few days ago.

[eva unit zero 271]

Why doesn't Jokinen go back to NYI?

[WhiteLightning91 105]

Al Strachan had an interesting take on this very subject on Hotstove over the weekend. To sum up, he pretty much said that the richer teams in the league that have been taking care of all these small market teams through the process of revenue sharing would not agree to all those same small market picking up these great young stars from Phoenix when the richer teams are the ones who have been keeping these failing teams afloat for years.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

And there's a dispersal draft of Coyotes players . . .

And let's say the league does reverse order of current NHL standings . . .

Who do we take with the 27th overall pick?

The players taken would have to be able to fit under the cap (or replace players currently underperforming). I was thinking about this this morning and after some deliberation with the first three picks, came up with the following list:

I based it on which players would best fit into the needs of the teams in the rest of the league and the types of players they normally take. Plus, if there's a guy with a connection to another team, I generally had him going to that team (Reinprecht - COL, Ruzicka - BOS).

1. NYI: Shane Doan

2. OTT: Ilya Bryzgalov

3. ATL: Ed Jovanovski

4. TBY: Keith Yandle

5. STL: Olli Jokinen

6. TOR: Kyle Turris

7. LA: Michael Boedker

8. DAL: Peter Mueller

9. NSH: Daniel Carcillo

10. EDM: Kurt Sauer

11. MIN: Viktor Tikhonov

12. CLM: Derek Morris

13. PIT: Ken Klee

14. COL: Steve Reinprecht

15. FLA: Todd Fedoruk

16. ANA: Enver Lisin

17. BUF: Zbeynek Michaluk

18. CAR: Kevin Porter

19. VAN: Daniel Winnik

20. NJ: Mikael Tellqvist

21. CHI: Garth Murray

22. NYR: Joakim Lindstrom

23. CAL: Brian McGratton (susp)

24. PHI: David Hale

25. MTL: Brett MacLean

26. WSH: Nick Ross

27. DET: Chris Summers

28. BOS: Vladimir Ruzicka

29. SJ: Al Montoya

Beyond what's in the Show right now, Phoenix' prospects are somewhat disappointing. While Michigan kid Summers is . . . OK . . . the only way a dispersal draft becomes of any real use to the Wings is if there are a pair of teams (or more) folding.

No offense, bud, but you need to work on this a little bit longer. For starters, as someone else mentioned, Hanzal isn't on this list. Second, no way in hell would the Thrashers take Jovocop over Mueller, Hanzal, or Jokinen. Third, Michalek would be WAY higher. On most nights, hes the Yotes best Dman and is a perennial candidate for most underrated Dman in the league. Offense aside, hes the best Dman the Yotes have. Also, you have guys like Lisin and Porter being drafted AFTER Todd Fedoruk and Ken Klee. That would never, ever happen.

Sorry to say, but back to the drawing board.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Al Strachan had an interesting take on this very subject on Hotstove over the weekend. To sum up, he pretty much said that the richer teams in the league that have been taking care of all these small market teams through the process of revenue sharing would not agree to all those same small market picking up these great young stars from Phoenix when the richer teams are the ones who have been keeping these failing teams afloat for years.

While thats true, being a s***ty team doesn't necessarily equate to being a poor team. They'd probably go with something similar to the '05 draft although in reality I don't see this happening in the near future at all.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

It'd be sweet if we got Jovo, Fedoruk or Carcillo. McGrattan would be great as well, but he's on drugs and in the NHL drug program thing, so that's a no go.

Doubt the Yotes are gonna fold though.

[Wings_Rule_1010 4]

I hope Phoenix doesn't fold. I like the Wings going to play there like it is another home game.

I do agree with Summers coming here (I may be slightly biased, since I go to U of M), but he is by far Michigan's best defensemen and now the captain as a junior. However, I can't believe if (and thats a huge if) they folded he wouldn't go higher.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

McGrattan or Doan.

Interesting and unusual thread, though. I haven't heard anything about them contracting anytime soon.

[12Newf 0]

turris would be higher too, the kid will be a star.

[eva unit zero 271]

It'd be sweet if we got Jovo, Fedoruk or Carcillo. McGrattan would be great as well, but he's on drugs and in the NHL drug program thing, so that's a no go.

Doubt the Yotes are gonna fold though.

I would be interested in Turris, Carcillo, Michalek, Yandle, Hanzal, Mueller if the Wings could draft a player or players from the Coyotes. Young, skilled, versatile players.

[Blueliner 69]

they won't fold.

Porter should be higher and Chad Kolarik should be on the list.

[bogeygolfer 4]

I'm making the predicting right now, once the yotes play their last game of the season, be it regular season or playoff, the next day the team will file for bankrupcy. And I think it will be chapter 7 and not your typical chapter 11 (restructuring). I mean chapter 7, we give up sell for parts.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

McGrattan or Doan.

Interesting and unusual thread, though. I haven't heard anything about them contracting anytime soon.

No way! Porter or Turris would be my vote. Porter is a Michigan favourite and fits the Wings mold. Turris has great top six potential.

[CopenhagenWing 38]

I want Boedker.

[mjlegend 155]

(smacking forehead)

DAMN!

Forgot Hanzal. I'll try again tonight or tomorrow morning ...

Ultimately, I don't know if the Coyotes will fold or not, but I was thinking on the weekend, spurred on by another thread here, IF the scenario played out, what would happen...Two divisions of seven teams in each conference? Ultimately, I think the franchise in the biggest trouble in the east has to be TBAY.

I also think it could be a very good hockey market if they were given a reasonable team, but it's January and their average attendance, according to the ESPN numbers, is a rather blah 14,733.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2009

In 2001, with a fairly decent team that was above .500, they were 14,224. I have a strong suspicion the numbers have been inflated for this year with giveaways.

I think the city has been given a fair shake at trying to host an NHL team - and it's certainly more of a fair shake than when they had to leave Winnipeg. But Winnipeg's situation has changed as well when they got a smaller building for the AHL. I don't think they're going to spend more 10s of millions to get another building or renovate the one they just got. The Leafs and Sabres will nix any team going to Hamilton or Kitchener, and I don't think Quebec City is hankering for another NHL chance.

Sentimentally, I want to see the NHL in Winnipeg, but they only way that realistically happens is if they win Kraft's Hockeyville contest.

That essentially leaves Kansas City and Seattle/Portland. Is there anything about the current global and local economic situation that would lead one to think those cities can have any more success than the NHL in Phoenix? I don't see it. A lot of non hockey fans going to say: "I've never gotten into hockey before and it's $300 for my family to see the hockey team play against who? Ottawa? Where's that?"

I also originally thought JOVO would be a good fit in a Brian Burke team, but I didn't want him there.

[up2here 41]

Ken Klee to Pittsburgh at 13??! Go smoke another one. I also wonder what we would be done about the Cap. Most of the teams are close to the cap and wouldnt be able to pick up some of the higher salaried players.

Edited January 12, 2009 by UP2HERE

[Opie 308]

My question would be how does the league only contract one team at a time. Wouldn't scheduling dictate that 2 teams be removed?

Either one from each conference or two teams and a conference restructuring?