FanHouse Peter Mueller

It's officially the offseason, meaning the time is right to look into the future. We continue our division-by-division preview of the potential wheeling and dealing with the Pacific Division.

San Jose saw its Presidents' Trophy campaign come to a surprising end in the first round of the NHL playoffs, Los Angeles is still the perfect spot for Dany Heatley, and is there any hope for success on the ice in Phoenix?

There are certainly at least two really good teams in the NHL's Western Conference. Defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit and fast-starting San Jose appear in the clear to duke it out for the right to play for the Stanley Cup later this year.

Of course, we know that anything can happen in a best-of-seven series. In addition, we still have half a season left to play. What we don't know is which team in this conference is set up to challenge either the Red Wings or Sharks. They've beaten - at least once - pretty much everyone who has stood in their way, including each other.

While the top of the conference appears to virtually locked in place at this point, there are still serious battles to be fought, especially for the last four positions in the West. Currently, eight teams are separated by just six points. St. Louis, the last-place team in the West, is just nine points out of eighth.

Fantastic game in San Jose between the top two teams in the Western Conference, as the Sharks and Red Wings entered Saturday's tilt separated by just one point in the standings. In a game that featured 11 goals and 75 shots on goal, San Jose emerged with a 6-5 win, extending its lead to three points for the top spot in the conference.

Patrick Marleau's goal with 6:36 to play in regulation proved to the be the game-winner, while Detroit goalie Chris Osgood surrendered six goals on 42 shots. Ryane Clowe picked up four assists for the Sharks, while Milan Michalek registered a goal and an assist in the win.

With the Phoenix Coyotes officially out of the playoff race, the desert dogs and their fans can now turn their heads and look into the future, where a playoff spot may yet lurk in the shadows.

With Peter Mueller establishing himself as a good Calder Trophy candidate, newcomer Ilya Bryzgalov providing awesome goaltending, the coming out party thrown by Radim Vrbata, and Wayne Gretzky's improving coaching, the future has never been brighter for a club that has long struggled to make any forward progress.

One more piece of the puzzle will be Kyle Turris, the Coyotes' 3rd overall pick from this past summer's NHL Entry Draft. After playing just one season with the NCAA's University of Wisconsin, Turris took the lure of real NHL puck bunnies over college co-eds, and signed his first pro deal.

"This is incredible and I can't explain how I feel right now," said Turris, the third selection in the June entry draft. "I'm extremely excited and I've got tons of adrenaline already for my first NHL game."

Agent Kurt Overhardt wouldn't divulge contract numbers, but said the Turris deal is more than the three-year, $2.65-million entry level pact that Surrey native Colton Gillies signed Friday with the Minnesota Wild.

The Coyotes have three games left in the season, which is just enough time for Turris to get his feet wet without any pressure whatsoever to win games and carry his new club.

If Turris needs to do anything, it's get some ideas how to put on some good playing weight. Listed at a generous 170 pounds, Turris is lighter than a feather, and skinny enough to make the contestants on America's Next Top Model puke in envy.

Wayne Gretzky and those pesky Phoenix Coyotes just continue to pile up the wings, and now find themselves sitting in that precious eighth place in the Western Conference. Is anyone else here just in total and utter shock? How can THAT team be doing so well?

One big reason for the Coyotes' success has been rookie Peter Mueller (drafted 8th overall in 2006), the 19-year old forward who is playing like a 10-year veteran, and was just named the NHL's rookie of the month.

[Mueller] led all rookies in scoring with 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 14 games to help the Coyotes to a 9-4-1 record last month.

Mueller edged Washington Capitals centre Nicklas Backstrom, Chicago Blackhawks right-winger Patrick Kane and New York Rangers centre Brandon Dubinsky for the award.

With his January outburst, Mueller now sits pretty with 34 points in 52 games, and has crawled into the Calder Trophy discussion with his fine 2-way play.

Of course, Mueller hasn't been the only pleasant surprise for the desert dogs this season.