1998-99 record: 39-31-12, 90 points, 2nd Pacific Division
Coach: Bobby Francis (first-year Coyotes coach)
New faces: Francis, C Travis Green, D Todd Gill, G Robert Esche, G Bob Essensa, C Tavis Hansen, RW David Oliver
Losses: Coach Jim Schoenfeld, C Robert Reichel, RW Jim Cummins, D Jamie Huscroft, D Oleg Tverdovsky, G Scott Langkow
Strengths: The Coyotes' top players are among the best in the NHL. LW Keith Tkachuk had 36 goals despite missing 14 games, logged a plus-22 and was praised early in the season for his leadership qualities. C Jeremy Roenick had his best season in years with 24 goals and 48 assists. G Nikolai Khabibulin remains a workhorse after setting a club record with eight shutouts and ranking fourth in save percentage. D Teppo Numminen is among the most underrated players at his position. RW Rick Tocchet missed just one game last season and even though he will be 36 before the playoffs, the Coyotes could use more wingers like him. Phoenix ranked fifth in penalty-killing at 87.1 percent.
Weaknesses: Instability. Francis is the Coyotes' third coach in four years, following Schoenfeld and Don Hay. Francis has no NHL head coaching experience, much like Hay, who lasted all of one season. After starting last season 17-3-3, Phoenix went just 22-28-9 the rest of the way and again was bounced in the first round of the playoffs. The last time this franchise won a playoff series was 1987, when Pokey Reddick was the No. 1 goalie and Dale Hawerchuk led the Winnipeg Jets in scoring. Despite the presence of Tkachuk, Roenick and Tocchet, the Coyotes finished 18th in the league in scoring. One of the main reasons was an inept power play that clicked at just 12 percent and was next-to-last in the NHL. Khabibuliln was a holdout in training camp, a scary thought considering Bob Essensa and Mikhail Shtalenkov are the other options. C Robert Reichel was expected to be the solution as a No. 2 center, but a contract impasse has convinced GM Bobby Smith Reichel has played his last game in a Coyotes' uniform.