Remembering Arizona Coyotes/Winnipeg Jets Jersey Numbers
The Arizona Coyotes/Winnipeg Jets are not the most storied franchise in the National Hockey League. Originally established as a charter member of the World Hockey Association in 1972, the Jets thrived in the rebel league, winning three WHA titles, and merged into the the NHL in 1979.
Citing financial woes the franchised moved to Phoenix and were rechristened the Coyotes. In the franchise’s four-decades of existence they have retired only six numbers, by contrast the Montreal Canadiens have retired 15-numbers for 19-players, but from jersey numbers 1-99 the Coyotes/Jets have had their fair share of good players and interesting characters.
Part One: Jerseys 1-5
1. Sean Burke: In five-seasons with the Coyotes he went 97-78-29 with a 2.39 GAA and 15-shutouts. Burke is currently the Coyotes’ Goaltending Coach and Assistant to the General Manager.
Burke played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New Jersey Devils, Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes, Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers, Florida Panthers, Phoenix Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning and Los Angeles Kings.
He started 11 games for the Devils in the 1987–88 NHL season, including an overtime victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on the final night of the season that qualified the Devils for their first playoff series.
Because he played only 11 games in the 1987–88 regular season, he maintained his rookie status for the next season. The next season, Burke was elected into the NHL All-Star Game, and becoming the first rookie goaltender to play in the All-Star game.
Burke played for the Devils through the 1990–91 NHL season, and then sat out the 1991–92 season in a contract dispute. Instead, he played for the Canadian national team and played in the Olympics for a second time. This time, he backstopped Canada to a silver medal.
As happens so many times when a player does well early in their career, they tend to hold out thinking they are worth more money. Back then General Managers just said “fine, hold out if you want, but we’ll get rid of you soon.”
On August 28, 1992, Burke was traded to the Hartford Whalers for Bobby Holik, a second-round pick in 1993 draft (Jay Pandolfo) and future considerations. He played there (and with the relocated Whalers team, the Carolina Hurricanes) for six seasons. He was voted Whalers’ team MVP from ’93–’97. Burke then played with several teams, including the Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks, and Florida Panthers.
He then signed with the Phoenix Coyotes, and played there for five seasons, where he was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy and 3rd finalist for the Hart Trophy in the 2001–02 NHL season.
After that, Burke played for the Philadelphia Flyers (for the second time) recording his 300th career win (the twentieth goalie to reach this milestone), and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Burke was placed on waivers by Tampa Bay before the 2006–07 NHL season, but no team picked him up.
He then played for the Lightning’s American Hockey League affiliate Springfield Falcons, (who just signed an affiliation agreement with the Arizona Coyotes) however, he struggled with the Falcons and lost his starting job to Karri Ramo, who know plays for the Calgary Flames. He was then placed on waivers by the Lightning and picked up off re-entry waivers by the Los Angeles Kings.
Burke, a 3-time NHL All-Star (1989, 2001, 2002), officially announced his retirement on September 18, 2007.
2. Dave Ellett/Derek Morris/Keith Ballard : A solid defenseman with the Jets and an 1989 NHL All-Star.
Dave Ellett accumulated 299 points in 475 games while with the Winnipeg Jets club for seven years.
On November 10, 1990 he was traded to Toronto by Winnipeg with Paul Fenton for Ed Olczyk and Mark Osborne.
On February 25, 1997 he was traded to New Jersey by Toronto with Doug Gilmour and New Jersey’s 3rd round choice (previously acquired, New Jersey selected Andre Lakos) in 1999 Entry Draft for Jason Smith, Steve Sullivan (the development coach for the current Arizona Coyotes) and the rights to Alyn McCauley, February 25, 1997.
Live Feed class=inline-text id=inline-text-4Looking back at the Blackhawks' trades involving Andrew Ladd /
Derek Morris just used #2 for a short time, then when Keith Ballard and him were both traded to the then Phoenix Coyotes on March 9, 2004 he switched to #53. He wore that number until 2014, when the Coyotes did not renew his contract. He had played ten years for the Coyotes, and was a fan favorite. I always appreciated his hard, accurate shots from the point when he was on the power play.
Keith Ballard is a hip check “expert.” I was a big fan of the way he would line up an opposing player along the boards, and throw his hip out in a perfectly legal manner to stop the player’s advance into the zone.
Ballard’s list of teams is bit long:
July 3, 2003: Traded to Colorado by Buffalo for Steve Reinprecht, July 3, 2003.
March 9, 2004: Traded to Phoenix by Colorado with Derek Morris for Ossi Vaananen, Chris Gratton and Phoenix’s 2nd round choice (Paul Stastny) in 2005 Entry Draft, March 9, 2004.
