Short Season Exposes Long-Term Problem for Phoenix Coyotes

Its no secret that the Phoenix Coyotes are lacking serious firing power, so with the lockout officially over and training camp underway, Coyotes GM Don Maloney is hard at work on a deal that would fill Phoenix’s offensive hole.

Speaking with Fox Sports Arizona reporter Craig Morgan earlier this week, Maloney let out that a deal was in the works with an undisclosed team but ultimately failed to come to fruition when the other party backed out at the last minute.

#Coyotes GM Don Maloney said he had hoped to have a trade done for a forward today but the trade partner wasn’t ready to say yes.

' Craig Morgan (@cmorgancbsfoxaz) January 13, 2013

While the details of the soured deal are extremely vague, its safe to assume that Maloney had a defenseman lined up and ready to go. The depth of the Phoenix defensive pool is plenty deep, leaving D-men more expendable now than ever before.

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An abbreviated season has created a major problem for the Arizona bunch. Often scoring by committee, the Coyotes were able to

D Keith Yandle is only one of many that could see a change in scenery this season.

rely on point getters, Radim Vrbata and Ray Whitney to pick up the slack when the rest of the team was in a scoring slump, not this season. With the assist-king Whitney signed with Dallas, Vrbata will try and continue his pace with newcomer Steve Sullivan.

While on ice chemistry between the two have yet to be seen, Coyotes will need to make up the points lost with the departure of Whitney elsewhere.

One of the names being tossed around is Massachusetts born Keith Yandle. Having his name in trade talks is nothing new for the two-time All Star defenseman but with the acquiring of Zbynek Michalek and youngster Oliver Ekman-Larsson who is expected to continue his success of last season, Yandle may very well be on his way out.

But don’t count it yet as no one is safe during this season when every game is a playoff race.

Author information

Ed ChavezBased out of Arizona, Ed Chavez joined The Hockey Writers to cover the Phoenix Coyotes. In addition to THW, Ed also contributes to sister site, Sunbelt Hockey Journal, covering hockey in the desert and the Coyotes geared Five for Howling. Follow Ed on twitter, @edmchvzTwitter

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.