Coyotes Get an Experienced General Manager

This is Don Maloney. He had a solid NHL career with the New York Rangers, but I'll always remember that first season (78-79) when he impressed during the regular season and then was a rocket in the playoffs (he went 7-13-20 in 18 playoffs games to tie for the lead on his club with Phil Esposito. Donny Murdoch was also on that line). He was a stunning rookie.

He's known for a few things: scored an NHL goal on his first shot, first shift. No kidding. Scored it against Gilles Gilbert. His brother Dave was also a Ranger, another very good hockey player.

Maloney has been a Ranger exec for a long time now, and I think this is probably a good hire. Phoenix needs an experienced person who has enough background to stand up to the famous coach when required, and a guy who can pick up the phone and talk to his fellow General Managers as an equal.

It sets up a nice triangle for the Oilers. The Rangers have always been a popular trade partner for Edmonton and now with Maloney in Phoenix there's fresh blood to trade for this summer. The Coyotes don't have much, and they'll have to give it up to get better.

The Coyotes site says they have a major announcement tomorrow, Mirtle's site says it'll be Maloney. We'll know how smart he is just by counting the number of days until he gets an NHL goalie. It looks to me as though Wayne Gretzky has learned a hard-earned lesson: FOG have been telling him what he wants to hear just like Elvis' bodyguards when they brought fried pb and banana sandwiches to the jungle room. "Looks great, Wayne" wears a little after a few years in the toilet.

For Wayne Gretzky's sake, I hope Don Maloney leads this Godawful team out of the desert.