NHL: Coyotes

Coyotes trade Vandermeer to Edmonton for O'Sullivan, then buy out his contract

June 30, 2010  -- GLENDALE, ARIZONA -- Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have acquired forward Patrick O’Sullivan from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for defenseman Jim Vandermeer.  The Coyotes have exercised their right to buyout the contract of O’Sullivan.

Ed. note: Odd case, nice use of a loophole in the CBA as Phoenix seems to avoid buying out Vandermeer's contract.  It will be interesting to see whether the Coyotes retain O'Sullivan, a young cat who's running out of lives after stints in Minnesota, Los Angeles and Edmonton.  For more about O'Sullivan's strange career trajectory, see Dennis Bernstein's 2009 column, "The Curious Case of Patrick O'Sullivan."

DECEMBER 1, 2009 -- Don Maloney finds his Coyotes in good shape with one third of the season gone. It’s been a mixed bag for Maloney, mostly good. At 15-11-1, Phoenix sits four games over .500 after a hot start. Only Calgary, Chicago and San Jose have a better record against the Western conference. Ilya Bryzgalov (2.12GAA; .919SV%) has carried the low-scoring club while Adrian Aucoin has turned out to be a smart acquisition, helping Ed Jovanovski steer a young defense to new respectability, munching minutes—regularly 20+ per game.

“We have not been scoring,” said Maloney during a 3-2 victory in Anaheim. “Bryzgalov has been tremendous, and our defensive play has been consistent. (We're) one of the better teams without the puck. We don't have that dynamic guy like (Corey) Perry or (Ryan) Getzlaf, or even (Teemu) Selanne, that guy who can get that breakaway goal. We haven't found it yet.” (CONTINUED)

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