Level of success hinges on Khabibulin's return - Nikolai Khabibulin - Phoenix Coyotes hockey team - Brief Article

1998-99 RECORD: 39-31-12 (2nd in Pacific); lost to St. Louis in Western Conference quarterfinals.

FIVE-YEAR RECORD: 164-168-44 (.495, ranks 12th in NHL in that span).

GOOD NEWS: The Coyotes' top players (Keith Tkachuk, Jeremy Roenick, Rick Tocchet, Dallas Drake) are among their most physical players. The six players on the top two lines--Tkachuk-Roenick-Drake and Greg Adams-Travis Green-Tocchet--are all former 20-goal scorers. Newcomer Mike Alatalo, a rookie from Finland, has been the talk of training camp. He will team with Juha Ylonen and tough Shane Doan for what could be an exciting third line.

BAD NEWS: The team probably will start the season without G Nikolai Khabibulin and C Robert Reichel bemuse of contract hassles. Green is no Reichel on offense, and second-line center could be a weak link Free agent Todd Gill is the only new face on a blue line that is thin after Teppo Numminen, Jyrki Lumme and Keith Carney.

WORKING OVERTIME: The best tonic for the power play, the league's second-worst, would be decent play from the point Lumme is healthy after offseason shoulder surgery. Newcomer Gill also will help the second unit, but an improving Deron Quint might turn out to be the main man.

SEE A INFFERENT GAME: Bobby Francis was hired with the idea of being less passive on offense and having the defensive core--featuring skilled players like Numminen, Lumme and Quint--jump in the play more. Khabibulin suggested

the team take more chances, promising he would take care of the odd-man rushes that might result. But with Khabibulin missing, how aggressive can rookie coach Bobby Francis afford to be with journeymen goaltenders Mikhail Shtalenkov and Bob Essensa in the nets?

AFTER 82 GAMES: If Khabibulin is in goal, 40 wins are possible. With Shtalenkov and Essensa ... well, ask Edmonton, which missed the playoffs with the same duo last season.

GRADING OUT

COACHING          C
FORWARDS          B-
DEFENSEMEN        C
GOALTENDERS       B+
SPECIAL TEAMS     B
FRONT OFFICE      C-

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