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Hockey the Hard Way? Nah, There is Reason for Hope!

By Chris Donovan

Nick Schmaltz #8 of the Arizona Coyotes is one of the center pieces in the franchise rebuilding. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Nick Schmaltz #8 of the Arizona Coyotes is one of the center pieces in the franchise rebuilding. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Logan Cooley, #3 pick by the Arizona Coyotes, has been compared to Mathew Barzal and that is good news to Coyotes fans. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Logan Cooley, #3 pick by the Arizona Coyotes, has been compared to Mathew Barzal and that is good news to Coyotes fans. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

2. The Coyotes have restocked the Cupboard

After losing picks the past few years from trading for Taylor Hall and as punishment from the league for violating the NHLs combine testing policy (thanks again, Chayka), the Coyotes were finally in a position again to restock the cupboard and load up on some talent. The 2021 NHL Entry Draft was highlighted with the selections of Dylan Guenther and Josh Doan.

Heading into the 2022 draft, the team was armed with three first round picks (Arizona, Colorado for Kuemper, and Carolina for Dvorak), and four second round picks (Arizona, Islanders for Laad, Flyers for Gostisbehere, and Sharks for Hill). The team walked out of the first round with Logan Cooley, Conor Geekie, and Maveric Lamoureaux.

The Yotes are stocked with young talent that should compliment Keller, Schmaltz, and company, moving forward.

The Coyotes taking USA U-18 Center Logan Cooley with the 3rd pick, gives them the most offensively gifted center in the draft, drawing comparisons to Mathew Barzal. Many fans (including myself) were shocked when the team stuck with their plan and took Cooley after the top rated prospect Shane Wright slipped to the Coyotes. Many fans probably felt that this was the universe correcting itself for the Coyotes getting screwed on past draft lottery picks that featured Connor McDavid and Autson Matthews.

The truth is, Wright is not the same type of talent as either of those players, and though he will be a solid leader for the Kraken, the Coyotes ended up with the better offensive player.

Conor Geekie is going to be a stud, drawing comparisons to Jeff Carter. Elite teams are built down the middle (look at the Avalanche) and the Coyotes might have just hit it out of the park with these picks.

The future is now. Locked and loaded, the team should take a massive step forward.

Let’s go!

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