Now would be a good time to post something I suppose...

Well Coyotes fans, we're not going to the playoffs. AGAIN. Time to pick another team to cheer for in the playoffs *sigh*. I'm going with the Flyers, since its Carcillo's new team. Do I think they'll win the cup? No. But I think they will at least have a good run. Who do I think will win it? Detroit for a second year wouldn't surprise me, San Jose will make a good run, so will Boston & maybe Calgary. The obvious choices. All this mess in Montreal has disappointed me this season. I was truly hoping they'd be a real cup contender this year. But I think they cracked under the Centennial year pressure. I would imagine that being a Montreal Canadien would rank up there on the high pressure job scale. I think firing Guy Carbonneau was a mistake. I imagine Gainey thought someone's head needed to roll for this... too bad it was Carbo's. I also think their fans need to lay off of Carey Price. He's good, very good but too much is expected of the young goaltender. There's no error margin in Montreal...

As for my team, their post-All Star break steady decline has been devastating for me as a fan. The beginning of this season held so much promise. I feel like this happens every year. This year, even worse than last year. How did this happen? How do we fix it? Some fans are calling for Gretzky to step down as head coach. At the very least, this season has raised some questions for me. Why are the Coyotes lacking motivation? Where's the consistency? Who is to blame? Gretzky? How many more years will we continue to trade away players in an attempt to "improve" our situation? WHY DO THEY ALWAYS HAVE TO TRADE THE FAN FAVORITES?!?! Do they not like their fans? I don't like to watch my boys playing the position of "spoiler". They are better than that. We have more talent than that. Shane Doan deserves better than that. So how do we fix this?

The Diva's Player Spotlight on: Kurt Sauer

The Diva's Player Spotlight on:

Kurt Sauer

Kurt Sauer was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche, 88th overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. Following the draft, Sauer remained unsigned and continued to play for his junior team, the Spokane Chiefs. In June 2002, Sauer was signed by the Anaheim Ducks. During Sauer's debut NHL year in 2003 with Anaheim, he made it to the Stanley Cup Finals. The following year on February 21, 2004, Sauer was traded to the team that drafted him, the Colorado Avalanche, for Martin Skoula.

Sauer spent the next 4 1/2 years with the Avalanche before leaving as a free agent. This brings us to the Coyotes era; on July 1, 2008, Sauer signed a four-year deal with the Phoenix Coyotes.

Kurt comes from a very athletic family. Kurt's younger brother, Michael Sauer is also a defenseman and New York Rangers prospect. His older brother, Kent Sauer, was a draftee of the Nashville Predators. Kent was forced to retire due to knee problems. His oldest brother Craig Sauer played college football at the University of Minnesota and played in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings until a foot injury forced him into retirement. Craig was on the Atlanta Falcons team that played in the Super Bowl. His father Curt played for the Minnesota Twins.

Little Known Kurt Sauer Facts:

Pets: Dog named Boone

Favorite Food: Crappie Filets

Favorite TV Show: Whitetail Revolution

Favorite Movie: Dumb and Dumber

Favorite Athlete: Michael Jordan

Superstitions: Put left skate on before right skate

Most Memorable Hockey Moment: Run to the Stanley Cup Finals with Anaheim in 2003

Hobbies: Spending time with family and fishing

Favorite Road City in the NHL: Minneapolis, MN because its close to home

Reason Behind Jersey Number: My number was 34 for so long but it was taken on the Coyotes so I picked 44 which was similar.

Nicknames: Sweets, Tom

Favorite Tech Gadget: Laptop

*from the 2008-2009 Official Team Yearbook of the Phoenix Coyotes


What the Coyotes fans have to say about Kurt:

"In the year of the defenseman, Kurt Sauer was not just a pleasant surprise, he was a life saver. With Ballard and Boynton sacrificed to bring in that coveted and much needed #1 centerman (Olli Jokinen), our Kurt Alert has become that quiet,calming presence at the blue line, eating up the gut churning minutes against the opponent's top players. Under rated and viciously under appreciated around the league, Sweets was a bargain. GMDM pulled off the defensive steal of the season by grabbing this diamond-in-the-rough. While you won't often find his name on any scoring sheet, you will find him shutting down top lines w/ Z, layin out big hits like Doan, gettin the puck out of zone on the PK, blocking shots and even fighting if he has to. Leading by example, playing through the pain, the name Sauer conjures up thoughts of the pistols that bear his name, their motto is "Reliability. First time. Everytime." apparently thats Kurt's mottotoo. We only won 4 of the 10 games while he was out. Sounds like a tremendous part of the heart n soul of the Coyotes to me. Oh yeah... that big blonde is a fan charmer and is sure easy on the eyes too. What more could a gal wish for?"
-Z4Dfence at Coyotes Hip Check Blog

