2010-2011 season thread

[Lefty]

The Coyotes started the season with a 5-2 win over Boston. Vrbata scored twice and Bryz made 40 saves.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

As good as the Coyotes played in the opener, they played as bad in the second game. The difference was huge, but I don't think there is much that can be taken this early in the season, especially when it was played on the other side of the planet. Having almost a full week in between games before the home opener against Detroit should help, but this team is going to have to learn how to win games on nights where their typical speed just isn't there (as was the case in the 2nd game). Hopefully Turris will get into the lineup, the combination of Doan - Belanger - Wolski had a really quiet trip.

 

[Lefty]

Tough weekend as the Coyotes lose in overtime to Detroit and then lose 3-2 to Anaheim.

 

[chickenhead]

Yahoo! coverage of "the Coyotes question"

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=Aq7hTFp9WprKLro6icdfvt17vLYF?slug=nc-coyotes110310

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=AjJeORc6on2SMp9vTgVDhct7vLYF?slug=nc-garybettman102910

Here's an excerpt from the Q&A with Bettman and Daly:

Y! Sports: Are you concerned by some of the early attendance figures, particularly the 6,706 on Oct. 21 in Glendale, Arizona? The league-run Coyotes lost to the Los Angeles Kings, 4-2.

Daly: With so much uncertainty surrounding the franchise, it’s unfair to test the market on the basis of where that franchise exists now. Obviously if we transition to new ownership and secure the franchise long-term in Phoenix, I think you’ll see a significant uptick in how the fans respond to the club. I will say we’re light years better than where we were last year at this time in terms of how the fans have responded to the club.


Puzzling to me. How is 6000 fans against the Kings light years better than a year ago? I think the sellout against the Wings but the poor attendance against the Bruins and Kings kind of says it all. Last year's playoff appearance should trump ownership uncertaintly for the moment. You have to be able to draw fans for games against your natural rivals. A building full of Wings fans is good for a couple nights a year. But the Diamondbacks can't survive on a series against the Cubs and lackluster attendance against the Dodgers and Giants. The Suns remain the #1 franchise in town (not ready to hand it to the Cards much as I love them) because most of the fans are there to see them, and they draw against the Lakers and key division competitors.

Anyway, my point is not to pile on the Coyotes, and certainly not on my hometown, but just to question the commissioner's office dodging the issue.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

That was terrible journalism.

Their reward (for having a winning season last year)? Only 12,990 fans showed up for this season’s home opener against the Boston Bruins, an Original Six team.

The article has since been edited. Apparently, someone pointed out to this clown that that game was played in Prague.

 

[Jersey Girl]

That was terrible journalism.



The article has since been edited. Apparently, someone pointed out to this clown that that game was played in Prague.

LOL.

I wish I could get to more games. It's tough during the week with work and living in the East Valley.

Plan on catching a game soon. Nice to see some weekend games coming up in the schedule.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

It's more than they were drawing at this time last year - that's why it's ahead of that situation .... also, although the season ticket holder base is still very small, it at least exists to some extent after moyes pretty much fire torched it before last year

ST packages are the only real way to solid attendance #s - without ownership, marketing and some level of assurance it's very difficult to get fans to buy in

there is also fatigue from how long this whole thing has gone on ..... the arguments and drama have died down dramaticly, however everyone has settled into the current situation being what it is

they need an owner to connect them to the community and provide a level of confidence that money spent isn't just going to be tossed away to a moving product

from ticket promotions, to merchandising, to community interaction this team is just stagnant right now .... the NHL isn't going to invest in this and the outgoing ownership wasn't going to invest in this

 

[puckhead]

All true, M.O. The other bit missing is any sort of Corporate appeal. I just realized the other day that the old Toyota/Comerica club is just 'the south club' (no TM necessary). I can't fault a biz for not wanting to add to their brand with a loser who's as good as gone next season or the next.

We've really had the perfect storm here. A lot of people forget that the first full season at Jobing.com Arena was....wait for it....A Freakin LOCKOUT!

 

[MigratingOsprey]

Yeah - it's a really bad situation all around

the lockout was brutal ..... if you add everything up from the "ownership" of ellman & moyes, to the lockout, to the horrible strategy of name over substance, etc

it's just been a perfect storm

I think the stadium also lost budweiser from having their big suite there as well

they are asking for large financial commitments in a bad economy on a product/arena that is on the ropes

they did improve their broadcasting position this year though - which is a nice step

 

[Lefty]

Coyotes get a nice win on the road against the champs 2-1 as LaBarbera was stellar in goal.

 

[MrYeahBut]

coming over for a week of golf, Cards 9ers monday nighter etc. Would like to go to Yotes Anaheim on Sat Nov 27. I have found tix before at Ticket connection. Are they still good to go with or could anyone suggest anothe place?

