MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
No arguments here. From the second game of the season, when he shut out the Penguins in Pittsburgh, Ilya Bryzgalov was Phoenix's best player and carried the team on his back until the offense started to click. He set career and franchise records for wins (42) and shutouts (eight) while putting up a 2.29 goals against average and a .920 save percentage. He is a finalist for the Vezina Trophy and would be the first player in franchise history to earn the honor. He couldn't match those numbers in the playoffs (3.44, .902) but wasn't the reason the Coyotes lost.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER
For the second straight season, the Peter Mueller who had a wonderful rookie season in 2007-08 was nowhere to be found. He was finally dealt to Colorado at the deadline with Kevin Porter for Wojtek Wolski -- a move that instantly jump-started the Phoenix offense. Muller went to the Avalanche and promptly start scoring as well before his second concussion in a little more than a year ended his season.

FREE AGENT FOCUS
After signing Scottie Upshall, the Coyotes still have nine free agents, six of them unrestricted. Among the restricted players is Wojtek Wolski, who could be too rich for Phoenix's blood. The unrestricted class is led by forwards Matthew Lombardi, Taylor Pyatt and Lee Stempniak and defensemen Zbynek Michalek and Derek Morris. Morris ($3.3 million) might consider a hometown discount in his second tour with the Coyotes, while Lombardi ($1.82 million), Michalek ($1.25 million) and Stempniak ($2.5 million) will likely be looking for major raises.

PLAYER NOTES

--C Matthew Lombardi really came into his own this season with 19 goals and a career-high 53 points in 78 games for the Coyotes. He continued that play into the postseason with five assists and six points in seven playoff games against Detroit. And luckily for him, and unluckily for the Coyotes, it happened just as he hit unrestricted free agency. He will be a very attractive player in the market.

--C Robert Lang had his moments with the Coyotes, producing nine goals and 29 points in 62 games last season. But Lang will be 40 in December and the Coyotes have some young talent coming up at the center position, a spot they will also look to bolster through free agency. So Phoenix did not tender an offer to Lang, who spent the final six weeks of the season on the injury list with a lower body problem.

--G Jason LaBarbera turned out to be an even better backup than the Coyotes hoped. Not only was he 8-5 in his 13 decisions, his 2.13 goals-against average was even better than that of starter Ilya Bryzgalov (2.29). He is a calming influence in the dressing room and content to remain as the understudy, something Phoenix wants as it goes into 2010-11 with the same tandem.

MEDICAL WATCH

--LW Scottie Upshall had major reconstructive surgery in March but is expected to be ready by training camp.

--D Kurt Sauer never played a game after suffering an apparent neck/head injury in the season opener. Both the team and Sauer have remained mum on the injury, but at age 29, his future is uncertain.

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