Arizona Coyotes Re-Draft Opportunities Part 2
By Adam Pierce
Players like Henrik Lundqvist (205th overall pick in 2000) and Pavel Datsyuk (171st overall pick in 1998) were passed up numerous times before being selected in the later rounds of their respected drafts. This just goes to show that the higher picks don’t necessarily give you a better player.
We move forward with our time traveling expedition to give you part two of the Coyotes first round re-draft selections beginning with the 2003 NHL draft and finishing up with 2008’s selection.
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With nine picks down, we have fifteen more to go. Here are eight more.
2003 NHL Draft Selection: No first round pick
2003 NHL Re-Draft Selection: No first round pick
2004 NHL Draft Selection: Blake Wheeler (5th Overall)
2004 NHL Re-Draft Selection: Mike Green (29th Overall)
Mar 1, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green (52) skates with puck during the first period against the Boston Bruins at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
This re-draft selection is interesting due to the fact that Blake Wheeler could not come to terms with his entry level contract. If Wheeler would have played in Arizona, then the Re-Draft would have resulted in the same pick. Unfortunately because of that situation, the Coyotes will add to their defensive depth by selecting Mike Green with their fifth overall pick in 2004.
Green is a very offensive minded defensemen in the Washington Capitals organization as he has scored 360 points in 575 games with his squad. Green also holds the record for longest consecutive goal streak by a defensemen with eight games.
2005 NHL Draft Selection: Martin Hanzal (17th Overall)
2005 NHL Re-Draft Selection: Paul Stastny (44th Overall)
Jan 30, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; St. Louis Blues forward Paul Stastny (26) looks on during the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The St. Louis Blues defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in a shoot out. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Martin Hanzal was one of the better picks in the first round of the 2005 NHL Draft, and he has come to solidify himself as one of the key members of the current Arizona Coyotes roster. However, the offensive display put on by Paul Stastny calls for a re-draft of the Coyotes first round pick in 2005.
There’s much irony in this re-draft selection, as the Colorado Avalanche drafted Stastny with a pick they received from the Coyotes. This center knows how to produce offensively with 504 points in only 612 career games. Paul Stastny was an all-star in 2008 and 2011, and has also scored over 70 points in three of his seasons.
2006 NHL Draft Selections: Peter Mueller (8th Overall) and Chris Summers (29th Overall)
2006 NHL Re-Draft Selections: Claude Giroux (22nd Overall) and Milan Lucic (50th Overall)
Dec 20, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux (28) reacts after swatting at a bouncing puck and missing against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
The Arizona Coyotes missed out big time by passing Claude Giroux for Peter Mueller back in 2006. Giroux is a three time NHL all-star, and has scored an astonishing 450 points in only 496 games. In 2011 he managed to put up 93 points in only 77 games, as well. Claude is the current captain of the Philadelphia Flyers, and continues to amaze crowds by finding ways to score.
The Coyotes could have also done better with their 29th overall pick by selecting Milan Lucic in the first round too. Lucic is a physical 6 ‘4″ left wing that is not afraid to lay down his body in order to make a play. He has averaged around 43 points in each of his eight seasons with the Boston Bruins.
2007 NHL Draft Selections: Kyle Turris (3rd Overall) and Nick Ross (30th Overall)
2007 NHL Re-Draft Selections: Jamie Benn (129th Overall) and P.K. Subban (43rd Overall)
Jan 15, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) skates against the Winnipeg Jets during the first period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Just like with Blake Wheeler, the Coyotes had problems with Kyle Turris both on and off the ice. The Coyotes had the right idea with Turris by drafting him third overall, but due to his attitude, a change needed to be made.
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With the third overall pick in the 2007 NHL Re-Draft the Arizona Coyotes select Jamie Benn. Benn is easily one of the best players in this draft, and happened to be passed up by every team at least four times. Benn is the current captain for the Dallas Stars organization, and his 87 points last season landed him the honor of the Art Ross Trophy.
P.K. Subban is another sleeper that should have been selected in the top five of the 2007 NHL Draft. The Montreal Canadiens cashed in by selecting a Norris Trophy winner with the 43rd pick in the draft. Subban has a relentless fore-check, and keen awareness of his surroundings, as his impact is felt whenever he steps out on the ice. Subban uses his speed and agility to lay down hard-hitting checks that separate opposing players from the puck.
2008 NHL Draft Selections: Mikkel Boedker (8th Overall) and Viktor Tikhonov (28th Overall)
2008 NHL Re-Draft Selections: Erik Karlsson (15th Overall) and Gustav Nyquist (121st Overall)
Jan 15, 2015; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) skates with the puck as Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) chases in the first period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
The 2008 NHL Draft was not as strong as the ones in the past, and I still believe that Mikkel Boedker would have still been taken in the first round.
As much as Boedker clicks with the Coyotes, you can not pass up Erik Karlsson. Karlsson is one of the top offensive defensemen currently in this league. He has not one, but two Norris Trophies in his name after winning his second this season. Karlsson has accumulated 303 points in his 397 career NHL games, as well.
The Arizona Coyotes will most likely add some depth with their second selection in the 2008 Re-Draft by selecting Gustav Nyquist with their 28th overall pick. Detroit finds another core player in the late rounds with this Swedish right wing. After a slow start to his career, Gustav Nyquist is slowly figuring out his game after an electrifying season in 2015. Nyquist has been known to be very difficult to knock off the puck, and he uses that ability to score goals.
The first seventeen picks from 1996 to 2008 are in. We only have seven more remaining between 2009 to 2014.
Who will be selected in the third part of the Arizona Coyotes Re-Draft?
Next: Arizona Coyotes Roundtable: Third Overall Pick
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