We have a funky moment this week on NHL Saturday: the original Winnipeg Jets, that became the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes—and are currently in limbo until a new team is awarded to the Valley of the Sun. We don’t know when that will be, but when the Coyotes organization moved to Utah, it left the team’s legacy and records behind. Thus, we have a separate entry here for this franchise, which doesn’t currently “exist”!

[Editor’s Note: We realize this is a “duplicate entry”—the original is here. This piece will be replaced sooner or later for its publication date. Apologies.]

No. 10: Keith Yandle, D—50 PS (2006-2015)

A fourth rounder, he came through for the organization with two All-Star nods (2011-2012). He also earned a Norris Top 5 vote finish in 2011, while finishing in the Top 15 in the two subsequent seasons. Not bad return there: he posted only 21:24 ATOI in his career with the team during the regular season, and he added 21:00 ATOI in 27 postseason contests, too. His best effort featured 9.9 PS overall, in that 2010-2011 season.

No. 9: Ilya Bryzgalov, G—52 PS (2007-2011)

After winning a Cup with Anaheim, he joined the Coyotes at age 27 and proceeded to have four stellar seasons: his “worst” season still produced 11.4 PS (2008-2009). He earned Top 6 Vezina vote finishes in his last two years in the desert, as well. A former second-round pick, he put up a 130-93-27 record in the regular season to go along with a .917 save percentage and 21 shutouts with the team. Impressive overall!

No. 8: Bob Essensa, G—53 PS (1988-1994, 1999-2000)

A fourth-round pick in 1983, he finished his college career and then joined the Jets to the tune of a 116-114-32 record. He later came back for one season in Phoenix, posting a 13-10-3 there. So, he is unique in that sense. Also, he finished third in the Vezina vote once (1992) when he led the NHL with five shutouts. He never made an All-Star squad, but he did find a space on the All-Rookie team in 1990. Solid journeyman.

No. 7: Thomas Steen, C—53 PS (1981-1995)

Almost an original Jet, he defines “average” for this team: a fifth rounder, he never posted any significant statistical dominance despite hanging with the organization for 14 seasons. His best season (1988-1989) saw only a 6.7 PS mark, and since he played in an era of high scoring, his 817 points in 950 regular-season games was actually kind of middling. Same for his 44 points in 56 postseason games. But hey, good for him to last.

No. 6: Mike Smith, G—60 PS (2011-2017)

We gave him the 2012 Vezina in his first year with the team after he spent five prior seasons with two other franchises. Just four seasons later, he led the NHL in losses. That’s how fast things can turn for some organizations. Still, as a fifth rounder, he exceeded expectations with the Coyotes: he was an All Star in 2012, and he went 9-7 in that only postseason with the team, posting a 1.99 GAA, a .944 S%, and 3 SOs.

No. 5: Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D—68 PS (2010-2021)

A ladies-fan favorite in Phoenix, this former No. 6 overall pick was a two-time All Star for the franchise (2015, 2018). Five different years, he earned Top 17 Norris votes (2013-2016, 2019), as well. We’d say he came through for the club, wouldn’t you? With 23:26 ATOI in the regular season (769 games) and 24:39 ATOI in the playoffs (25 games), he certainly put his time in for the team. His 9.5 PS in 2015-2016 was his career best.

No. 4: Keith Tkachuk, LW—71 PS (1991-2001)

A late first-round pick in 1990, he spent a productive decade with the Jets and the Coyotes: three-time All Star (1997-1999), Top 10 Hart vote winner in 1997, and a league-best 52 goals in that same 1997 season as well. In seven postseasons, though, he struggled somewhat as the team never escaped the first round. His best two years (1995-1996, 1996-1997) totaled 22.1 PS; he had a nice peak with the team in his prime years.

No. 3: Dale Hawerchuk, C—73 PS (1981-1990)

As the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, he won the Calder vote in 1982. He also was a four-time All Star for the original Jets (1982, 1985-1986, 1988), so you could say he delivered on his promise—albeit for a team that wasn’t very good. He was a Top 10 Hart vote finisher four times as well (1982, 1985, 1987-1988). He’s in the Hall of Fame after posting 929 points in 713 regular-season games for the club (49 in 38 playoff games).

No. 2: Teppo Numminen, D—92 PS (1988-2003)

He was picked in the second round and spent 15 seasons with the franchise: we gave him our 1998 Norris, too. Four times, he was a Top 11 vote getter for the award (1996, 1998, 2000, 2002). With 10.2 PS, that 1997-1998 campaign was the best of his career. Even with incomplete data, he posted over 24:00 ATOI in both his regular-season and postseason experience with the organization. Also a three-time All Star (1999-2001), too.

No. 1: Shane Doan, RW—96 PS (1995-2017)

The No. 7 overall pick spent his entire career with the organization, traveling with it from Winnipeg to Phoenix. He was a two-time All Star (2004, 2009); won the Clancy (2010) and Messier (2012) trophies; and is a fan favorite in the Valley of the Sun, for sure. Maybe he’s a disappointment to some, but he left it all on the ice for some pretty bad teams: he played in just 55 postseason games over 21 regular seasons. That hurts.