After losing the first two games of a season-long five-game road trip by a combined score of 10-2, the Phoenix Coyotes are shaking up their lineup just three games into the 2013-14 season.
That will happen when you start a road trip with losses of 4-1 to the San Jose Sharks and 6-1 to the New York Islanders.
The shakeup started Wednesday, when the team announced prior to their practice that rookie forwards Chris Brown and Lucas Lessio had been assigned to the team's American Hockey League affiliate in Portland. To take their places on the roster, Phoenix called up the veteran pair of Tim Kennedy and Brandon Yip.
"We have a lot of work to do as a group. How we're doing things right now is unacceptable," Tippett said following Tuesday's loss to the Islanders. "We didn't do enough to win the game. That's what it's about."
Tippett clearly hopes an added veteran presence up front can help his team right the ship. But the veteran additions don't end there. Defenseman Derek Morris missed the contest on Long Island with an upper-body injury but is expected to return to the team for Thursday's game against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. There is even speculation that Rostislav Klesla, who hasn't played since preseason after being taken off the ice on a stretcher following a hit from Jordan Nolan of the Los Angeles Kings on Sept. 15, might play as well.
Finally, forward Paul Bissonnette is done serving his three-game suspension for leaving the team's bench following the Nolan hit on Klesla. The club also announced Thursday they had placed 2006 first-round pick (No. 29) Chris Summers on waivers.
"I'm looking forward to getting back in action slowly but surely," Bissonnette told the Coyotes' website. "My goal is to play well and help the team in any way I can."