2009/10 Season

Past Seasons

After the franchise, its fans and the rest of the NHL watched a tumultuous 2009 come to a close and after the dust was settled, the Coyotes are still in Phoenix and still competing in the NHL’s Western Conference Pacific Division although they are now managed by the NHL. Wayne Gretzky stepped down as head coach on September 24th and has been replaced by Dave Tippett who was formerly of the Dallas Stars. In the Entry Draft, the franchise had six selections to include the 6th overall pick which they used to select 18-year old defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson of Sweden and Chris Brown who is currently on the National Team Development Program.

When Wayne Gretzky took over in 2005, the Phoenix Coyotes had big shoes to fill. Their team history reveals them to be hardworking, constant playoff contenders despite staff changes, forced trades and geographic upheaval. But Gretzky was never able to get the team past.

The team began as the Winnipeg Jets, led by Bobby Hull, they went on to win three WHA championships in 1976, 1978 and 1979. It was following the '79 season that the Jets joined the NHL. After a slow start in NHL hockey, center Dale Hawerchuck joined the team in 1981 and in the '81-'82 season, the team made their first showing in the NHL playoffs after winning 33 games.

In the 1984-85 season the Jets came in second in their division as Hawerchuk built up 130 points, making a name for himself by carrying the third-highest total in the league. The Jets made it to the playoffs consistently in 1988, 1990, 1992 and 1993, but were always eliminated in the first round, despite impressive players. Leading the 1992-93 team was right wing Teemu Selanne, later named NHL rookie of the year after setting a new league record with 76 goals and 132 points scored.

The end of the 1995-96 season brought about the biggest change the Jets had yet to see. The franchise was sold and moved from Winnipeg to Phoenix and renamed the Coyotes. In the midst of the change, the team gained Jeremy Roenick from the Chicago Blackhawks who teamed up with left wing Keith Tkachuk to bring the Coyotes to the playoffs for their first three seasons in Phoenix.

The 1999-00 season brought about major staff changes, as Coach Jim Schoenfeld was fired and replaced by Coach Bobby Francis, yet the Coyotes were in for an even bigger headlining staff change. Following the season, they were sold to Wayne Gretzky and in the interim were forced to trade away their star captain, Tkcahuk to the St. Louis Blues. Without him to lead them, the Coyotes failed to make the playoffs in the 2000-01 season.

With Gretzky now firmly at the helm, the Coyotes were cleared for a new arena to be built in Glendale, a nearby suburb of Phoenix, yet more speed bumps were on their way. In the 2002-03 season, the Coyotes gained what would prove to be one of the biggest free agent disasters, Tony Amonte. In the same season, they lost goalie Sean Bruke to injuries and as a reflection of their personnel upsets, they suffered through their worst season since moving to Phoenix, finishing in 4th place.

Yet the Coyotes rushed into the 2003-04 season ready for a new beginning, taking the ice at their new arena in new uniforms in December of that year. A new star began to show himself as the season continued, goalie Brian Boucher made NHL history by not allowing a goal for five straight games and setting a new record streak of 332:01 minutes.

Still, more upheaval was on the horizon as Coach Bobby Francis was fired and Rick Bowness leading the team. They finished in last place with a record of 22-36-18-6.

Phoenix Coyote tickets give NHL fans the chance to see Wayne Gretsky in action again. Only this time it's from behind the bech and not on the ice. Despite the ups and downs, the Phoenix Coyotes have always been battlers, and with Gretsky sharing the ice, Phoenix Coyote tickets are one of the most unique NHL tickets around.