June 20, 2008: Traded to Florida by Phoenix with Nick Boynton and Ottawa’s 2nd round choice (previously acquired, later traded back to Phoenix – Phoenix selected Jared Staal) in 2008 Entry Draft for Olli Jokinen, June 20, 2008.
June 25, 2010: Traded to Vancouver by Florida with Victor Oreskovich for Steve Bernier, Michael Grabner and Vancouver’s 1st round choice (Quinton Howden) in 2010 Entry Draft, June 25, 2010.
July 5, 2013: Signed as a free agent by Minnesota, July 5, 2013.
Jan 18, 2015; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Arizona Coyotes defenceman Keith Yandle (3) prior to the game against the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
3. Keith Yandle: He was one of the few bright spots for Coyotes fans the last couple of seasons and was traded to the New York Rangers this past spring. In a blockbuster trade, he was dealt along with Chris Summers, and a fourth round 2016 pick to the Rangers in exchange for D-man John Moore, prospect Anthony Duclair, and a 2015 second rounder, and a 2016 first rounder. In nine-seasons with the Coyotes he was a two time All-Star selection, 2011 and 2012.
His specialty was the power play, due to his excellent puck carrying skills. Unfortunately because he cheated so much to jump into the offensive play, his +/- statistics were lacking. It seems the deal was agreed upon once the Rangers threw in Duclair, whom everyone (me included) is anxious to watch play.
Here’s a sample of his play. Watch it, and tell me you too are not excited to have him in an Arizona Coyotes uniform next season.
Feb 10, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Arizona Coyotes defenseman Zbynek Michalek (4) checks St. Louis Blues right wing T.J. Oshie (74) during the second period at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
4. Zbynek Michalek: Z had spent the last eight-season in Arizona but was shipped to St. Louis as part of the Coyotes’ rebuilding project this year. Michalek never put up great numbers but was a solid defenseman, with the best +/- numbers on the blue-line (-6). He is a stay-at-home defenseman, who could block shots with the best of them. He was injured more times than not due to standing in front of 90 mph slap-shots. The team would do well to find another experienced defenseman like him.
He sustained a concussion at about the time of the trade, and did recover enough to contribute to the Blues late season success. He scored two goals, with two assists in 15 games with his new team.
On March 9, 2015 Michalek played in his 70th NHL game. Not sure if St. Louis will re-sign him, but his talents are multiple, and I’m sure if he doesn’t stay with St. Louis some team will require his services.
Apr 9, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Arizona Coyotes defenseman Connor Murphy (5) skates against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
5. Deron Quint: Slim pickings for the number 5. It was Quint or the up and coming Connor Murphy.
Quint was on the Winnipeg Jets and moved down to Phoenix when the team re-located in 1996. He collected 83 points in 271 games with both teams. He moved around a lot, and never really settled into being a top NHL player.
Here are this many stops:
March 7, 2000: Traded to New Jersey by Phoenix with Phoenix’s 3rd round choice (later traded back to Phoenix – Phoenix selected Beat Forster) in 2001 Entry Draft for Lyle Odelein, March 7, 2000.
June 23, 2000: Traded to Columbus by New Jersey to complete transaction that sent Krzysztof Oliwa to Columbus (June 12, 2000) and Turner Stevenson to New Jersey (June 23, 2000), June 23, 2000.
October 16, 2002: Signed to a PTO (tryout) contract by Springfield (AHL), October 16, 2002.
October 26, 2002: Signed as a free agent by Phoenix, October 26, 2002.
August 5, 2003: Signed as a free agent by Chicago, August 5, 2003.
December 20, 2004: Signed as a free agent by Bolzano (Italy), December 20, 2004.
May 21, 2005: Signed as a free agent by Kloten (Swiss), May 21, 2005.
November 11, 2005: Signed as a free agent by Berlin (Germany), November 11, 2005.
March 31, 2007: Signed as a free agent by NY Islanders, March 31, 2007.
Connor Murphy played his first full year in the NHL, and is a hard hitting, good sized defenseman at 6′ 4″, 212 lbs. He has some crushing his this past season, and if he can be teamed with a more experienced D-man, he will be fine. The 2011 20th overall pick of the Arizona Coyotes has a good future with the team.
He is also playing in the IIHF World Championships for Team USA. In Six games he has no points and six shots on goal. The experience he is getting by playing in this tournament will be valuable in his NHL career.
Connor has shown he can play in the NHL, and now he must refine his game and improve in areas to help his team succeed. At just 22, he has many years ahead of him to do just that.
