Feb 27, 2014; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Phoenix Coyotes forward Shane Doan (19) skates on the ice during the first period against the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
Part 2 of our Arizona Coyotes preview looks at the projected opening night roster.
FORWARDS
Shane Doan – Martin Hanzal – Mikkel Boedker
Lauri Korpikoski – Sam Gagner – Martin Erat
David Moss – Antoine Vermette – Rob Klinkhammer
Kyle Chipchura – Joe Vitale – Brandon McMillan
EXTRA: B.J. Crombeen
Hanzal and Boedker have been on the upswing and continue to get better as their careers go on. Other than that, this team year after year seems to slap spare parts together and hope it fits. They bought out Mike Ribeiro in the off-season and brought in Sam Gagner as his replacement, for a bargain price in terms of salary and the cost to get him (a 6th round pick). Doan is the captain and continues to be the straw that stirs the drink for the Coyotes, who lost two of their top 5 scorers last season (Ribeiro and Radim Vrbata). The Coyotes have over $30M committed to the 13 forwards on the roster this season.