2005–06 Phoenix Coyotes season

Offseason

Key dates prior to the start of the season:

• The 2005 NHL entry draft took place in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on July 30, 2005.
• The free agency period began on August 1.
• On August 6, 2004, Brett Hull, son of former Jet Bobby Hull, was signed. After wearing his customary number 16 during the preseason and the first two games of the regular season, he was re-assigned the elder Hull's retired number 9.
• August 8, 2005 – The Coyotes introduced Gretzky as its new head coach, replacing Rick Bowness, despite the fact that he had never coached at any level of hockey. The Coyotes Ring of Honor was unveiled on October 8, inducting Gretzky and Bobby Hull. One week later, Brett Hull announced his retirement. On January 21, 2006, Jets great Thomas Steen was the third inductee to the Ring of Honor. On April 13, Steve Ellman announced an agreement for Jerry Moyes to assume majority ownership control of the Coyotes, Glendale Arena and the National Lacrosse League's Arizona Sting.

Wayne Gretzky

Despite previous denials that Wayne Gretzky would not assume coaching duties, on August 8, 2005 Gretzky agreed to become the new coach of the Coyotes.

In the time leading up to Gretzky's announcement, several prominent free agents signed with Phoenix citing the chance to play for Gretzky, including Brett Hull. Hull, who was briefly Gretzky's right winger, only lasted five games and only scored one assist before retiring. Ironically, "The Golden Brett" would have had the record for the most goals over any given three seasons — he scored 228 goals between 1989–90 and 1991–92 — if it weren't for The Great One. From 1981–82 to 1983–84, Gretzky scored 254 goals.

Gretzky made his coaching debut on October 5, 2005, the opening night of the 2005–06 NHL season, losing 3–2 to the Vancouver Canucks. His first coaching victory was October 8, 2005, beating the Minnesota Wild 2–1. Gretzky took an indefinite leave of absence as coach on December 17, 2005 to care for his ill mother in Brantford, Ontario. His mother lost her battle to lung cancer two days later, dying on December 19, 2005. Assistant coach Rick Tocchet assumed the position until Gretzky's return on December 28. Coyotes' CEO Jeff Shumway announced on June 5, 2006 that Gretzky has agreed to a new five-year contract to remain as head coach.

Regular season

Also in the 2005–06 season, the Coyotes were planning to host the NHL all-star game. Due to the XX Winter Olympic Games, the game was canceled. Wayne Gretzky was the General Manager of the Canadian Olympic Hockey Team. Coyotes captain Shane Doan was selected for the Canadian team.

The Coyotes tied the Los Angeles Kings for most power-play opportunities, with 541.

Final standings

Schedule and results

|- |1||October 5, 2005||2–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (2005–06) ||0–1–0 || |- |2||October 6, 2005||2–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (2005–06) ||0–2–0 || |- |3||October 8, 2005||2–1 || align="left"| Minnesota Wild (2005–06) ||1–2–0 || |- |4||October 11, 2005||2–3 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (2005–06) ||1–3–0 || |- |5||October 13, 2005||4–5 SO|| align="left"| Nashville Predators (2005–06) ||1–3–1 || |- |6||October 15, 2005||0–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (2005–06) ||1–4–1 || |- |7||October 17, 2005||2–0 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (2005–06) ||2–4–1 || |- |8||October 18, 2005||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (2005–06) ||3–4–1 || |- |9||October 20, 2005||2–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (2005–06) ||3–5–1 || |- |10||October 23, 2005||3–5 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2005–06) ||3–6–1 || |- |11||October 25, 2005||5–4 OT|| align="left"| St. Louis Blues (2005–06) ||4–6–1 || |- |12||October 27, 2005||3–2 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (2005–06) ||5–6–1 || |- |13||October 29, 2005||3–5 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (2005–06) ||5–7–1 || |- |14||October 30, 2005||2–3 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2005–06) ||5–8–1 ||

| Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring

• Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
• • = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Coyotes only.*
• • = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Coyotes only.*

Goaltending

• • = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Coyotes only.*
• • = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Coyotes only.*

Awards and records

Awards

Milestones

Transactions

The Coyotes were involved in the following transactions from February 17, 2005, the day after the 2004–05 NHL season was officially cancelled, through June 19, 2006, the day of the deciding game of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals.

Trades

Players acquired

Players lost

Signings

Draft picks

Phoenix's draft picks at the 2005 NHL entry draft held at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa, Ontario.

