Arizona Coyotes Possible Draft Choice Profile: Noah Hanifin

By William Grigsby | Apr 21, 2015

The Projected Third Overall Pick In The 2015 NHL Entry Draft Should Be Noah Hanifin

The questions then becomes, do the Arizona Coyotes go with him, or get an offensive minded player instead? They need both areas addressed if they are to jump up from 29th in the NHL standings to make the top sixteen qualifying for the playoffs. And, that is GM Don Maloney’s goal for next season, to be in the playoffs next year this time.

Head Coach Dave Tippett apparently thinks his team should strive to be in the playoffs EVERY year. Since he puts more emphasis on defense than offense, he may be pushing for the Arizona Coyotes to choose Noah Hanifin over someone like Mitch Marner or Dylan Strome.

In any case, I will be interested to see who the team chooses to improve the standing of the hockey club. If they fail to make the playoffs next season, you may see some heads rolling in the front office, or the coaching staff, or both.

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The new owner has been pretty silent, and I haven’t seen anything which shows me he is willing to spend some money to get some free agents, or make some trades to move the team to the level of the ’11-’12 season when they went to the Conference finals.

Noah Hanifin’s profile:

Profile from: Eldon MacDonald of The Hockey Writers – updated Oct. 19th, 2014 :

Noah Hanifin also had a very good US Top Prospects game although he didn’t stand out as much as Jack Eichel and Jeremy Bracco. Noah is that NHL-sized defenseman with an elite skating ability and all the physical and mental tools that NHL teams are looking for in a defenseman these days.

Plays with a poise and guile that is exceptional. His ability to put himself in advantageous position to make plays, both defensively and offensively, allows him to impact the game in every single situation. He never seems to be rattled, rushed or hurried in his play. Skating is superb and he has great confidence and ability with the puck. Can dictate the play.

Sounds pretty impressive. It just boils down to who the Arizona Coyotes are going to focus on to improve the team. GM Don Maloney has not ruled out that he could also trade down and get some more assets that way.

I’m leaning towards improving the depleted offense with this pick. Granted, the Arizona Coyotes will have Mikkel Boedker and Martin Hanzal back next season healthy, and that will certainly help. It will also help to have the third pick in the draft… especially this draft because it is loaded with exceptional talent, and since McDavid and Eichel will be gone, having the number 3 selection is not bad, not bad at all.

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