Fate this season was not kind to the Arizona Coyotes. Right out of the gate the Desert Dogs stumbled and crawled all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention by Christmas. Coach Dave Tippett’s squad became organ donors for the rich. Veterans and alternate captains Keith Yandle and Antoine Vermette where shipped to the Rangers and Blackhawks, respectively, both qualifying for the NHL final four. The team’s leader on the defensive corp. Zbynek Michalek was also dealt to the St. Louis Blues a playoff qualifier in their own right. General manager Don Maloney did an amazing job building for the team’s future with these trades pulling in a late 1st rounder and Klas Dahlbeck for Vermette; a talented young 19 year old center Maxim Letunov from the Blues; and the icing on the cake the deal with the Rangers brought in a 2015 2nd rounder, 2016 1st rounder, talented defensemen John Moore and the possible cornerstone piece Anthony Duclair.
Duclair had been paired with another Coyote prospect Max Domi on Team Canada Juniors first line who dominated while they earned a Gold Medal. This trade alone leads hockey fans in Arizona to believe that the darkest days of the rebuild have already passed. And despite losing out on the draft lottery to the Edmonton Oilers and Buffalo Sabres for the Mcdavid/Eichel sweepstakes hopes were still high about the potential picks available at the number three pick of the upcoming draft.
That was until the latest turmoil of the wayward Coyotes and their future at Gila River Arena. Glendale began a legal process that the Coyotes ownership and the NHL will continue over a 15 year lease and reported 200 million dollar agreement for the aforementioned Arena. Maloney once believed Arizona a possible destination for veteran free agents looking to join a squad of hot shot up in-comers (including Duclair and Domi; Mikkel Boedker and his fellow Swedish superstar Oliver Ekman-Larsson; and a slew of possible opening day roster additions including forwards Phillip Samuelsson, Brendan Perlini, Lucas Lessio and Christian Dvorak). Instead his club now appears as appealing to established NHL veterans as signing up for this past season’s mumps epidemic.
Which brings us to the question of the night: WHAT TO DO WITH THE #3 PICK?
There are two options should Maloney go the draft route that both seem to be as bonafide sure things as anyone else including the top 2 stars Mcdavid and Eichel. Ironically both are teammates of the crowned jewels of the draft. Defensemen Noah Hanifin out of BC and NHL legacy winger Dylan Strome from the OHL Erie Otters are the two prospects that make the most sense at the #3. Hanifin is a strong physical presence on the blue line. At 6’2 200 lbs. many believe he could make his debut right away and become a Chris Pronger prototype.
Strome may need more tailoring to his game but as mentioned before the Coyotes have the talent ahead of him to allow his game to mature into the Chris Kreider-like top 6 goal scoring forward the team is so desperate for.
With either of these picks the problem becomes experience or lack thereof. Which leads many to ask: shouldn’t Maloney deal the potential of a big time star at #3 and possibly add veteran leadership from someone desperate for young blood? With a roster packed full of young talent and hopeless of adding big name free agents until they solidify their home ice situation the best route to go it seems to be to find the best offer and pull the trigger. The Coyotes will still have 3 other picks in the top 60 so it is not as if adding talent will be an issue. One rumor that has come through the mill is Boston wanting to send forward Milan Lucic and a future 1st rounder to the desert for the #3. One would believe they want Hanifin to become aging captain and blue line specialist Zdeno Chara’s heir apparent. This would be the golden goose for Maloney a strong physical presence with charisma and ability to lead. Lucic may even be the obvious choice to wear the “C” when longest tenured captain Shane Doan eventually hangs up the skates.
Several other trades have been whispered but seem very unlikely because of Toronto’s Phil Kessel’s no trade clause and Colorado’s Ryan O’Reilly’s lack of true scorers ability to warrant such a high draft pick exchange. The future is going to be bright for this organization but may they have to suffer through another terrible season to get to the promise land? And will they still be calling Arizona home when they reach it? Tough decisions lie ahead of GM Maloney and the fate of a franchise may be resting on his shoulders.
Written by Inside Edge Hockey News Guest Writer: Will Rogers of Mucker Hockey.
Born and raised in Mesa, Arizona and introduced to hockey at an early age by his brother-in-law Will was benefitted by the Winnipeg Jets move to the valley. As a teen he joined the AZ Desert Youth Hockey Association (DYHA) competing in the Minor Division before promoting to the Premiere League Tier II Division. He also played at the famous ‘Spectrum Arena’ facilities for Inline Hockey Association Arizona (IHAAZ) in Chandler as a part of team ‘GEAR DRIVE’ a top travel program. He continues to participate in Coyote Adult Hockey Leagues in both Chandler and Scottsdale. He attended Mesa Community College and studied Business and Creative Writing while on a Journalism Scholarship. The father of 3 is currently an Operations Manager for ELITE PERSONAL TRAINING AND GYM in Mesa, AZ.