Post-season heroes come in all forms from the star player to the unknown fourth-liner. We all know the exploits of the great playoff performers. However, we hardly hear about the unlikely playoff heroes. These unlikely post-season stars can contribute in many ways. Contributions could be for an entire playoff run, a series, a game or even a goal. These unlikely heroes have made big plays that no one expects. This series looks at all of these unknown stars. These are the unlikely Arizona Coyotes playoff heroes.
Arizona Coyotes Playoff Heroes
Mike Smith
Before The Moment
Mike Smith started out with the Dallas Stars where he was primarily a backup to starter Marty Turco. He accumulated a 24-14-2 record with a .909 save percentage and a 2.34 goals-against-average. Nothing spectacular, but still not poor stats. He was then traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning after just two seasons in Dallas. He did not appear in a playoff game with the Stars because Turco got the start in all the post-season games both seasons.
While in Tampa Bay for four seasons, Smith went 43-52-17 and had a .905 save percentage to go along with a 2.85 goals-against-average. He then signed as a free agent with the then-Phoenix Coyotes. He had a magnificent 2011-12 regular season. His record was an amazing 38-18-10. He collected a .930 save percentage and a stellar 2.21 goals-against-average. He placed fourth in the Vezina Trophy voting.
The Moment
While Smith’s record of 9-7 in the 2011-12 playoffs was not overly impressive, his statistics told the story of a goalie who had found himself. His .944 save percentage kept the Coyotes in many a playoff game. Better yet, his 1.99 goals-against-average was even more impressive. He added three shutouts for good measure. In the Chicago Blackhawks series, Smith was peppered with shots. In Game 1 he turned away 45 shots in a 3-2 overtime victory. During Game 2, he stopped 46 shots in a losing cause 4-3. All but Game 6 was decided in overtime in this exciting, competitive series. Smith averaged 38.5 saves in the six-game matchup.
Without Smith’s acrobatic saves the Coyotes would not have moved on to defeat the Nashville Predators in five games to move on to the Western Conference Finals.
The Aftermath
After Smith’s excellent regular and postseason in 2011-12, he went downhill fast. After having such a successful season with the Coyotes, he went 90-114-31… nothing to write home about. He was traded to the Calgary Flames on June 17, 2017. While in Calgary he totalled a 48-38-8 record. He then signed with the Edmonton Oilers on July 1, 2019. Smith, who will be 39 in March signed a one-year contract to remain with the Oilers for $2 million.
Mikkel Boedker
Before The Moment
Mikkel Boedker was the eighth overall selection in 2008 by the Coyotes. He played a full season in 2008-09 and had 11 goals and 17 assists in 78 games. The next two seasons he spent mostly in the AHL playing for the San Antonio Rampage. He only accumulated five goals and 12 assists with the Coyotes over those two seasons 2009-10, and 2010-11. Then, he was promoted for good in the 2011-12 season and tallied 11 goals and 13 assists playing in all 82 games. He was playing with a two-year $2.2 million contract at the time.
The Moment
While Boedker may have had potential as an NHL player, it was never expected that he would be an unsung hero for the Coyotes… especially in the playoffs. He only played four games in the 2010-11 postseason collecting just one assist. Yet, in Games 3 and 4 of the initial series against the rival Chicago Blackhawks, Boedker would come up big… and scored two overtime goals. This gave his team a 2-1 and 3-1 series lead. Scoring his first Stanley Cup goal in Game 3, Boedker was the unsung hero. Ironically it came from a turnover by current Arizona Coyotes defenceman Niklas Hjalmarsson.
The Aftermath
Boedker only had one good season and that was in 2013-14 when he gathered 19 goals and 32 assists in 82 games. By February 29, 2016, the Coyotes traded him to the Colorado Avalanche. He only played 18 games there and had four goals and eight assists. From there he signed with the San Jose Sharks on July 1, 2016, with a lucrative four-year $16 million deal.
He had 25 goals and 38 assists over 155 games in San Jose and they traded him to the Ottawa Senators on June 19, 2018. Boedker’s fortunes fell even worse there. He was only able to collect nine goals and 30 assists in 91 games. With his contract expired and an unrestricted free agent, he signed with Lugano of the Swiss League.
Michael Grabner
Before The Moment
Michael Grabner was an unsung hero for the Coyotes in the 2019-20 playoffs. The fact that he was even in the lineup at all made him an unexpected contributor. He experienced a severe eye injury which sidelined him for three months. He only played in 46 games in the regular season and had eight goals and three assists.
In his two seasons in Arizona, he had 17 goals, and seven were of the shorthanded variety. His speed and ability to get to loose pucks always made him a dangerous offensive weapon.
The Moment
Grabner was true to form in the Coyotes’ first postseason game since 2012 when he tallied yet another shorthanded gem at 16:25 of the middle stanza. This goal gave the Yotes a 4-1 lead which amounted to a cushion they needed since the Nashville Predators mounted a comeback in the third period to narrow the margin to 4-3.
Grabner wasn’t done yet as he also led off the scoring for the Coyotes in Game 4, this time getting a 5v5 goal. He would go on to score again in the next series against the top-notch Colorado Avalanche in Game 2. In a tight contest, Grabner evened the game up at 2-2 with his third scoring tally in the postseason. All three of his goals were vital in the quest for the Arizona Coyotes playoff success.
The Aftermath
Once the Coyotes were eliminated by the Avs, Grabner, 33 was due to be an unrestricted free agent in 2021, and the team decided they needed to save on an already tight cap situation. His $3.35 million contract was bought out on October 3, 2020, and he has yet to sign with another team.
There’s no real way to know if his eye injury deterred his play once he returned. One thing is certain, he was a consummate veteran player who was a clutch scorer. He became a victim of a mismanaged salary cap by the team’s management. Perhaps he’ll play in Europe, or some NHL team will realize he still has lots to give on the ice.
He will be missed… seeing him streak down the ice on a breakaway was a thing of beauty.
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