Arizona Coyotes 2017 Offseason Review

[AP21 (ARZ)]

In contrast to the first three years of their general manager’s tenure, the Arizona Coyotes were relatively quiet on Draft Day 2017. Their first and third round picks had been traded to Washington as part of the Pavel Datsyuk deal in November 2015. The 28th spot in the 2017 draft now belonged to the San Jose Sharks, who chose Kailer Yamamoto. The Capitals selected Stelio Mattheos with the 88th pick. The Coyotes had also given away their second round pick, to the Tampa Bay Lightning. With the 58th selection, the Blues. St. Louis chose Santeri Virtanen.

Much later, in the fourth round, the Arizona Coyotes finally had a chance to speak. With the 92nd pick they had acquired from the Minnesota Wild, the Coyotes selected forward Zach Gallant, from the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League. Just two picks later, they used the Winnipeg Jets’ selection to draft another OHL prospect, Noel Hoefenmayer, from the Ottawa 67's. Finally, the Coyotes used their own fourth round pick to select Benjamin Mirageas, from Bloomington and Chicago of the USHL. In the fifth round, the Coyotes held the Flyers’ pick, which they used to select Markus Phillips from the Owen Sound Attack. Finally, with the 148th selection, Arizona chose Nick Campoli from the North York Rangers of the OJHL.

None of Arizona’s five new prospects are expected to make an immediate impact, but the Coyotes’ system is already stocked with talent. Last year’s 15th overall pick, left winger Tyler Benson, scored 43 goals in the AHL in 2016-17. Defenseman Logan Stanley, who was selected 22nd overall in 2016, will certainly have a shot at cracking the NHL lineup as an injury replacement. Nathan Bastian, another 2016 first round selection, scored 94 points alongside Benson in Tucson. Arizona’s class of 2015 is also promising. Thomas Chabot spent most of the season on the Coyotes’ second defensive pairing with Mark Alt, and winger Daniel Sprong has scored 24 goals while playing on the third line.

Through free agency, the Coyotes acquired another talented young defenseman, Jack Glover, who was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the third round of the 2014 draft. Glover spent half of last season with the Tampa Bay Lighting, and the other in Syracuse. Finally, the Coyotes signed veteran playmaker Brad Richards to add depth to the NHL’s ninth ranked offense. Arizona seems poised for another run at the Cup in 2018.