With a budget in place from the NHL and the offseason beginning to gear up, the Coyotes made their first move of the summer by re-signing right wing Scottie Upshall to a one-year contract somewhere in the neighborhood of the $1.5 million he made last season.

Upshall had 18 goals and had 42 points in 49 games. He was leading Phoenix in goals on Jan. 28 when he blew out his right knee against the Calgary Flames and was lost for the rest of the season. He is expected back at full strength, and the Coyotes hope that his blazing speed -- his best attribute -- won't be compromised by the injury and reconstructive surgery.

"He was probably tracking toward a 30-goal season (at the time of the injury)," GM Don Maloney said after announcing the deal. "I thought we really missed him against Detroit (in the Stanley Cup playoffs) because he's one of those guys who can make something out of nothing."

Maloney will need some of that creativity himself from this point on. Having already announced that aging veterans Robert Lang and Mathieu Schneider will not be invited back, the Coyotes have four unrestricted free agents, including such coveted players as center Matthew Lombardi and defenseman Zbynek Michalek, that Maloney would like to coax back, and four restricted free agents led by top scorers Lee Stempniak and Wojtek Wolski.

Maloney said all of last year's Coyotes have expressed interest in returning. But with a budget that will keep them in the bottom end when it comes to spenders, keeping them all will be impossible -- especially since there are areas, especially up front, that need to be addressed.

At least Maloney knows the team will be in Phoenix in the fall and can sell a new attitude of winning and responsibility under coach Dave Tippett. And as for the budget, he said, "You'd always like to have more (money to spend), but the way I look at it is, it's enough to put a winner on the ice."

SEASON HIGHLIGHT
After rallying from a 4-2 deficit in the final 90 seconds of regulation to defeat Detroit 5-4, the Coyotes went on an absolute tear. They won six straight games to start the run and tied a franchise record with nine straight at the end -- winning 19 of 23 games in all to go from playoff contenders to bidding for a division title.

TURNING POINT
Game 3 of the series with the Red Wings was the best of times and worst of times. The Coyotes bounced back from a tough loss at home with a convincing 4-2 win at Joe Louis Arena, but they also lost captain Shane Doan for the rest of the series with a dislocated right shoulder. Phoenix lost three of four games, including Games 5 and 7 at home, without its emotional leader, biggest hitter and clutch scorer.

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