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Arizona Coyotes Re-Draft Opportunities Part 1

By Adam Pierce |

If The Arizona Coyotes Could Go “Back To The Future” With Past Draft Picks… It May Have Looked Like This

The NHL Draft is only a few days away, and the Arizona Coyotes will select an elite player with the third overall pick. The Arizona Coyotes have had a total of twenty-four first found draft picks since 1996 with some selections not holding true to their draft day expectations. 

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If only the Coyotes could go back in time (sorta like the “Back to the Future” movie, huh?) with the knowledge they now possess, to re-do some of their selections. Believe it or not, the Coyotes, and countless other teams have passed on players who would become future all-stars and award winners.

With that being said, let’s go back in time (grab the keys to the car/time machine) and re-draft the Coyotes first round picks in an attempt to maximize the full potential for this team, with the knowledge we have in 2015. To be eligible for the Howlin’ Hockey Re-Draft, a player must have been selected after the Coyotes picks in that year’s draft.

1996 NHL Draft Selections: Dan Focht (11th Overall) and Daniel Briere (24th Overall)

1996 NHL Re-Draft Selections: Zdeno Chara (56th Overall) and Daniel Briere (24th Overall)

Dec 17, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) reacts after scoring his second goal of the game during the third period against the Calgary Flames at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

With their first re-selection of the 1996 NHL Re-Draft the Coyotes select Zdeno Chara. Chara was selected by the New York Islanders in round three, and is the current captain of the Boston Bruins. His size (6′ 9″ and 255 pounds) makes him a strong physical threat on the ice.

With their second pick in the first round of the 1996 NHL Re-Draft the Coyotes select Daniel Briere. The Coyotes were dead on with their selection back in 1996. This skilled player scored 146 points for the Coyotes through 258 games in Phoenix. His highlight season came in 2001 where he tallied 60 total points.

1997 NHL Draft Selection: No first round pick

1997 NHL Re-Draft Selection: No first round pick

1998 NHL Draft Selection: Patrick DesRochers (14th Overall)

1998 NHL Re-Draft Selection: Pavel Datsyuk (171st Overall)

Oct 10, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk (13) skates with the puck defended by Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) and defenseman Zbynek Michalek (4) during the first period at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Pavel Datsyuk was the hidden gem of the 1998 NHL Draft. He was picked 171st overall in the sixth round by the Detroit Red Wings. Datsyuk has some of the sharpest puck handing abilities this game has ever seen. Datsyuk has been a four time NHL All-Star, four time Lady Byng Memorial Trophy winner, three time Frank J. Selke Trophy winner, and two time Stanley Cup champion. Where’s that time machine, when you need it?!

1999 NHL Draft Selections: Scott Kelman (15th Overall) and Kirill Safronov (19th Overall)

1999 NHL Re-Draft Selections: Henrik Zetterberg (210th Overall) and Ryan Miller (138th Overall)

Oct 3, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Detroit Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg (40) against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Detroit 5-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Red Wings found another late draft gem in 1999 with Henrik Zetterberg. Zetterberg was passed up numerous times by every single team in the league, until being taken in round seven. He is the current captain of the Detroit Red Wings, and even won a Conn Smythe Trophy, with his name on it in 2008.

With the other first round selection in 1999, the Coyotes should re-draft goaltender Ryan Miller. Miller was a Vezina Trophy winner in 2010, as well as a member of the All-Star Team that same year. He currently holds the Buffalo Sabres franchise record for wins with 284.

2000 NHL Draft Selections: Krystofer Kolanos (19th Overall)

2000 NHL Re-Draft Selection: Henrik Lundqvist (205th Overall)

May 29, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) warms up before game seven of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Henrik Lundqvist is one of the best goaltenders to play the game. Lundqvist has been nominated for the Vezina Trophy five times in his career, and ending up winning it in 2012. He is the only goaltender in NHL history to record thirty wins in each of his first seven seasons.

2001 NHL Draft Selection: Fredrik Sjostrom (11th Overall)

2001 NHL Re-Draft Selection: Patrick Sharp (95th Overall)

Jun 15, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Patrick Sharp (10) hoists the Stanley Cup after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in game six of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Patrick Sharp has been a key member on the Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup dynasty team in 2010, 2013, and 2015. He had a career high 78 points in the 2013-2014 season with the Blackhawks as well. In 745 career games, Sharp has produced a total of 526 points proving that he can score at an elite level.

2002 NHL Draft Selections: Jakub Koreis (19th Overall) and Ben Eager (23rd Overall)

2002 NHL Re-Draft Selections: Duncan Keith (54th Overall) and Dennis Wideman (241st Overall)

Apr 15, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith (2) shoots the puck during warmups prior to the game against the Nashville Predators in game one of the first round of the the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Duncan Keith is one of the best defenseman in the National Hockey League today. Keith has won three Stanley Cups, two Norris Trophies, and one Conn Smythe Trophy. He does not show signs of slowing down… either. He currently has 415 points through 766 games played. So, basically the Yotes could have had both Sharp, and Keith… WOW !

The Coyotes should take another defenseman in the 2002 NHL Re-Draft with Dennis Wideman. Wideman was an underrated defenseman going in, and ended up being drafted at 241st overall in 2002. With 350 career points, Wideman proves that he can play the offensive side of the puck, as well as the defensive side.

That does it for the years 1996 to 2002 and nine of the twenty-four total first round draft picks selected by the Arizona Coyotes franchise. Who will be re-drafted with the next fifteen picks from 2003 to 2014?

Find out in part two of the Howlin’ Hockey Re-Draft!

To be continued…

Next: Arizona Coyotes Roundtable: Third Overall Pick

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