Might try to catch the Suns too. The week I'm there only the Clippers is the game we could attend...shouldnt be too tough a ticket

Any help appreciated

Thanks

 

[Scott MS]

I would suggest StubHub a few days before the game. The demand for Coyotes had really taken a hit and you can get center ice tickets for 1/2 the standard price.

 

[MrYeahBut]

I would suggest StubHub a few days before the game. The demand for Coyotes had really taken a hit and you can get center ice tickets for 1/2 the standard price.

thanks, will do

 

[Lefty]

Coyotes won their 4th straight game last night as they beat Calgary 3-1. Next game is at Edmonton.

 

[Lefty]

Coyotes were down 3-0 to the Oliers and tied it up with 35 seconds remaining with a goal by Wolski. The Coyotes won it in the shootout and have now won five straight.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Coyotes were down 3-0 to the Oliers and tied it up with 35 seconds remaining with a goal by Wolski. The Coyotes won it in the shootout and have now won five straight.

Went to the viewing party tonight in Chandler. It was a great time. What an awesome game. Way to battle back down 3-0 and win in the shootout.

Talk about exciting. Way to go, Coyotes!

 

[Avondale Red Rage]

Went to the viewing party tonight in Chandler. It was a great time. What an awesome game. Way to battle back down 3-0 and win in the shootout.

Talk about exciting. Way to go, Coyotes!

Very nice win.

 

[Nasser22]

I watched the end of that game at work...love being manager...haha. I'm excited for the game tonight!

 

[Lefty]

The Coyotes win their sixth in a row as they defeated the Canucks 3-2 to finish the road trip 3-0. Pyatt scored twice, including the game winner in the third period.

 

[Nasser22]

Nice win, though I wish Pyatt would have scored on the empty net to give us yet another hat trick. You can see that we still need some work...this made me remember the PP struggles we had last year, but of course you have to take into account how good Vancouver's special teams is. Yotes should be able to keep this streak going against Edmonton! We have to win those in such a competitive conference.

 

[desertdawg]

I totally missed the game! Go Coyotes, to the team that will not quit.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

It is nice to have a good, young team in the valley. For however long they may stay.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

It's almost meaningless only a quarter of the way through the season, but its nice to go to bed tonight seeing the Coyotes at the top of the Pacific division.

 

[HooverDam]

I went to the Coyotes-Oilers game today, it was a lot of fun and a nice win, however...

I'm frustrated though because boy oh boy does the organization do most of the little things wrong. They make it hard to be a fan to say the least.

First off was the miserable process of trying to find a long sleeve, reasonably price, Coyotes shirt for the game. How hard should this be? I checked multiple Targets, WalMarts, Big 5s, Sports Authorities, Just Sports, 3 different Malls (PV, Scottsdale & Desert Ridge) to no avail. Finally I found a white thermal style long sleeve at the Just Sports at Westgate (the 'Yotes own team shop had a dismal and outrageously priced selection) for $30 that wasn't even in my size (had to get an L instead of a M).

Then you get to the game, you have a little kid with you who wants to have some fun between periods, right? Well I hope the kid enjoys games like "game a straw in your eye socket" and "relish eating contest" because Jobing.com offers no amenities for children. "Howlers Corner" or whatever its called is just some posters on a wall that apparently the mascot visits on Saturdays. Really? You couldn't put in a jumpy house or a 'see how fast you can shoot a hockey puck' game or freaking anything? College facilities have these things, get with it.

Then of course the fact that the cheapest tickets to the arena cost more than the cheapest Suns tickets, who offer a better product, in an easier location, with a richer heritage, is mind numbing. No wonder your arena is 2/3rds empty, you're charging top flight prices for a 4th or 5th place (in terms of Valley fandom) product.

When it came time for the t-shirt toss the entire upper deck was more or less left out. At a Suns game the "Sunsationals" are in the upper deck tossing out shirts, staggered about every other section. Can't the Yotes have the Dog Pound or whatever their girls are called do the same?

What about a way to text in messages to a big board like a ton of stadiums have? Or texting in a picture of your kid that could be shown between periods on the big screen?

After the game as I walked out I expected the ushers to hand me a free voucher for a large McDonalds fry or something like the Suns do, but nope, it was an ad for Glendale glitters. Nothing for a win? How about the shut out? Nope, also nothing.

When you're offering a product thats not inherently popular in an area in a difficult to get to location, you can't do all the little things wrong. You've got to be flawless in those areas and the Coyotes just aren't. Hopefully the new ownership will be detail oriented and respond to fan input because the game day experience needs a lot of little tweaks.

 

[desertdawg]

They "said" they hoped to have a deal done by December. I really hope they just do it.
Great game tonight, my dad in law is really loving life.