PROSPECT REPORT: The Coyotes are better than they seem
It was another difficult season in the desert as the Coyotes finished with the worst record in the Western Conference. But, under the radar, Arizona had a solid finish to the season, leading to some regained optimism about the team’s future. Beyond that, just down the road in Tucson, the Coyotes’ AHL squad is reminding fans exactly what the organization has in the pipeline.
Top Prospects
5. Lawson Crouse, LW, Tucson (AHL)
Drafted with the 11th overall pick by the Florida Panthers in 2015, Lawson Crouse was acquired in a trade as a favour for the Coyotes taking on Dave Bolland’s terrible contract. Crouse is a big, strong, touch winger who projects to be a top-nine power forward in the NHL, though he doesn’t have elite offensive upside.
4. Merrick Madsen, G, Harvard (NCAA)
Acquired in a trade from the Philadelphia Flyers, American-born Merrick Madsen is Arizona’s top goaltender prospect. Madsen, who posted some excellent seasons with Harvard in the NCAA, will make the jump to pro hockey next year, joining the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL.
3. Tyler Steenbergen, C/W, Swift Current (WHL)
Drafted in the fifth round of the 2017 draft, Steenbergen enjoyed a breakout season in the WHL in 2017-18. He scored 47 goals and 102 points in 56 games for the Broncos, earning him a spot on Team Canada at the World Juniors where he would score the game winning goal against Sweden in the gold medal game.
2. Nick Merkley, C/RW, Tucson (AHL)
The 30th overall pick from he 2015 draft, Nick Merkley had a very impressive transition to professional hockey, scoring 39 points in 28 games in the AHL last season. Merkley is a smart, responsible playmaking centre who excels due to his great understanding of the game at both ends of the ice.
1. Dylan Strome, C, Tucson (AHL)
It’s been a slow climb for the third overall pick from the 2015 draft. Strome was Arizona’s consolation prize after missing out on Connor McDavid. He hasn’t broken into the NHL yet, but Strome, a big, skilled centre, has put up very good numbers at the AHL level for his age.
Tyler Steenbergen. Photo: Bildbyrån/Joel Marklund
ANALYSIS
The Coyotes have been bad for quite some time and they have quite a bit to show for it. At the NHL level, the Coyotes had a handful of good performances from young players, led by Clayton Keller who scored 65 points in 82 games in his rookie season. 21-year-old Brendan Perlini scored 17 goals, 20-year-old Christian Fischer scored 15 goals, and 21-year-old Christian Dvorak scored 15 goals, somewhat making up for the disappointing season put up by Max Domi.
In the AHL, the Coyotes have a wealth of reinforcements on the way, led, of course, by Dylan Strome, who scored a whopping 53 points in 50 games as a 21-year-old. Along with Strome, Nick Merkley, Lawson Crouse, and Kyle Capobiano are names who could make the jump to the NHL soon.
While most of their talent is up front, the Coyotes aren’t totally devoid on the blueline. Oliver Ekman Larsson, despite having a disappointing season, is still a top defenceman, Alex Goligoski and Jason Demers are good veterans, and Jakob Chychrun has already established himself as a top-four defender as a 19-year-old. Obviously, adding a talent like Rasmus Dahlin would be incredible, but the Coyotes are in a position where simply adding any top prospect to the mix will help the organization as they have talent up and won their roster.
After not winning a game in regulation until the middle of November, a streak that ultimately ended their season way quicker than anyone expected, the Coyotes turned things around in the second half. From February to the end of the season, the Coyotes had 17 wins and just nine regulation losses, suggesting there’s something here to get excited about.
VERDICT
The Coyotes had a strong finish to the season after they got over their terrible start. The team has a tremendous amount of talent up front and some good veteran pieces on the blueline. They’re also doing a fine job of slowly developing players at the AHL level. For as bad as the team seems, there’s actually a bright future here, and another top pick in this draft will only add to it.