Arizona Coyotes: Dark Horse NHL Roster Candidates
The Arizona Coyotes and Head Coach Dave Tippett have made a habit of having a dark horse prospect emerge from training camp to make an impact on the NHL roster. Who might it be this season?
We all know the stories of Arizona Coyotes forwards Tobias Rieder and Jordan Martinook.
Unheralded, they arrived at Coyotes training camp as another name on the provisional roster and emerged from the pack to snag a coveted roster slot.
Not only did they make the team, they stayed with the club throughout their rookie seasons.
Rieder’s been an excellent addition to the Arizona Coyotes, providing speed and production on the wing.
Martinook filled a similar role in his rookie season. His emergenced helped form a triumvirate with Shane Doan and Brad Richardson that functioned as the backbone of the team on many nights.
What did the two men have in common? Work ethic and loads of it.
There’s no drills taken off, no lazy skates back into the defensive zone. Most importantly, they provide full effort regardless of the job they are asked to do.
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Who will be the next dark horse to join Dave Tippett’s roster?
Christian Fischer Could Emerge
Earlier this offseason, Craig Morgan wrote an article suggesting that player might be Christian Fischer.
That choice seems plausible considering Fischer’s ample size (6’1, 212 pounds) and his production with the Windsor Spitfires in 2015-16.
His offensive upside seems higher than that of Rieder or Martinook coming into their respective camps.
Prior to the signing of Radim Vrbata and the trade for Lawson Crouse, Fischer was swimming in a very sparse pool of right-wingers.
Unfortunately for Fischer, those acquisitions make the water is a little muddier, however it will be interesting to see how they shake out come the beginning of October.
Another factor is that Fischer’s unique background allows him to play in the AHL with the Roadrunners unlike Lawson Crouse, so it’s possible that could play into the decision to give him another year of seasoning.
Anthony DeAngelo Could Edge His Way In
One option is defenseman Anthony DeAngelo.
DeAngelo was acquired by Chayka from the Tampa Bay Lightning at the NHL Draft in exchange for the 37th pick.
His acquisition is important to an Arizona Coyotes organization looking for offensive talent on the blue-line. DeAngelo has tons of it.
He’d allow the team to roll out three pairings with a solid puck mover on each unit. That would be a such a sea change from the 2015-16 blue-line that it might be unrecognizable as the same team.
The issue with DeAngelo, as ever, is not hockey related. It’s concerns over his attitude and ability to get out of his own way.
Next: Intense Competition Among Prospects Will Drive Coyotes' Future
While DeAngelo does need improvement in his own end, his ceiling is tantalizing.
He, like Christian Fischer, seems destined to begin 2016-17 in Tucson. But, the absence of Michael Stone might allow DeAngelo to sneak a foot in the door out of camp if he performs well enough.