Since the Arizona Coyotes moved from Winnipeg, they’ve played host to a number of NHL All Star roster players — and they’re all more than familiar names.
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From the start of the Coyotes’ tenure until now, they’ve had eight all-stars (including defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who has been this season’s All Star nominee) playing in a number of games. A couple of the players made multiple appearances, and they’ve come from every position on the ice.
It may have been a tough season this year for the Arizona Coyotes, but they’ve had a couple bright spots. One has been… you guessed it, Mr. OTL himself.
With three overtime game-winning goals this season, Oliver Ekman-Larsson has been a strong offensive contributor for the Coyotes all season long; he’s been so good, as a matter of fact, that the league chose to honor him by naming the Swede to his first ever NHL All Star game. He’s the most recent Coyotes player to get a chance to perform with the best and the brightest — he’s adding his name to a nice, hearty list of Coyotes who have already gotten a chance to play in the games.
Some of the names you might be expecting — but others might surprise you. Let’s take a look down the list at the players that the Arizona Coyotes have sent to the All Star Games since the start of their time in the league:
Next: Keith Tkachuk
Keith Tkachuk: Played in the 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2009 All Star Games
Keith Tkachuk was the first man to lead the Arizona Coyotes (then the Phoenix Coyotes) when his captaincy transferred from Winnipeg to the team’s new home, and he deserved the three All-Star Game nominations he received from ’97-’99 when he scored 52, 40, and 36 goals respectively.
In the 1998- 1999 season, he missed a total of 27 games due to injuries — but still scored 76 goals. Big Walt was a force while with the Coyotes, and wound up scoring 538 goals en route to 1,065 NHL points in his career. He epitomizes a true All-Star!
Although only three of his All Star Game appearances came while he was a member of the Coyotes (the other two, which occurred in 2004 and 2009, were while he played for the St. Louis Blues), he represented the Coyotes well in their new home. The legacy he started would continue for years to come — the Coyotes have had All Star representatives in nearly all the games — and he’s certainly a player the team looks back on fondly, both as a player and as a role model.
Next: Teppo Numminen
Teppo Numminen: Played in the 1999, 2000, 2001 All Star Games
Along with Keith Tkachuk, TeppoNumminen was voted into three NHL All-Star games while with the Arizona Coyotes, appearing in the 1999, 2000, and 2001 games.
Not only did he manage .46 points a game — as a defender — but he was a reliable blue liner throughout his career. He took over as captain of the team when Keith Tkachuk was traded to the St. Louis Blues in 2001 — sound familiar? Looks like the Coyotes have tried to replicate the leadership grouping between Numminen and Tkachuk with Yandle and Doan.
What amazed me was how he overcame heart valve surgery, then continued his hockey career — a testament to the great physical condition he maintained and his dedication for the place he loved. Teppo was also honored by the Coyotes when his number was added to the wall of honor. He was a true professional, and a great Coyote.
Next: Jeremy Roenick
Jeremy Roenick: Played in the 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 All Star Games
Jeremy Roenick was a All Star nine separate times — but two of those alone came during his tenure with the Arizona Coyotes.
He skated out in his fifth All Star appearance while playing for the Coyotes in 1999, a season in which he excelled in a Coyotes uniform. That season alone, he collected 24 goals and 48 assists — en route to a decent showing that earned him his sixth All Star appearance the very next season.
His 34 goals, 44 assists, and 125 crushing hits during the 1999-2000 season earned yet another All Star game appearance in 2000.
Although his final All Star appearance would come in 2004 — during his brief tenure with the Philadelphia Flyers, and a few seasons before he would return to Arizona for a second run with the team — he might be remembered even by newer fans as the player who skated out during the playoffs with his jaw wired shut after a crushing hit by Darien Hatcher. If he wasn’t a Desert Dog at heart, not quite sure who was. J.R.’s #97 was retired and now hangs from the rafters of Gila River Arena, just miles from where he now lives with his family in Scottsdale, Arizona. If I had to describe Roenick in two words it would be: True Grit.
Next: Nikolai Khabibulin
Nikolai Khabibulin: Played in the 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003 All Star games
Nikolai Khabibulin , appropriately nicknamed the “Bulin Wall”, had an excellent stretch of seasons with Phoenix.
As such, he was announced as a part of the All Star game roster for two of the three seasons he played in the desert. The 1997-1998 season he finished with a 30-28-10 record, good enough for the league to name him to his first All Star game roster. He allowed only 184 goals that season, which tied him for the least number of goals allowed in the league. He also had a SV% of .900 and a GAA of 2.74.
The following year, his numbers were also impressive: 32-23-7 record, with a SV% of .923 and an impressive GAA of 2.13. This was also good enough for the All Star committee, as he was named to his second All Star game in as many seasons — and although he would go on to play in two more during his peak career years, both with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Coyotes can boast that they really got him the attention he deserved.
