1. Logan Cooley
Cooley was the third overall pick of the 2022 NHL draft. The 5’10”, 181-pound center man played this past season for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, where he put up a stat line of 22 goals and 38 assists. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, native plays an exciting, high-tempo offensive game with several tools he can utilize. Whether it’s his elite skating, fantastic vision, and great hands, he consistently puts pressure on the opposing defense and creates looks for himself and others. Cooley can also hold his own defensively and in the faceoff circle. Cooley looks to be the Coyotes first line center and is primed to debut this season.
2. Dimitri Simashev
Simashev was the 6th overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft. The 6’4″ 201-pound defenseman spent last season playing for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. For the KHL team, he played 18 games with no points, and in the MHL, he played 29 games with one goal and nine assists. Simashev’s strength is in his defensive game, where he can use his skating, reach, awareness, and size to his advantage. Despite his lack of scoring, he has shown a lot of the tools to have a higher offensive output, and you could see that this upcoming season if he gets more power play time. Simashev looks the part of a top-four defenseman, and if his offensive game grows, he could easily see himself as a top pairing and even the #1 defenseman role. Simashev has two years left on his KHL contract.
3. Conor Geekie
Geekie was the 11th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. The 6’4″ 203-pound center played last season for the Winnipeg Ice of the WHL ( now the Wenatchee Wild), where he put up 35 goals and 42 assists. The massive forward saw an improvement in his goal-scoring from his pre-draft season and showcased his smarts, shot, and vision in creating on the season. While he needs to work on his skating, it should be enough to play in the NHL, although a change to wing may be needed if it doesn’t progress. He should play a key middle-six center role or top 6 winger role for the Coyotes long term.
4. Daniil But
But was the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. The 6’5″ winger played last season as a teammate of fellow Coyotes pick Dimitri Simashevfor Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. In 15 KHL games, But scored two goals, and in 26 MHL games, he scored 15 goals with 11 assists. But brings excellent skating, hands, creativity, and shot to his incredibly large frame. He has all the tools and potential to be a goal scorer at the NHL level and should play a long-term role in the top six. But has two years left on his KHL contract.
5. Michael Hrabel
Hrabel was the 38th overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft. The 6’7″ 216-pound goaltender played last season for the Omaha Lancers of the USHL, where he put up a GAA of 2.86 and a save percentage of .907. The Czech-born Hrabel brings athleticism and massive size to the net with a strong floor and plenty of room to grow. Currently is slotted in as the Coyotes “Goalie of the Future” and will be a fascinating watch as he plays at the University of Massachusetts in the NCAA.
6. Maveric Lamoureux
Lamoureux was the 29th pick of the 2022 NHL Draft. The 6’7″, 198-pound defenseman played last season for the Drummondville Voltigeurs, where he put up five goals and 14 assists in 34 games. Maveric brings a very physical, right-shot defensive presence to the Coyotes blue line. The massive defender should bring a defensive presence to the Coyotes middle pair and help shelter a more offensive-minded defender, as well as contribute heavily on the PK.
7. Artyum Duda
Duda was the 36th overall pick of the 2022 NHL Draft. The 6’1″ defenseman played last season for Dynamo Moskva in both their MHL and KHL teams, where he put up five goals, eight assists in 14 games in the MHL, and three assists in 14 games in the KHL. The Smooth skating, good passing, and left-hand shooting defenseman should bring an offensive element to the Coyotes in either the second or third pairing and PP, potentially a great partner for Maveric. Duda is expected to play for the University of Maine, although it’s not completely confirmed yet.
8. Josh Doan
Doan was the 37th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, where the Coyotes drafted him, his father’s number in the rafters as a franchise legend. The 6’1″ 183, pound right winger played last season for the Arizona State Sun Devils, where he put up 16 goals and 22 assists in 39 games. Doan should bring a tremendous two-way presence to the Coyotes middle six, where his strong forecheck, good shot, and passing skills will make an impact there. Josh Doan is playing for the Tucson Roadrunners next season, where he should be relied upon heavily.
9. Sam Lipkin
Sam Lipkin was the 223 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. The 6’2″ 192-pound left winger played last season for the Quinnipiac Bobcats, where he put up 14 goals, and 29 assists as he played a crucial role on the National Championship winners. He is another two-way physical do-it-all winger; he should be looking at a pretty good role on the team’s third or fourth line long term. Lipkin chose to go back to college as Quinnipiac looks to defend their title.
10. Miko Matika
Matika was the 67th overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft. The 6’3″ 201 pound right winger played last season for both Waterloo and Madison of the USHL, where he put up a combined 27 goals and 28 assists. The large forward brings terrific hands and the willingness to use his size to what should hopefully be a middle-six role with the team eventually. Matika will be a very intriguing prospect to watch as he debuts with the University of Denver this season and maybe the strongest competitor to take a major leap this upcoming season.
Graduated
Dylan Guenther
Victor Söderström
The Chirpin Yotes Podcast Ep 71: Doan 2.0, Young Guns, Name The Team Game – The Chirpin Yotes Podcast
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