The biggest takeaway from the Taylor Hall trade, other than the obvious benefit of acquiring the 2018 Hart Trophy winner, was that the Coyotes were able to land Hall without giving up any of their top three prospects. President of hockey operations John Chayka told The Athletic 10 days before the trade that forwards Barrett Hayton, Jan Jenik and defenseman Victor Söderström were untouchable, but Chayka was also able to pull off the trade without giving up a top goalie prospect.
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In the end, that was the market for a rental player. Other teams may have offered more in the way of NHL-established talent, but without assurances of a contract extension for Hall, an impending unrestricted free agent, the Coyotes offer ended up being the best on the table for Devils GM Ray Shero.
The Coyotes did surrender three players who had NHL potential. Kevin Bahl’s upside may be as a second-pair defenseman, given his size, physical play and good mobility. Forwards Nick Merkley and Nate Schnarr look more like depth players, but they still might have helped the Coyotes down the road.
So where does that leave the prospect pool as 2020 begins? We chatted with Chayka earlier this week to get a sense of the players at the top of that depth chart. The lead ones are familiar, while a couple of others are impressing with their current clubs.
C Barrett Hayton
After Thursday’s games, Hayton was third among all scorers at the World Junior Championship with five goals and nine points in five games. Hayton had two goals and an assist in a 6-1 quarterfinal win against Slovakia on Thursday that pushed Canada into a semifinal matchup with Finland.
Hayton, the No. 5 overall pick in 2018, is still the Coyotes’ top prospect, one they hope will at least turn into a top-six center, if not a No. 1. Sullivan, who spearheads the Coyotes’ development process, said Hayton will definitely return to Arizona after the tournament in the Czech Republic concludes this weekend.
“He’s getting better with every game,” Sullivan said. “It’s good to see him playing with more confidence; great difference-making play without being too high risk.”
Hayton, 19, put himself in hot water when he forgot to remove his helmet during the Russian national anthem after the Russians routed Canada in pool play. Hayton issued his own apology, but Chayka said he also checked in on his center.
Statement from Barrett Hayton and Hockey Canada. pic.twitter.com/ikgoAGbalW
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) December 29, 2019
“He made a mistake,” Chayka said. “When you look at that tournament, there’s a lot of scrutiny, especially in Canada, there’s a lot of pressure. Obviously, he’s the captain so he wants to do a good job. The team had an emotional comeback win against the U.S. to start it off and then had a letdown against Russia. I think he wears a lot of that. He’s a competitive kid. I don’t think it was a thought process toward disrespect but obviously, he made a mistake and he apologized.
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“We like to overanalyze things in society. If you want to overanalyze it you can, but we know Barrett. He’s a good kid.”
F Jan Jenik
Jenik was having an impactful World Junior Championship for the host Czech Republic before he suffered an apparent knee injury that will sideline him for a while. He had two goals and three points in three games before colliding with Team USA’s Jacob Pivonka on this play. As Jenik fell to the ice, he clutched the back of his right knee
Here is the hit that knocked Jan Jenik out of the game at the World Junior Championship. https://t.co/vbd80BG6wr
— Craig Morgan (@CraigSMorgan) December 30, 2019
“Our doctors are reviewing his MRI and we’ll work with his agent on a plan,” Chayka said. “He will be out indefinitely.”
As of Thursday, the Coyotes medical team was still in the review and planning process.
Jenik, 19, skyrocketed up the depth chart with a strong summer and an excellent development camp. While the Coyotes still think the 2018 third-round pick (No. 65) is two to three seasons away from making an NHL impact, they love his combination of size, physical play, skills and willingness to go to, or stand in front of the net.
“I love his passion and drive, and he has skill, too,” coach Rick Tocchet said. “Just what this organization needs.”
D Victor Söderström
Söderström, 18, was a late addition to Team Sweden at the World Junior Championship after the Blackhawks elected not to loan Adam Boqvist to the Swedes, but he has been a good addition.
Just spoke with Sweden coach Tomas Monten. Victor Soderstrom (ARI), the last player added to the team, has been very good here. He's happy with what he's brought. Once they knew they wouldn't get Boqvist (CHI), they were happy to have an option like Soderstrom.
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) December 31, 2019
The No. 11 overall pick in 2019 is a skilled skater and puck mover. He has two goals and nine points in 15 games with Brynäs of the Swedish League this season. He has one goal and six points for all Swedish defensemen in points. Sweden advanced to the semifinals with a win against the Czech Republic on Thursday.
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Prosvetov has been brilliant since the Tucson Roadrunners (AHL) recalled him from Rapid City of the ECHL. Through 13 games, the 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 114) owned a 2.38 goals-against average (GAA) and a .931 save percentage (tied for fourth in the AHL).
“Prosvetov has come in and outperformed where we thought he would be,” Sullivan said. “The plans for the summer were unknown. It was going to be up to Ivan to decide what we would do but every challenge we have put in front of him he has passed. That’s a credit to him, including the changes our coaches have asked him to make, and he is seeing success because of him.
