Arizona Coyotes’ Prospects Report: Strome, Dvorak Continue To Shine
By Chris Reid
The Arizona Coyotes‘ prospects are back in full swing with their respective teams after several competed in the World Junior Championships.
While plenty of Arizona Coyotes prospects participated in the World Junior Championships, it was ultimately Finland who protected home ice in Helsinki and defeated Russia to capture the gold while Team USA beat Sweden for the bronze.
After returning to their teams, the Coyotes’ prospects have been a mixed bag of success and stagnation.
Dylan Strome returned to the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League to help his team continue their dominant march to the playoffs. Last night against the Barrie Colts the young centerman had 2 G’s and an assist to help the Otters triumph 4-2. This follows a game in Sudbury where Strome’s second hat trick and six-point outing of his OHL career led the Otters to an 8-2 pounding of the Wolves.
Christian Dvorak is also dominating the OHL after his stint in the WJC’s. Dvorak currently leads the London Knights with 69 points through 30 games with a plus/minus of plus-28. Dvorak is currently in second place in the OHL scoring race, just ahead of Strome who is in third with 64 points.
Nick Merkley is having a frankly mediocre season at the midway point. He had shown some flashes when he was named WHL Player of the Week back in November. But now, meh.
Brendan Perlini of the Niagara Ice Dogs recently saved the Ice Dogs bacon and forced an OT frame against the Flint Firebirds. Perlini’s late game heroics enabled Niagara to grab the win in overtime and keep pace with the Barrie Colts in the division race.
Despite that clutch play Perlini is still struggling with consistency this year in the OHL and had a big fat zero on his stat page in the WJC for Canada. Perlini has all the talent and skill in the world but he has to start putting it together.
Inspiration Mike has a message for Perlini:
As things have looked since the beginning of the season, Dylan Strome and Christian Dvorak are the two prospects who look the most likely to make the jump to the NHL and the Arizona Coyotes next season. The others like Merkley and Perlini need to find their games and find consistency. The remedy of more time in the minors should help them with their games and development.
Next: The 10 Best Coyotes' Goals From The First Half Of The Season
Even without significant growth from Merkley and Perlini they could still be serviceable spot players in case of an injury or illness. But any hope of a long NHL career will not be in the cards for them unless they progress.