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Arizona Coyotes Prospects Who Will Make It Past Camp

By William Grigsby |

Here’s some Arizona Coyotes players who have a good shot of making the opening night roster

At this point, with only 12 days until the rookies report to training camp, the smell of NHL hockey is in the air. (not sure what that smell is, but I like it)

Of the many players who will get an invite and that could be upwards of 40-45 players, only a select group will make it to be included in the opening night roster. They will include players who will hopefully help this team’s poor performance last season, because another repeat of last year will not go unnoticed by ownership, or investors who pay the bills, or fans who buy the tickets.

In other words, it’s about time that this team starts performing, and stops embarrassing the many fans. There are others who would like to criticize the claim that NHL hockey doesn’t belong in the desert. Are you listening Las Vegas?

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While rebuilds are painful, they can be short-lived if done properly. Just look at how the Calgary Flames turned things around last season, going from just 77 points to 97 points, and a playoff spot. Hardly anyone who knows anything about NHL hockey predicted that surprise.

Then, as good organizations show everyone why they are so good, they continued to improve their team. They went out and got Dougie Hamilton, much to the chagrin of the Arizona Coyotes, who apparently made a valiant effort to employ Hamilton.

And, new Flames GM Brad Treliving (formerly the Coyotes assistant GM) got him for the Flames 2015 first round pick (No. 15) and two 2015 second round picks at No. 45 and No. 52. They also added Michael Frolik as a free agent.

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It’s these moves which build a team, and the Arizona Coyotes might have some good potential with the large group of prospects they have in the fold, and in the AHL, but they need to follow through and BUILD a winner.

As far as the Coyotes prospects go, the players who will have a good to excellent chance of breaking camp and being included on the opening night roster are as follows: ( 5= excellent, 4= good, 3= on the bubble, 2= unlikely, 1= no way )

  • Max Domi = 5
  • Anthony Duclair = 5
  • Dylan Strome = 3
  • Brendan Perlini = 4
  • Christian Dvorak = 4
  • Henrik Samuelsson = 3
  • Philip Samulesson = 2
  • Michael Bunting = 1
  • Lucas Lessio = 3 (may be a call-up candidate in case of injuries)
  • Tyler Gaudet = 2 (may get a look later into the season depending on how he plays)
  • Mattias Plachta = 2
  • Ryan MacInnis = 2 (didn’t have a good rookie camp, he was out of shape)
  • NIcklas Treutle = 1
  • Jordon Martinook = 2
  • Brendan Shinnimin = 3 ( may be call-up candidate in case of injuries)

If there winds up being two-three spots available, it would be logical to see Domi, Duclair and either Perlini, or Dvorak as the candidates who make the roster. Strome has an outside shot to bump Perlini or Dvorak out, but all indications are that he needs to at least play one more year with the Erie Otters of the OHL.

I’d say next season, he absolutely will have an opportunity to move up to the NHL. I wish that Henrik Samuelsson had a spot also, as his size and ability around the net are qualities the Arizona Coyotes could definitely use to improve their team.

So, there will be surprises (there always are), and there will be let-downs (oh no… not that again) in the training camp roster decisions.

All we can do is sit back and wait… is it October 9th yet? 

Next: Arizona Coyotes Training Camp Is Almost Upon Us

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