The New Coyotes GM Called Little Ol' Me!

I received an interesting phone call this morning from Don Maloney, the new GM of the Phoenix Coyotes. Of course, it was a pre-recorded phone message directed to season ticket holders who have not yet renewed.

I'm not going to transcribe the whole thing word-for-word, but he goes on for quite awhile - much like me! Here's an overview (I removed some of the sales spiel):

"This is Don Maloney, the new General Manager of the Phoenix Coyotes. As you probably know, I just joined the organization and I’m really excited about being here…We certainly have our work to do. I can assure you that we will be working very hard to build a team that will be competitive in today’s NHL. A team with an emphasis on speed, skill and relentless work ethic. I can’t promise you that we will win every game, but I can promise you that we will not be outworked – on the ice or off the ice. That we will build a team that will be fun to watch, and more importantly, a team we can all be proud of."

Color me excited. The part that really gets me howlin' (sorry, that was bad) is his mention of the team possessing a relentless work ethic. I don't mind that the Coyotes are going to lose - and probably lose several for the next couple of seasons. Two consecutive last place finishes will do that to your expectations as a supporter of the Coyotes.

But what I can't stand is a team that doesn't work hard. And there were many, many nights last season when the Coyotes were the definition of lethargic. There were some nights where I didn’t even want to be there, and I think many of the players felt the same way.

I'm going to guess that this has been a problem within this organization for a number of years. It's not necessarily the coaches or front office's fault as Phoenix could turn the hardest grinder into a softie. The weather is too nice, there's too much golf to be played, etc. to focus on being a 'tough' hockey team. Teams come here to play the 'Yotes and enjoy the trip as if it's a nice little vacation as opposed to thinking you're in for a battle against a hungry hockey club.

If Maloney can change this lackadaisical attitude, maybe things can be different and they can develop that winning atmosphere he promises to build here...an atmosphere where I'll be renewing my season tickets without question and anxiously awaiting the start of a new season.

Until then, even a call from Mr. Gretzky himself isn’t turning me into a buyer of yet another rebuilding project.