KEY ADDITIONS				KEY LOSSES
Name Travis Green Todd Gill Bob Essensa	Pos. F D G	From Mighty Ducks Red Wings Oilers		Name Mike Stapleton Jim Cummins Oleg Tverdovsky	Pos. F F D	To Thrashers Canadiens Mighty Ducks

Outlook
The Phoenix Coyotes have got it all wrong. Teams are supposed to start the season slowly, then gradually build up steam toward the end -- just in time for the playoffs.

		The Coyotes lack depth at forward. They have a similar story as the Kings, but they are probably in more trouble because they don't have as many pieces. They desperately need Robert Reichel, but he probably won't be signed. He was an excellent pickup for Phoenix. Without him or someone of his quality, the Coyotes will be back to square one. They have Jeremy Roenick at center and some grinders like Keith Tkachuk, Greg Adams and Rick Tocchet, but that's just not enough. They will still struggle to score goals. They would be so much better with Reichel. They should be in the top half dozen teams in the league, but they are looking at another first-round defeat unless they make a major change.

Phoenix began last season with just three losses in its first 24 games, then finished the rest of the campaign six games under .500. The Coyotes topped that off with a first-round playoff exit.

Exit coach Jim Schoenfeld. Enter Bob Francis.

A first-time NHL coach, Francis is the son of former general manager Emile Francis. He may be asking dad for some pointers before the season is over because he has the unenviable task of rebuilding the Coyotes' fragile confidence level after last season's collapse.

He'll do it with a strong defense and a better-than-average offense. The big question mark comes in goal -- for now at least. Nikolai Khabibulin, who plays the majority of the Coyotes' games, continues to hold out for a better contract. Mikhail Shtalenkov and Bob Essensa hold the fort down until the Khabibulin situation works itself out. Shtalenkov and Essensa do not exactly seem like a Stanley Cup-winning tandem.

Goaltending aside, Francis should be excited about his blueliners - the dynamic play of Jyrki Lumme and Teppo Numminen and solid stay-at-home qualities in Keith Carney and Deron Quint. Add the veteran leadership of Todd Gill, and the whole group looks solid. As an added bonus, Francis is expected to work 23-year-old rookie Radoslav Suchy into the lineup.

Though center Robert Reichel has decided to play hockey in he Czech Republic this season, the Coyotes still have good depth at forward, and one of the best lines in the game: Keith Tkachuk, Jeremy Roenick and Dallas Drake. Travis Green will bolster the second line, likely alongside Rick Tocchet and Greg Adams.

Center Daniel Briere should be productive and remember the names Trevor Letowski and Mika Alatalo because they may make an impact.

It doesn't take a brain surgeon, however, to figure out that, unless the Coyotes get Khabibulin signed, Phoenix fall behind in a hurry, in stark contrast to last season's start.

'98-99 PACIFIC STANDINGS
TEAM	W	L	T	Pts.
Dallas	51	19	12	114
Phoenix	39	31	12	90
Anaheim	35	34	13	83
San Jose	31	33	18	80
Los Angeles	32	45	5	69

The bottom line
Better or not: Not
By how much: 2-3 fewer wins
Most improved: Daniel Briere
Most valuable: Keith Tkachuk
Biggest disappointment: Rick Tocchet

Charles Avellino is a lead NHL researcher for ESPN.