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1999-2000 Stat Leaders Stat  Leader  No.  Goals  Jeremy Roenick  34  Assists  Jeremy Roenick  44  Points  Jeremy Roenick  78  +/-  Teppo Numminen  21  Shots  Shane Doan  221  Ice Time (F)  Jeremy Roenick  20:50  Ice Time (D)  Teppo Numminen  23:37  Faceoff Pct.  Travis Green  55.60%  Hits  Shane Doan  225  PP Pts  Jeremey Roenick  19  SH Pts  Trevor Letowski  7

For playing in a sunny environment, the Phoenix Coyotes always seem to have a dark cloud above them. Since relocating from Winnipeg in 1996 the Coyotes have never advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs. In fact, one would have to go back to 1987 when the franchise played a second-round series.

So what's new? Other than Wayne Gretzky set to take over the team as partial owner, not a whole lot. Negotiations, or lackthereof, with holdout goalie Nikolai Khabibulin that caused him to miss last season are well beyond ridiculousness. However, there is a ray of hope that Gretzky can get him signed. If not, the Coyotes will again have to go with Sean Burke (2.55 GAA) and deal with his shaky playoff performances.

Anything else of note? Center Jeremy Roenick, coming off a solid year in which he racked up 34 goals among 78 points, indicated he wants an extension by the end of training camp or he may test the market after the season. Then there is the ongoing saga of captain Keith Tkachuk, who's set to make $8.3 million this season. He wasn't happy with the constant trade rumors last season and became disillusioned. And it didn't help matters that he and coach Bobby Francis have a lukewarm relationship.

Prediction? If Gretzky can smooth the waters, and if Francis can get the team to focus, there's no reason why the Coyotes can't make the playoffs. Now, getting past the opening round is a different matter.

For more on the Coyotes, bookmark this page and check back Wednesday, Oct. 11 for a Sports Illustrated Scouting Report.

BRIGHT SPOTS		GRAY AREAS
Rugged forward Shane Doan blossomed into a 26-goal scorer. Before last year his highest goal total was seven in 1995-96, his rookie season. The ownership of Steve Ellman Gretzky. They will infuse a new attitude in an environment that grew stale under former owner Richard Burke. Trevor Letowski, 23, (19 goals, 20 assists) can only get better. And trading for Joe Juneau and Brad May helps some. Finished tied for the eighth-best penalty kill in the NHL, killing off 85.9% of the penalties taken. What's more, 14 shorthanded goals placed third in the NHL. Should Khabibulin come to terms, goaltending goes from chopped sirloin to filet mignon.		In the last four years Tkachuk's goal production has dropped from 52, 40, 32 and 22 last year. To be fair, ankle and knee injuries hobbled him throughout 1999-2000. Power play was actually powerless. They converted just 11.9% of their chances, which was second worst in the NHL. F Mikael Renberg told the team he's heading home to Sweden to be with his family. Talented F Robert Reichel will again sit out this season. And F Dallas Drake left via free agency. Defensemen Keith Carney, Jyrki Lumme and Teppo Numminen all wore down near the end of last season. It's imperative that Stanislav Neckar steps up this year.

Comings
Player	Pos.	From	Via
Philip Audet	LW	Phoenix	Re-signed
Joel Bouchard	D	Dallas	Free agent
Daniel Briere	C	Phoenix	Re-signed
Dan Focht	D	Phoenix	Re-signed
Travis Green	C	Phoenix	Re-signed
Eric Healey	C/LW	Phoenix	Re-signed
Justin Hocking	D	St. John's (AHL)	Free agent
Chris Joseph	D	Phoenix	Re-signed
Sergei Kuznetsov	F	Peterborough (OHL)	Free agent
Brad May	LW	Vancouver	Trade
Dave MacIntyre	D	JyP Jyvaskyla (Finnish Elite)	Free agent
Craig Mills	F	Springfield (AHL)	Free agent
Radoslav Suchy	D	Phoenix	Re-signed
Landon Wilson	F	Boston	Free agent

Goings
Player	Pos.	To	Via
Trent Cull	D	Pittsburgh	Pittsburgh
J.J. Daigneault	D	Minnesota	Free agent
Dallas Drake	RW	Columbus	Expansion
Bob Essensa	G	Vancouver	Free agent
Sean Gagnon	D	Ottawa	Free agent
Eric Houde	C	Dallas	Free agent
Sean McCann	D	Atlanta	Free agent
Lyle Odelein	D	Columbus	Expansion
David Oliver	RW	Ottawa	Free agent
Kevin Sawyer	RW	Anaheim	Free agent
Brad Tiley	D	Philadelphia	Free agent

Prospect Watch
Kiril Safranov, D, 6'2", 190
Born: February 26, 1981
Acquired: 1999 draft, first round (No. 19 overall)
He is a physical defenseman who scouts believe can develop into a solid NHL contributor. He's capable of playing in any situation, but the power play isn't necessarily his specialty.

Get the Highlighter
Thurs., Oct. 5 vs. the Blues: Tough task to start the season at home. Phoenix went 1-3 against them last season, dropping both tilts on home ice.
Mon., Oct. 30 at Colorado: First meeting with the Avs, who delivered the playoff knockout blow.
Thurs., Nov. 30 vs. Wild: Coyotes need to take advantage of eight-game home stretch.
Fri., March 16 at Dallas: Final matchup with Dallas, which should determine whether Coyotes are ready for playoffs.
Fri., April 6 at Anaheim: Wraps up regular season. If Coyotes can duplicate 4-2 2000 record against Ducks again, they'd take it.

Quoteworthy
"I'd like to finish my career here, but that doesn't mean I won't go somewhere else. I'm not afraid to pick up and go if that's the best scenario."
--Roenick on his contract situation

Team-by-team previews compiled by CNNSI.com's Ken Klavon, Jamie MacDonald and Jimmy Traina.

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