“He just needs games, reps and growth. You don’t see too many really young goaltenders in the NHL because it’s such a difficult position and the consistency issue is real. You can see flashes of what their ceilings might be but for them to play that consistently usually takes time, but again, he’s answered every challenge.”
Hill is with the Coyotes, serving as Antti Raanta’s backup while Darcy Kuemper is out with a lower-body injury related to his groin. The 2015 third-round pick (No. 76) has 18 games of NHL experience with a 2.83 GAA and a .902 save percentage.
Hill’s numbers in Tucson (2.77 GAA, .907 SP) have not been as strong as Prosvetov’s.
“He’s one of the better No. 3 goaltenders in an organization,” Sullivan said. “You have to have goaltending depth and you need a No. 3. When you look at a lot of teams that are struggling, goaltending is probably the No. 1 issue. We have the luxury of having what we believe are two No. 1s and a capable backup who is still growing into what he might become.”
Hill said he made some changes in his game over the summer.
“I’ve narrowed up my stance a bit,” he said. “I used to get my feet a bit wider and I felt like I couldn’t move as well if there was a bounce I wasn’t expecting. I have relaxed my hands a bit, too, where I feel I am just as reactive but my hands are a little more to my side. They’re still in front of me, but a little more to the side. The goalie coaches here and my goalie coach back home all identified it as something we might want to change it. I noticed it last year here with (Corey Schwab).”
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Maccelli, who just turned 19 in October, has 10 goals and 25 points in 26 games for Ilves to rank 10th in the Finnish Liiga in points per game.
“He has had an incredible year in the Finnish league,” Chayka said. “He’s almost at a point a game and if you look at players that have put up a point a game at his age, it’s a very small list and it’s an exceptional list. I think he has one of the more been dominant players of (World Juniors) so obviously, we think highly of him.”
The 2019 fourth-round (No. 98) pick has a goal and four points for Finland, which reached the semifinals on Thursday with a 1-0 win over team USA.
F Aku Räty
Räty has two goals and five points in 19 games for Kärpät in the Finnish Liiga. He has two goals and three points for Finland at the World Junior Championship.
“He has had a good tournament,” Chayka said. “He’s a guy who may not have a high-end ceiling but is a guy who has some size and intangibles and we like the way he plays.
“Overall, we think our guys at World Juniors are cream of the crop over there, and they are translatable players; not just junior players.”
Tucson
Aside from the aforementioned goalies, Chayka and Sullivan believe the Coyotes have a number of players who can help them on their AHL team.
“In Tucson, you can make the argument that we don’t have guys who are going to be first-line players, but there’s a lot of good pieces that can come in and be our pieces, Coyotes pieces that know how we play and know our culture and can add a lot of depth to an organization that you need if you really want to make runs at things,” Chayka said. “Right now, they’re down there learning how to win and developing their games. Again, they may not be 30-, 40-, 50-goal guys, but they’re guys that can make an impact for us long-term.”
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Chief among the skaters is Kyle Capobianco. Up front, some depth players who could contribute down the road include forwards Lane Pederson, Brayden Burke, Michael Bunting and Michael Chaput.
“We have a roster down there that continues to grow with players we think can play in the National Hockey League,” Sullivan said. “To name names, I wouldn’t know where to stop because I feel like guys are still one year away from putting themselves in a call-up position or they’re one year away from being full-time NHL players. We have a plethora of guys that are knocking on the door.”
Chayka said the Coyotes’ depth will allow the organization’s prospects to develop a little longer and refine their games.
“I feel really confident about our whole system and that was a big part of us making that (Hall) trade,” he said. “My view is quality over quantity. We feel there’s enough of our guys who have progressed over the development path that we feel strongly about their ability to come in at some point over the next two to three years and really make an impact and be good young players for the organization.
“You’re always trying to time things. It’s not like you can go with an entire team of under-23s. We’ve got a strong pipeline that’s coming in waves and that was our goal. We’ve got some really high-end players at premium positions and we’ve got some good wingers as well; some good depth there. It’s not just pieces, it’s quality pieces.”
Third-period reversal
Through two periods against the Anaheim Ducks, the Coyotes appeared headed to another bad loss at Gila River Arena on Thursday. It wasn’t as if they had played poorly. A couple of mistakes ended up in their net and they couldn’t finish, firing wide on an inordinate amount of shots.
Then the Coyotes did something refreshing, they rallied at home, scoring three third-period goals to flip the script on a loss to the Dallas Stars four days earlier in which they blew a two-goal, third-period lead.
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Christian Dvorak tied the game with his 10th goal of the season just 26 seconds into the third, sliding in a loose puck after Taylor Hall flubbed Conor Garland’s centering pass from behind the net.
The theme repeated itself on Brad Richardson’s game-winning goal. Vinnie Hinostroza dropped a pass for Christian Fischer, who couldn’t get off a shot but made good by finding Richardson in the slot for a tap-in. Carl Söderberg capped the scoring with a deflection of Clayton Keller’s shot, giving every Coyotes forward exactly one point in the game in a 4-2 win; Arizona’s second straight at home.
