Coyotes hire pair of goalie coaches

A new goaltending coach had been stuck on the Coyotes' to-do list for months since it became clear Sean Burke, who had been their goalie guru, would not be returning once his contract expired earlier this summer.

Last March, the Coyotes granted Burke permission to explore managerial roles elsewhere around the league and the Coyotes eventually started to do their own research.

And after a search that spanned a large chunk of the offseason, the team didn't tab just one replacement; it hired two, naming Jon Elkin and Corey Schwab as the organization's goaltending coaches Tuesday.

Elkin's name may sound familiar. He's worked with the Coyotes' Mike Smith as Smith's personal goalie coach since Smith was 12 years old and in total has mentored 21 NHLers.

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After last season, Smith mentioned how he planned to tweak his offseason plan by going to Toronto to work with Elkin rather than staying in Arizona like he did the previous summer. Smith went 14-42-5 with a .904 save percentage and 3.16 goals-against average last season, his worst showing since joining the Coyotes in 2011.

"I'm very confident he'll bounce back and be prepared," Elkin said in April. "He's just that type of guy. He's the type of guy to learn from his mistakes and learn from his experience. He's a real competitor."

Aside from coaching in the American Hockey League and at the junior-hockey level, Elkin has also worked in the NHL. He was the Flames' goaltending coach for three seasons from 1999 to 2002. Elkin also operates Jon Elkin's Goalie Schools in Toronto after founding the school in 1984 as a 16-year-old.

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Elkin will work with the goalies on the NHL roster.

Schwab joins the Coyotes after working with the Sharks the past eight seasons as a goaltending development coach. He oversaw the goaltending coaching duties for prospects in the AHL, East Coast Hockey League and at the amateur levels. Schwab has also worked as an associate goalie coach and scout for the Lightning.

During an eight-season career in the NHL, Schwab went 42-63-13 record with a 2.89 goals against average and an .896 save percentage in 147 games with the Devils, Lightning, Canucks and Maple Leafs.

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He will be responsible for the Coyotes' minor-league goalies and will assist in goalie evaluations.

Burke had been on the Coyotes staff since 2008 when he was hired to be the team's director of prospect development. In 2009, he was promoted to goalie coach and, since 2012, he had maintained that role while also doubling as assistant to the general manager.

Burke, who played for the Coyotes 1999-2004, developed a reputation as a coach capable of reviving careers, helping Smith, Ilya Bryzgalov and Devan Dubnyk enjoy resurgences, but he has said his goal has always been to work in management.