Phoenix signs K. Porter.

[15yearsofhistory 0]

Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have signed forward Kevin Porter, winner of the 2008 Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s top player, to an entry level contract. As per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Porter, 22, recently completed his senior year at the University of Michigan and finished the season ranked 2nd in Division I scoring with 33-30-63 in 43 games. The Wolverines captain finished his collegiate career with 85-98-183 and 115 penalty minutes (PIM) in 162 games.

Porter, who was selected by the Coyotes in the fourth round (119th overall) of the 2004 Entry Draft, will join the Coyotes’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, as they begin their first round Calder Cup Playoff series against the Toronto Marlies.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pound forward was named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Player of the Year and was a finalist for the league's Best Defensive Forward award. The Northville, Michigan native was also a member of the RBK West All-American First Team and All-CCHA First Team and was named the Hockey Commissioners January National Player of the Month.

During the East Regional of this year’s NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Championship, Porter scored an NCAA-record four goals in the Wolverines' 5-1 win against Niagara in the semifinal. He then added a goal and an assist in a 2-0 win over Clarkson as Michigan advanced to the Frozen Four for the 23rd time in school history.

Porter was named to the 2007 CCHA Second Team following his junior season. He also captained Team USA at the 2006 World Junior Championships and represented the United States at the 2005 World Junior Championships. In addition, Porter played for Team USA at the 2003 and 2004 Under-18 World Championships.

Source:http://coyotes.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=360442&page=NewsPage&service=page

Interesting. Maybe he'll spring new life in Phoenix or something...

[RadioGaGa 162]

Interesting. Maybe he'll spring new life in Phoenix or something...

Him and Turris....with some of the young talent they've already got...looks like they are joining the CHI/STL school of re-building.

[flyguy1697 0]

Add Kolarik to the list. Porter and Kolarik play sooo well together too. They are looking at a bright future.

[Patrick67 1]

4th round selection? For a guy with his credentials. Hmm guess he's a late bloomer.

Think Phoenix and Chicago are a level above Stl in terms of young talent + their coaches probably handle young talent better than Murray too.

[Penguinsfanatic 0]

Can't wait to see him next year, could be pretty interesting considering he might have Kolarik to play with again.

[LoXish 0]

4th round selection? For a guy with his credentials. Hmm guess he's a late bloomer.

Think Phoenix and Chicago are a level above Stl in terms of young talent + their coaches probably handle young talent better than Murray too.

I don't know -- and this isn't just me being a homer -- hockeysfuture.com has STL as the #1 system, with the #4, #33, and #34 pick this year and something like 6 first round picks in the past 3 years...

Oshie and Berglund probable for the team next year, Perron and Johnson already on the team, Cole, Eller, Schwarz in the wing, Ben Bishop a possible dominator -- add in Steve Wagner who was signed as a free agent out of college who has been very good and Woywitka who should play 70 games with the Blues next year...

Add in the rash of tier 2 and tier 3 prospects and either Stamkos, Doughty, Bogosian, Pietralango(?), Filatov, Boedker, Beach, Wilson or whomever they take with the #4 and someone like David Toews or Magnusson at the 33/34 spots... STL has supreme depth at just about every position.

Coyotoes don't have a lot of depth, they have some high caliber prospects, but aren't as deep and the Hawks have two young phenominal forwards in Toews and Kane, a solid core of young blueliners like Kieth, Barker and Seabrook -- there's a good core there, and the emergence of guys like Byifuglin and Burish have certainly helped... but beyond Skille and Bolland/Brouwer there's not much depth and they have nothing at the goalie position -- Cory Crawford is their top goalie prospect...

The organizational prospect pools are graded on positional strength and depth.

[ean 0]

PHX has a lot to look forward to, so does STL obviously in terms of prospects. Toews and Kane are really no longer considered prospects-rather young stars.

Following this year's draft I think the Kings and the Blues will be battling each other for the number 1 prospect pool of both quality and quantity.

[habsfan87 0]

didn't want to start a new thread so I'll put it in here. Does anyone know if there is any truth to or heard about the Coyotes being for sale? I know it's a long shot but I'll go with Kooley on this one and throw it out there, if so Balsillie should come to the table. I don't know what its like with the fanbase in Phoenix but I would love to see if it's an option, bringing this team and Gretz back to his home in Hamilton, Kitch/Waterloo, wherever..Southweatern Ontario. We need another Franchise down here, if not...to the East Coast.

[gelowitz 0]

What do you mean, another team? We don't have one.

[15yearsofhistory 0]

Well, if the Coyotes are only drawing in 450,000$ in ticket sales and loosing 30mil a year, it's a distinct possibility...

[Chadd 916]

Well, if the Coyotes are only drawing in 450,000$ in ticket sales and loosing 30mil a year, it's a distinct possibility...

450k per game or just under 18.5M per year and in ticket sales alone and they lose $30M? Is it time for all of the teams to pool their in-market TV contracts?