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Arizona Coyotes Top Prospects — OHL Playoff Update

By Richard Flores

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The  NHL regular season is winding down and the playoff picture is becoming clearer, while we countdown to the playoffs in the big leagues. The playoffs are well underway in the CHL, and with the second round about to begin in each of the three Canadian major junior leagues, we might as well check in on how some of the Arizona Coyotes top prospects are doing as they all make their run for the Memorial Cup.

Beginning in the OHL, the Coyotes will be able to get longer looks at four players in the OHL’s second round; former first round picks Max Domi and Brendan Perlini as well as former second round pick Christian Dvorak and 2014 fourth round pick Michael Bunting. While 2014 second rounder Ryan MacInnis and his Kitchener Rangers fell short of a second round berth.

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In the first round Domi and Dvorak of the London Knights took on the Kitchener Rangers and Ryan Macinnis. London took home the series in six games.

Domi and Dvorak ended up getting overshadowed by their line mate Mitch Marner in the first round, yet were still able to put up a good showing. Domi netted seven points in the series, while Dvorak topped Domi with nine points.

Dvorak’s first round numbers rank him seventh among all OHL players in points during the playoffs. It puts him ahead of Connor McDavid and Dylan Strome who are expected to be drafted in the top five come June’s NHL entry draft.

Ryan MacInnis has played his last game this season for Kitchener, but the son of former NHLer Al MacInnis led his team in scoring over the six game series. He collected 8 points with three goals and five assists.

The series certainly had its’ fun though, including a 16 goal game three, and a penalty laden game five which saw 28 penalty minutes in the first period alone combined for both teams. There was also this little goal that was scored by Max Domi that I’ve had on a continuous loop for a week.

Next up for London is a marquee matchup against the Erie Otters, pitting Domi, Dvorak and Marner against McDavid and Strome. The series starts Thursday.

Another Arizona Coyotes prospect moving on to the second round is Brendan Perlini. His Niagara Ice Dogs took home a 4-2 series win over the Ottawa 67s. Perlini, who made a return from a hand injury in December, and put up 60 points in his final 43 games in the regular season, scored five goals and three assists in the first round against Ottawa. The Ice Dogs will begin their second round series against Oshawa on Friday.

One final name to keep an eye on is Michael Bunting, currently playing for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds he accumulated seven points in four games for the OHL’s best regular season team. The 19 year old is a fourth round pick of the Arizona Coyotes, and tallied 74 points in 57 games during the regular season.

Bunting improved quite a bit this season after he was drafted, improving from 42 points in 48 games last season, his first in the OHL. One thing to keep in mind however is that Bunting was suspended ten games  in December for an illegal hit.

Bunting will be an interesting prospect to watch as he did not take the normal route of most Major Junior players with his first season being his age 18 season. Here is the scouting report for the 5’11” 187 lbs. winger from Hockey’s Future.

"“Bunting was a late-bloomer, playing multiple sports well into his teenage years before choosing to focus on hockey. On the ice he is a relentless pest who commits himself to outworking the opposition every shift. Most of the scoring opportunities he generates are the result of this work ethic and persistence.”“Bunting was a late-bloomer, playing multiple sports well into his teenage years before choosing to focus on hockey. On the ice he is a relentless pest who commits himself to outworking the opposition every shift. Most of the scoring opportunities he generates are the result of this work ethic and persistence.”"

Bunting was actually ranked ahead of Christian Dvorak in the 2014 final central scouting rankings, Bunting at 57 and Dvorak at 71. Dvorak of course has had a breakout season for London and might break into the Arizona Coyotes lineup next season, while Bunting still needs some seasoning.

Next up: A look at some of the Coyotes prospects making their mark in the playoffs in the QMJHL and WHL.

Next: Arizona Coyotes Future: Five Young Players To Watch

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