The secret to life is balance. https://t.co/uLqvklputs
— Craig Morgan (@CraigSMorgan) January 3, 2020
“I thought everyone contributed,” Richardson said. “It’s nice to get consecutive wins on home ice. It’s been a struggle for us.
With the win, the Coyotes pulled to 10-10-1 at home. A win against Philadelphia would give them a 3-1 homestand before a nasty three-game road trip at Florida, Tampa Bay and Carolina.
“We really want to get that one and send ourselves off on that road trip the right way,” Richardson said.
Capobianco arrives
The Coyotes recalled Capobianco from the Roadrunners on Wednesday. Capobianco was with the team for six games in October and one in early November, but Tocchet felt he lacked the assertiveness and jump the Coyotes saw from him last season.
Capobianco suffered a torn ACL vs. Columbus on Feb. 7 and had surgery. Sullivan said that was the major reason for Capobianco’s decline in play earlier this season.
“Without a doubt, that’s exactly what happened,” Sullivan said. “He had major surgery that reconstructed his whole knee. It takes time to come back from such a major injury. Look at (Chychrun) and where he was at the end of last year to where he is now. Totally different player. He had a great summer to be able to put the work in that was necessary whereas Capo was still doing a lot of work and not much strengthening or improving as a player.
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“He was at a disadvantage and he’s still trying to fight through that and find some consistency in his game, but there’s no way we don’t see Capo as a full-time NHL defenseman. That’s not even a question in our minds. If it takes an extra few months for him to turn the corner and get going, we are going to be patient with him because we’re playing the long game with Capo. We think he can be a defenseman in the NHL for 10-plus years.”
Capobianco admitted the injury was a factor, physically and mentally.
“I just didn’t really know the toll it was going to take,” he said. “Now, I’m starting to realize the things I have to do before and after games, and back-to-backs to take care of it. There was tendinitis. It’s part of the injury and the surgery, but that slowly goes down as the muscle builds up.
“You start to second-guess yourself on your skates and obviously you can’t do that in this league but the time in the AHL really helped. I’m feeling good now. I got 20 or so games in the AHL under my belt and I feel really confident skating-wise. I feel like I can do anything. I’m back to normal.”
Capobianco had four goals and 20 points in 23 games for the Roadrunners.
Hammer time?
Niklas Hjalmarsson skated with the Coyotes in a noncontact jersey on Wednesday and Thursday. As we have reported multiple times, Hjalmarsson is nearing a return to the lineup; possibly when the Coyotes hit the road next week.
“It’s not one of those things where he’s got to take contact first before he can play,” Chayka said. “It’s not that type of an injury so I don’t expect the ramp-up to be long. He’s got to get his timing back, but he’s in great condition. Hopefully, he just steps in and that stuff takes off.”
When Hjalmarsson returns, the Coyotes have a few decisions to make. First, they have to decide how to construct their pairs. Jakob Chychrun has played like a top-four defenseman for a long stretch. He cannot go back to playing third-pair minutes, so the Coyotes will have to decide how to divvy the minutes among Chychrun, surging Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Alex Goligoski, Jason Demers and Hjalmarsson.
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They are also going to have to decide who becomes the No. 6 defenseman and who sits. Jordan Oesterle and Ilya Lyubushkin have struggled at times this season, although Lyubushkin had a strong game on Thursday. If Capobianco is healthy and back to being the assertive defenseman Tocchet saw last season, he could also force his way into the mix.
Give the recent struggles of the third pair, I have wondered if the Coyotes might be in the market for another defenseman before the trade deadline. With Hjalmarsson returning soon, they’ll have time to assess their needs.
“I think we will take a look at it once he gets back in but again it’s a good group that over a large enough sample now has been a strong defensive group,” Chayka said. “There have been blips along the way and certain things that we wish we had more of, but I think that’s true of every team.
“As a whole, if they are relatively healthy, they have been a successful defensive team and Nik will certainly give us another element that we need, but we’re not looking to make any changes to that group today.”
Kuemper’s goal
Darcy Kuemper has started skating on his own as he continues to rehab his injury, suffered against Minnesota on Dec. 19 at Gila River Arena. Kuemper was recently named a Pacific Division All-Star for the NHL All-Star Game at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Jan. 25. While reporters were asked not to ask Kuemper about his injury on a conference call after his All-Star selection, Kuemper sounded upbeat about his chances of playing in that game.
“It’s super exciting and obviously a huge honor to get a chance to go and represent the team and play with some of the top players in the league,” he said, noting that family members are also excited for the opportunity. “I think they’re already looking into booking some time off work to try and get down for the weekend.”
Kuemper is the 25th All-Star selection in Coyotes history and the 46th All-Star in franchise history. He is the fourth Coyotes goaltender to earn All-Star recognition, along with Nikolai Khabibulin, Sean Burke and Mike Smith.
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“I’m excited for the opportunity and hopefully my family can make it down and I can get a chance to play in front of them,” he said.
Loose puck
Michael Grabner was a healthy scratch for the second straight game on Thursday. He has eight goals and 11 points in 39 games, but just two goals and two points in his past 16 games.
(Photo of Brad Richardson celebrating his Thursday night goal vs. Anaheim: Matt Kartozian / USA Today Sports)