Farm teams

• San Antonio Rampage, American Hockey League

Notes

References

References

1. (October 25, 2005). "COYOTES WIN 5-4 THRILLER IN OT".
2. (March 11, 2006). "COYOTES DROP 5-3 CONTEST TO ANAHEIM".
3. (September 29, 2005). "BRETT HULL TO RECEIVE NO. 9 ON OPENING NIGHT".
4. (October 9, 2005). "BOBBY HULL UN-RETIRES NO. 9 FOR SON BRETT HULL".
5. (August 8, 2005). "WAYNE GRETZKY NAMED HEAD COACH".
6. "2005-06 NHL Summary".
7. "2005-06 Phoenix Coyotes Schedule".
8. (April 3, 2006). "REINPRECHT NAMED NHL POTW".
9. (April 13, 2006). "COYOTES ANNOUNCE 2005-06 AWARD WINNERS".
10. Arizona Coyotes 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.290
11. "2005-06 NHL Debuts".
12. (April 9, 2006). "COYOTES SUFFER 3-2 DEFEAT IN OVERTIME".
13. "Hockey Transactions Search Results".
14. (August 18, 2005). "LIGHTNING SIGN RW JIM CAMPBELL, RW NORM MILLEY & C JASON JASPERS; RE-SIGN G BRIAN EKLUND".
15. (June 25, 2010). "Flyers trade history at NHL draft".
16. (August 23, 2005). "COYOTES ACQUIRE MIKE LECLERC".
17. (August 26, 2005). "COYOTES ACQUIRE ZBYNEK MICHALEK".
18. (October 8, 2005). "COYOTES ACQUIRE GEOFF SANDERSON".
19. (October 18, 2005). "COYOTES ACQUIRE JAMIE LUNDMARK".
20. (October 24, 2005). "COYOTES LOOK TO RAISE THEIR LEVEL OF PLAY".
21. (November 18, 2005). "COYOTES ACQUIRE DAVE SCATCHARD".
22. (November 25, 2005). "COYOTES ANNOUNCE RAMPAGE ROSTER SHUFFLE".
23. (December 28, 2005). "COYOTES ACQUIRE ERIC CHOUINARD".
24. (December 28, 2005). "COYOTES ACQUIRE PAVEL BRENDL".
25. (January 20, 2006). "COYOTES ACQUIRE DEFENSEMAN DENNIS SEIDENBERG".
26. (January 24, 2006). "COYOTES ACQUIRE CENTER JEFF TAFFE".
27. (February 1, 2006). "COYOTES ACQUIRE REINPRECHT & SAUVE FROM CALGARY".
28. (February 3, 2006). "SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE ACQUIRE DWAYNE ZINGER".
29. (March 9, 2006). "COYOTES ACQUIRE JOSH GRATTON".
30. (March 9, 2006). "COYOTES ACQUIRE JOEL PERRAULT".
31. (March 9, 2006). "COYOTES ACQUIRE DEFENSEMAN JAMIE RIVERS".
32. (March 9, 2006). "COYOTES RE-ACQUIRE YANIC LEHOUX".
33. (March 9, 2006). "COYOTES ACQUIRE OLEG KVASHA".
34. (March 9, 2006). "COYOTES ACQUIRE FOURTH ROUND DRAFT PICK".
35. "CHRIS MCALLISTER".
36. (August 17, 2005). "COYOTES SIGN CURTIS JOSEPH".
37. (August 19, 2005). "COYOTES SIGN STEVE PASSMORE".
38. "MIKE BISHAI".
39. (November 4, 2005). "COYOTES SIGN STEVE GAINEY".
40. (November 5, 2005). "COYOTES CLAIM YANICK LEHOUX".
41. (December 19, 2005). "COYOTES CLAIM KOLANOS OFF WAIVERS".
42. "VLADIMIR ORSZAGH".
43. (March 27, 2006). "COYOTES SIGN COLLEGE FREE AGENT BILL THOMAS".
44. (May 5, 2006). "COYOTES SIGN FREE AGENT PATRICK FISCHER".
45. (August 1, 2005). "Free Agents List".
46. (September 15, 2005). "Flyers sign Savage; Kapanen sidelined 10 weeks".
47. "2005 Transaction Log".
48. (August 2, 2005). "Panthers strike on free agents".
49. (August 2, 2005). "Flyers agree to terms with Sim".
50. (August 20, 2005). "Panthers add goaltending depth with Pelletier".
51. (September 1, 2005). "Canucks Sign Free Agent Goaltender Brent Johnson".
52. (September 7, 2005). "Forward Mike Stutzel returns for 2005-2006 season".
53. (October 4, 2005). "Cleary signs, final roster set for opener".
54. (October 15, 2005). "FUTURE HALL OF FAMER BRETT HULL RETIRES".
55. (October 22, 2005). "Nikos Tselios sittenkin KalPaan".
56. (November 11, 2005). "Oilers obtain Krys Kolanos off waivers".
57. (November 26, 2005). "TRANSACTIONS".
58. (December 31, 2005). "Blues obtain Orszagh off waivers".
59. "2008 NHL Free Agent List".
60. (May 4, 2006). "Nyförvärv".
61. "STEVE PASSMORE".
62. (June 6, 2006). "Keefe Takes Over Reins as GM/Coach".
63. (August 2, 2005). "BOUCHER RETURNS TO COYOTES".
64. (August 3, 2005). "COYOTES SIGN MATT JONES".
65. (August 5, 2005). "COYOTES SIGN BRAD FERENCE".
66. (August 11, 2005). "COYOTES SIGN DEREK MORRIS".
67. (August 15, 2005). "COYOTES SIGN KOLANOS AND TAFFE".
68. (August 22, 2005). "COYOTES SIGN PAUL MARA".
69. "SHELDON KEEFE".
70. (March 8, 2006). "MORRIS & REINPRECHT AGREE TO TERMS".
71. (March 31, 2006). "COYOTES SIGN DANIEL WINNIK".
72. (April 15, 2006). "COYOTES SIGN MICHALEK TO FOUR-YEAR EXTENSION".
73. (May 5, 2006). "COYOTES SIGN DEFENSEMAN KEITH YANDLE".
74. (May 12, 2006). "COYOTES SIGN KEVIN CORMIER".
75. (May 26, 2006). "COYOTES RE-SIGN CURTIS JOSEPH".
76. (June 1, 2006). "COYOTES SIGN PROSPECTS LISIN & STEPHENSON".
77. "2005 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com".
78. National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p.14, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, {{ISBN. 0-920445-98-5