Arizona Coyotes; Top three players to watch during Rookie Camp
With the Arizona Coyotes Rookie Camp beginning on September 7th. Here are some players that Coyotes fans should keep their eye on for the upcoming camp.
September has finally come, and now it is time to get into the thick of things before the season picks up in October. With plenty of changes to the Coyotes main roster during this offseason, the Rookie Camp gives fans a first-hand look at some of the raw upcoming talents that will be coming the Coyotes way.
Without further to do, here are the top five Coyotes rookies to keep an eye on during the Rookie Camp!
Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D, 2017 1st Round Pick (23rd overall)
With a young Coyotes team looking to be on the rise, highly-touted defensive prospect Pierre-Olivier Joseph will be an interesting player to watch during rookie camp and during the upcoming Coyotes training camp.
Spending last season in the QMJHL with the Charlottetown Islanders, Joseph recorded a career-high 46 points to help his team qualify for the playoffs. In the playoffs, Joseph put up 12 points during the Islanders playoff run — where they eventually fell to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in 7 games in the QMJHL President’s Cup semi-finals.
Heading into training camp, the 168-pound left-shooting defenseman will be looking to bulk up ahead of Training camp to fill a full-time NHL spot with the Coyotes.
According to the Arizona Sports 98.7 website, Coyotes GM John Chayka said, “That’s the missing piece but that’s the piece we think we can address. We’re going to be patient with him. The physical side needs to continue to come. He’s here working every day so that’s up to him and it will take as long as it takes, but once he’s physically developed, we see a high upside for him.”
Hayton Barrett, C, 2018 1st Round Pick (5th overall)
As the Coyotes continue to build their forward depth, Hayton Barrett will be an interesting story to follow throughout rookie camp and training camp before the start of the regular season. Known for his high-powered playmaking ability with the Sault Marie Greyhound of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Barrett holds a high potential to become a large piece with the Coyotes in the future.
In his second season with the Greyhounds, Barrett recorded a career-high 60 points to help his team qualify for the OHL playoffs. In the playoffs, he continued to be a big-time player, logging 21 points during the Greyhounds deep playoff run — before eventually falling to the 2018 OHL Champions Hamilton Bulldogs in six games.
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Brayden Burke, LW, Acquired as a Free Agent
Last but certainly not least, the Coyotes will have another highly-skilled forward to watch during their training camp in left winger Brayden Burke. Spending the past couple of seasons with the Moosejaw Warriors of the WHL, Burke recorded a career-high 113 points last season, nearly doubling his games played last season with the Warriors.
Signing his three-year entry-level contract with the Coyotes earlier this offseason, it will be interesting to see the development of Burke as he works his way up to playing with the Coyotes. If one thing is for certain, he will be a player that you do not want to miss for the upcoming rookie camp, training camp, or possible season with the Tucson Roadrunners.