Arizona Coyotes’ Biggest Questions Entering 2016-17 Season
Five rookies made the Coyotes roster to start the season. Three of those rookies (Dylan Strome, Jakob Chychrun, Lawson Crouse) are eligible to be returned to junior hockey. Do you foresee any of these kids remaining in Arizona for the full season?
Vincent Benedict:
I think Dylan Strome and Lawson Crouse have the best chance of remaining on the roster full time.
Crouse mainly due to his size. He is a big bodied player that the Coyotes need. Strome plays center and could use as much NHL ice time as possible. With that being said if the Coyotes don’t stay healthy all bets are off.
If they need to call up a goaltender who is first to get sent down? It really is going to rely on depth for these young guys.
Jakob Chychrun’s spot will come down to his chemistry playing with the Arizona Coyotes veteran defensemen. Which pairing are we likely to see Chychrun with? This is why I would say he is most likely to be reassigned.
Defensive mental lapses can cost you more so than an offensive turnover. This will be magnified on the rookie for every move he makes or fails to make.
Jonathan King:
Of the three, Dylan Strome has the best chance to remain on the team for the season. If he can contribute on a nightly basis and demonstrate he’s up to the task, he’ll likely remain on the roster.
Jakob Chychrun has shown he’s both physically and mentally ready for the NHL, but it’s one thing to have a great training camp and quite another to withstand the rigors of NHL action night after night. As much as I’d love to see Chychrun play full-time and fans would too, if the club stays relatively injury-free he may not see the entire season.
Look for him to return to juniors sometime before his 10th game to preserve a year on his entry-level contract if he falters early, or prior to his 40th game to retain an extra year before he’s eligible for free agency.
Jason Harrison:
Jakob Chychrun is the prospect I’d put money on remaining in Arizona for the entire season. The coaching staff seems to love him. His work ethic and poise are off the charts. He already has the body to take the punishment. He looks set to follow in the footsteps of Aaron Ekblad, Seth Jones, and Noah Hanifin.
The other two candidates are a bit harder to forecast.
I believe the Coyotes will give Dylan Strome every opportunity to remain with this squad. He’s on the cover of the newspaper. His face is in a lot of promotional material. He’s the future, and both sides want him to be ready now. It depends a lot on his play, however.
Lawson Crouse is a mystery to me. He’s got the body and the buy-in, team first approach the coaching staff wants, but he’s a man without a home in the lineup. Who would he displace to play full-time? I don’t have an answer for that so it’s hard to see him staying around unless other moves are made.