Phoenix Coyotes looking for ownership security after intense playoff run -NHL Update
The 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup Playoffs were fun while they lasted for Phoenix Coyotes but now getting back to the other details of life, the Arizona based team is hoping and looking for ownership stability as they lack top level management
to defend the team on all fronts.
Players are seriously facing a decline in morale despite being one of the best rounded teams this offseason due to there not being proper regulations. In the incident of foul play in any of the playoff matchups, of which there were many, Phoenix players
did not have anyone to look to for their defence.
Instead, coaching staff and general manager, Don Maloney have to go through the gruelling task of handling multiple responsibilities, which in the end, turns out to be an exhaustive task.
"It's tough for our management. It's tough for our coaching staff, and eventually it runs down. It's tough for players," Coyotes’ Ray Whitney said while talking to Sarah McLellan of Azcentral.com. "I didn't feel like we had the same competitive edge as everyone
else.”
Bringing on players and keeping the ones they already have as they are set to become unrestricted free agents is another aspect of the Phoenix team that is being affected by the lack of an ownership group. Ray Whitney is one of those players that want to
stay in Phoenix, but are fed up with such issues.
"I don't want to go through another year and be a doormat in the league where you don't have ownership and people to stand up for you," veteran and unrestricted free agent (UFA) Ray Whitney added.
There were suspensions, bad hits, some unfair calls by referees in all series of the 2012 playoffs. Phoenix unfortunately, did not have the luxury of having someone to look forward to defending them, but instead, had to look towards other associations
Coyotes’ captain, Shane Doan, is another one of those Phoenix players that are to become UFA’s by the start of July and seeing how the club struggles to secure an ownership, it just might force him to look into other opportunities around the league.
"You're gonna listen," Doan said. "I've always thought this is the way it should be for me."
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman indicated during the postseason that Phoenix has a “bright future” in terms of ownership, but has not been able to stabilise anything as of yet.
Developments on this issue are expected to come out as the offseason for Phoenix Coyotes continues to progress.
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