"Kurt Sauer...What can I say that I have not said all along...he rocks! The Avalanche is my 1B team so I already knew what he was all about...a workhorse of a shutdown D man who does his job so well it's hard to even notice what he really does...until he got injured. The Coyotes and the fans surely missed his presence on the ice but I am VERY glad he is back. Even though he's not quite 100% he's still better than a lot of other healthy D men in the league. Just ask the Maple Leafs...as it was rumored they confused Jeff Finger with Sauer and got the short end of the deal...LOL!http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=16043 As the numbers clearly show, Sauer is the "real" D man."
-Q

"Here's my take on Kurt: Here's a guy that goes out on to the ice, knows his job, and gets it done. He and Z are one, if not the, better d-lines on the Phoenix Coyotes."
-Dawn

"I was a little leary about our blue line once Ballard and Boynton were traded, but getting Sauer turned out to be a good thing for the Coyotes. He is physical and mans that blue line like no other. He can't shoot on net, but we love him for trying. Although we (ok, I) still miss Ballard, Kurt has done a great job of
winning my (our) heart(s)."
-hipchecks

"Kurt Sauer is one of the most genuine good souls. He was very accommodating after training camp, in that he stopped and signed what memorabilia we had for him to sign and even asked if we had anything else for him to sign. Then he sauntered away. Let me tell you, that man can saunter away from me any day and anytime he wants. Next to DMo, Kurt Sauer has the most bodacious badunkadunk!"
-MissConduct

REFERENCES:
Wikipedia
Getty Images
Team Photo from phoenixcoyotes.com

The Diva's Trade Deadline Day Coyotes Wrap-up

Now that I can see straight and my migraine has subsided from the news of my favorite player being traded today, I can offer some comments on the Coyotes trade deadline movements:


12:04 EST Tellqvist to Buffalo for 4th round pick in 2010

First news of the day, not nessecarily a surprise for me. Telly becomes a UFA this summer and could've possibly been lost to the free agency market. He brought us a 4th round draft pick and considering that we have a ton of young goaltending talent in the system right now, we need not worry too much about losing Telly. I wish him the best of luck in Buffalo and hope he does well there.


12:40 EST Olli Jokinen & a 3rd round pick to Calgary for Lombardi, Prust and a 1st round pick

Though it pains me to go through the "what might have been" scenarios involving Jokinen in my head, I think Olli needed to go. Lombardi seems to be a good acquisition though I don't know too much about either of them so I will have to reserve full judgement for now. However, knowing what we gave up for Jokinen in Ballard over the summer, this trade leaves me feeling a bit scorned. Olli was supposed to be our "Savior".


02:45 EST Daniel Carcillo to Philadelphia for Scottie Upshall and 2nd round pick

This, dear readers; was the heartbreaker. You only need to read but a few of my blog entries (if even that many) to realize that Carcillo is my favorite player. You can take the Ollis, the Tellys, the Ballards.... hell, you could even take the Bryzzys and the Doans... but you mess with my Carcillo and we have a pro0blem. Well, we have a problem. That's all I can say on this for now. I'm still not over it. Yah I know, its the nature of the business.... blah blah blah blah BLAH! That's easy to say when its not YOUR favorite player who got traded...


3:00 EST Derek Morris to New York Rangers for Prucha, Kalinin and Dawes

Given Maloney's ties to the Rangers, this was not a surprise for me. I do hope however, that D-Mo will be back after this season. Here's hoping we get someone to purchase the team who has lots of extra cash and really wants D-Mo back.


A look back at what we've lost...

Derek Morris, beloved blue liner who always had time for his fans. He remembers your name and asks you how your kids are. He still owes me some macaroni and cheese. I won't be forgetting about the mac and cheese D-Mo... I want my mac and cheese :D

Olli Jokinen, though you weren't here long I had high hopes. I enjoyed watching you play and especially when you would hide behind Danny or Fridgey and talk shit to your opponents. It was my favorite. May you find what you are looking for, sorry it didn't work out...

Oh my Telly, we could always count on you! Rarely did you ever let us down when you got the call to fill in for Bryz. How I will miss chanting "TELLY! TELLY TELLY!" with my friends. You are still my favorite back-up goalie Telly & you always will be.


And that brings me to my Danny Boy. Danny- you are the reason I love hockey. You are the one that drew me in and kept me coming back for more. Losing you is a huge loss to this team and especially to this fan. The only comfort I have now is in knowing that playing for the Flyers was something you always wanted and in that respect I am happy for you. May the fans in Philly appreciate you even half as much as I do. I wish you all the luck in the world and will be here rooting you on, always your biggest fan.

♥ -The Diva