Unfortunately, he also agreed that he was finally getting some positive attention, and liked his numbers more than his salary — and held out for a bigger contract for the ENTIRE 1999-2000 season to get his point across.
The ploy failed, as GM Bobby Smith traded him to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was definitely a workhorse goaltender, who played well for the Coyotes.
Next: Sean Burke
Sean Burke may be a former Arizona Coyotes goalie, but he hasn’t strayed far since.
The Coyotes’ currently Assistant to the General Manager (better known as the goaltender coach) went to two All-Star games when he was with the Coyotes, both in 2001 and 2002. The best part? These came almost a full decade and a half after his first All Star appearance, which came in 1989 with the New Jersey Devils.
While he was with the Coyotes, he had two very respectable seasons in 2000-2001 and 2001-2002, prompting his selection.
He finished his first All Star season in Arizona with a 25-22-13 record, topping off those numbers with a .922 SV% and 2.27 GAA. He then improved the following year, posting an even better 33-21-6 record with a .920 SV% and a 2.29 GAA. Needless to say, his numbers were good for any goalie — and for one who had been in the league since the eighties, he was even better.
Sean’s son, Brendan, also plays net — he was drafted by the Coyotes in 2013, and now plays for the Calgary Hitmen. One day Sean may be working on developing his son, Brendan into a NHL goalie.
Next: Shane Doan
Shane Doan: Participated in the 2004 and 2009 All Star games
It’s difficult to believe that Shane Doan has only appeared in two All-Star games over his nineteen-season career.
Captain Coyote himself skated out with the All Star team first in 2004, then followed it up with an appearance in 2009 — the high point of the lowest period in a Coyotes fan’s hockey history. He’s one of those players that is a household NHL name — after all, anyone who knows anything about this team (or others who may not) know who Shane Doan is.
He is the heart and soul of the team, and has been since the team re-located from Winnipeg for the initial Coyotes season in ’95-’96.
Nothing can demonstrate this more than the numbers: From the 2003-2004 season to 2010-2011 season, he was the Coyotes’ leading scorer — and over his entire career, he has been in the top three an amazing 14 times.
He has remained loyal through all the owner controversy — although he could have signed elsewhere, he chose to stay in the valley. He is quite a symbol of Phoenix sports, and will be missed once he decides to hang up his skates.
Next: Keith Yandle
Keith Yandle: Played in the 2011 and 2012 All Star games
Apr. 24, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA; Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle (3) looks on during the first period against the San Jose Sharks at Jobing.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Keith Yandle has led the team in scoring the past two seasons (which tells you as much about his phenomenal offensive prowess as it does about the team’s weaknesses on offense), and was voted to both the 2011 and 2012 All Star games for his performances.
He is an excellent playmaker, cheats the opposition on defense, and has been the topic of trade rumors for the past two seasons. His defense continues to trend upwards, although his marketable talent as an offensive defenseman, he still needs to spend most of his time paired with a stay-at-home blue liner.
Although Yandle wasn’t named to the All Star roster this season or last, he’s the alternate captain for the Coyotes — as mentioned earlier, serving as the ‘yang’ to Shane Doan’s ‘yin’. The team’s average age for defenseman is under 24, and his veteran experience does good things regarding the necessary leadership on the blue line. Hopefully, his two appearances will serve as a reminder to fans that he’s made the Coyotes proud, whether he sticks around long-term or not.
Next: Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Oliver Ekman-Larsson: Will appear in his first All Star game in 2015
Nov 14, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) watches the faceoff against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period at Rogers Arena. The Arizona Coyotes won 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Oliver Ekman-Larsson is getting an opportunity this season to skate out in his first-ever All Star game, although it will more than likely be far from his last.
He has really come through as a clutch player this season, scoring overtime winning goals at a pace more suited to centers like Steven Stamkos. He bulked up this pre-season to be a stronger, more physical player — and it has shown.
He had a rough patch to start the season, but has started to really perform like an All Star with every passing game. I have no doubt that when Shane Doan decides that his playing days are over, Oliver will become the next Coyotes captain.
He has all the leadership qualities to step right in. I attended a pre-season skate at the Ice Den in Scottsdale, and got to see OEL up close and personal. There was a Canadian family there watching the practice — but the son, who played hockey was most enthralled with Oliver and wanted his autograph. His Mom encouraged him to just ask him, and Oliver was more than happy to sign for him. The boy was thrilled, and Oliver acted very much like a potential captain handling that interaction with a fan.
The future of this team may very well be in his hands, and it will be entertaining to see how good he can actually become in this league. Good luck in your first NHL All-Star game, Oliver!
