1996–97 Phoenix Coyotes season


The 1996–97 Phoenix Coyotes' season was the team's first season in the National Hockey League since relocating from Winnipeg the season prior. The franchise's 25th season since its founding in 1972, and 18th season in the National Hockey League since 1979.

Off-season

NHL Entry Draft

Phoenix's draft picks at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
RoundPickPlayerNationalityCollege/Junior/Club Team
111Dan Focht Tri-City Americans
124Daniel Briere Drummondville Voltigeurs
362Per-Anton Lundstrom MODO
5119Richard Lintner Dukla Trencin Jr.
6139Robert Esche Detroit Whalers
7174Trevor Letowski Sarnia Sting
8200Nick Lent Omaha Lancers
9226Marc-Etienne Hubert Laval Titan College Francais

Regular season

The Winnipeg Jets team was sold to Phoenix businessmen Steven Gluckstern and Richard Burke, and in 1996, the club moved to Arizona and became the Phoenix Coyotes.
In the summer that the move took place, the franchise saw the exit of Jets stars like Teemu Selanne and Alexei Zhamnov, while the team added established superstar Jeremy Roenick from the Chicago Blackhawks. Roenick teamed up with power wingers Keith Tkachuk and Rick Tocchet to form a dynamic 1–2–3 offensive punch that led the Coyotes through their first years in Arizona. Also impressive were young players like Shane Doan, Oleg Tverdovsky and goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, whom the fans nicknamed the "Bulin Wall."
Forward Keith Tkachuk is re-named captain, replacing Kris King.

Final standings

Schedule and results

Playoffs

In their first year, the Coyotes managed to make the playoffs. However, they lost to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 4 games to 3 in round one.
Anaheim Wins Series 4-3

Player statistics

Regular season

;Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIM+/-PPGSHGGWG
LW81523486228-1927
C72294069115-71037
RW8232316338-111317
D8210455530-5312
C7715385326-1501
C6919325126-9802
RW6317193652-11511
D822252728-3000
LW82111324414102
C809112040-7013
D6631720164-25200
C554111536-4201
LW8131114185-7000
D27311144-4100
D32491324-11101
RW63481249-3000
D65371040-8101
D553710745000
C41371028-5200
LW65538200-5001
LW2443713-5100
D231673710001
D37156182000
C331344-3000
D11123232100
G72033160000
RW210100001
G1601140000
D800040000
D200000000
G100000000
D400010-3000
RW100000000
C/LW70002-4000
G200000000
LW10000-1000
D10007-1000
C200000000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLTGAGAASOSASVSV%
409172303361932.83720941901.908
78216831392.991386347.899
29100012.07087.875
59201022.0302422.917
Team:496182383772352.84825122277.906

Playoffs

;Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIMPPGSHGGWG
C707712000
LW76067200
D73360101
C62464000
LW73144001
C72244001
RW71234000
C70334000
D70220000
RW70112000
D70110000
D10000000
D700010000
RW40002000
D10002000
D60004000
G70006000
LW700017000
C10000000
RW20004000
LW70002000
D70007000
C700014000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLGAGAASOSASVSV%
426734152.111222207.932
Team:426734152.111222207.932

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes; PPG=Power-play goals; SHG=Short-handed goals; GWG=Game-winning goals
MIN=Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; SO = Shutouts; SA=Shots Against; SV=Shots saved; SV% = Save Percentage;

Playoffs

Roster

Awards and records

Transactions

Trades

Waivers

Free agents

Joining the Coyotes:
PlayerFormer Team
Cliff RonningVancouver Canucks
Brad McCrimmonHartford Whalers
Jim JohnsonDallas Stars
Darcy WakalukDallas Stars
Reggie SavageColorado Avalanche
Kevin DahlCalgary Flames
Scott LevinsOttawa Senators
Mike HudsonSt. Louis Blues
Jocelyn LemieuxCalgary Flames

Leaving the Coyotes:
PlayerNew Team
Dominic RousselPhiladelphia Flyers
Ed OlczykLos Angeles Kings
Craig MartinFlorida Panthers
Iain FraserSan Jose Sharks
Denis ChasseOttawa Senators