Arizona Coyotes' Prospect Report
Checking in on some key prospects in the Arizona Coyotes' system.
By Ben Fisher
Things are quickly going downhill at the NHL level for the Arizona Coyotes. So what better time then, to dig deeper into the organization and highlight how some of their top prospects have fared this season?
With Dylan Guenther being promoted to the big club this season and Logan Cooley reaching the NHL straight out of the NCAA, the club's prospect chart has taken some hits. However, they still boast a prospect pool ranked as high as seventh by some publications. This should, hopefully, inspire a steady wave of young talent in the coming years to pair with an already-youthful core.
Let's check in on the Coyotes' farm system with a prospect report*:
* Note: this report does not include players who have bounced back and forth from the big club, such as Swedish defenseman Victor Soderstrom.
Conor Geekie
Trade buzz has officially set in across the league, with the March 8 NHL Trade Deadline less than a month away. If Conor Geekie ever finds himself subject to the rumor mill, the process won't be anything new to the 2022 No. 11 over-all pick. He already went through the trade process as a Western Hockey League star in early January.
The deal, which sent Geekie from the relocated Wenatchee Wild to the Swift Current Broncos, did not disrupt the red hot play of the 19-year-old, as he went from 20 goals and 49 points in 26 games with the Wild to 11 goals and 17 points in 12 games with Swift Current. A Team Canada representative at the 2024 World Junior Hockey Championship (he recorded two goals and an assist in five games), Geekie is probably over-qualified for junior hockey at this point and should be ready to transition to the AHL next season.
Dimitry Simashev
A punishing, physical force on the defensive end, Dimitry Simashev likely will never produce stats that jump off the scoresheet. And sure enough, his four goals and eight points in 58 games with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv of the Kontinental Hockey League don't necessarily invite comparisons to Bobby Orr or Cale Makar.
What has stood out about the play of Simashev is how the just-turned 19-year-old defender has handled himself in a tough league that isn't typically kind to youngsters. Although the No. 6 over-all selection in last summer's draft isn't seeing huge minutes with Yaroslavl (he's currently averaging 14:33 of ice time per game), he's made an impact as part of a blue line in which every one of his fellow rearguards is at least nine years his senior.
Defensive prospects - particularly stay-at-home ones - can take a long time to develop, which is part of the reason why draft analysts were surprised by Simashev's selection. That still may be the case for the 6'2" Kostroma, RUS native, but it's an encouraging sign that he's already handling himself well in as tough a pro league as the KHL. His teammate and fellow 'Yotes prospect Daniil But has 10 goals and 19 points in 50 games thus far.
Michael Hrabal
Michael Hrabal is the latest homegrown goaltending hope for the Coyotes and is currently in the process of validating the organization's optimism this season. The 6'6" Czech netminder has been lights out in NCAA play, backstopping UMass-Amherst to a 12-5-1 record with a .922 save percentage and a 2.31 goals against average.
Hrabal didn't serve up the same sparkling numbers as his country's starting goaltender at this year's World Juniors (.877 SV%, 3.40 GAA), but he did shut the door on Canada in Czechia's quarter-final upset of the host nation.
Maveric Lamoureux
Size has clearly been a priority across the Coyotes' developmental system in recent years, and no one looms larger in that regard than 6'7" defenseman Maveric Lamoureux. That being said, the towering blue liner isn't merely valued for his measurements.
Lamoureux has already been trumpeted as a "draft steal" for the Coyotes. Apart from his frame, the Quebec native has showcased a varied skill set that includes high-end skill and finesse. These qualities have developed over four years in the QMJHL with the Drummondville Voltiguers, as he has amassed seven goals and 28 points in 28 games this season. He also recorded a goal, two assists and a plus-6 plus/minus rating in five games as part of Canada's 2024 World Junior team.
Even if things continue to go south this season for the Coyotes, fans can take at least some comfort in knowing that the future of the organization looks bright - on the ice, anyway.