Coyotes prospect development camp offers glimpse of future
Jul 4, 2016, 6:00 AM | Updated: 7:29 am
(Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Max Domi, Anthony Duclair, Jordan Martinook and Louis Domingue represented the first wave of the Coyotes’ promising future when they locked down significant roles on last year’s team. Several players will compete for a spot in the next wave, beginning July 4 at Gila River Arena.
The Coyotes will hold their annual prospect development camp Monday through Friday in Glendale. The camp will feature most of the team’s best prospects and offers fans a glimpse of what’s to come.
On-ice sessions times are from 2-4:30 p.m. on Monday; 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday; 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Thursday; and 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Friday. The team will also hold an intrasquad game Friday at 7 p.m. to wrap up the camp. Practices and the game are free and open to the public.
Here is a quick look at some of the top prospects expected to attend camp.
Clayton Keller
Age: 17
Position: C
Height/Weight: 5-10, 163
Hometown: Swansea, Ill.
Draft status: 2016 1st round (7th overall)
2015-16 team: USNTDP
2015-16 stats: 85 games, 50 goals, 144 points
Notable: Keller grew up in the St. Louis area and was coached by former Coyotes captain Keith Tkachuk.
Jakob Chychrun
Age: 18
Position: D
Height/Weight: 6-2, 205
Hometown: Boca Raton, Fla.
Draft status: 2016 1st round (16th)
2015-16 team: Sarnia (OHL)
2015-16 stats: 62 games, 11 goals, 49 points
Notable: Chychrun’s father, Jeff Chychrun, played 262 career NHL games as a defenseman with the Flyers, Kings, Penguins and Oilers.
Cam Dineen
Age: 18
Position: D
Height/Weight: 5-11, 183
Hometown: Toms River, N.J
Draft status: 2016 3rd round (68th)
2015-16 team: North Bay (OHL)
2015-16 stats: 68 games, 13 goals, 59 points
Notable: Dineen’s defensive partner with North Bay last season was Kyle Wood, who will also be at prospect development camp.
Dylan Strome
Age: 19
Position: C
Height/Weight: 6-3, 187
Hometown: Mississauga, Ont.
Draft status: 2015 1st round (3rd)
2015-16 team: Erie (OHL)
2015-16 stats: 56 games, 37 goals, 111 points
Notable: His older brother is New York Islanders forward Ryan Strome, who was drafted fifth overall in 2011.
Nick Merkley
Age: 19
Position: RW
Height/Weight: 5-11, 192
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Draft status: 2015 1st round (30th)
2015-16 team: Kelowna (WHL)
2015-16 stats: 43 games, 17 goals, 48 points
Notable: Merkley suffered a torn ACL in February that limited him to 43 games.
Brendan Perlini
Age: 20
Position: LW
Height/Weight: 6-2, 205
Hometown: Guildford, England
Draft status: 2014 1st round (12th)
2015-16 team: Niagara (OHL)
2015-16 stats: 57 gams, 25 goals, 45 points
Notable: Perlini’s production slipped the last two seasons but the Coyotes believe some of that may have been due to issues with Niagara’s coaching staff. Restoring his mojo will be a point of focus for the staff in Tucson this season.
Christian Dvorak
Age: 20
Position: C
Height/Weight: 6-0, 190
Hometown: Frankfort, Ill.
Draft status: 2014 2nd round (58th)
2015-16 team: London (OHL)
2015-16 stats: 59 games, 52 goals, 121 points
Notable: Dvorak finished second in OHL points to Barrie’s Kevin Labanc (127).
Ryan MacInnis
Age: 20
Position: C
Height/Weight: 6-3, 185
Hometown: St. Louis, Mo.
Draft status: 2014 2nd round (43rd)
2015-16 team: Kitchener (OHL)
2015-16 stats: 59 games, 38 goals, 81 points
Notable: He is the son of Hall of Fame defenseman Al MacInnis.
Christian Fischer
Age: 19
Position: RW
Height/Weight: 6-1, 212
Hometown: Chicago, Ill
Draft status: 2015 2nd round (32nd)
2015-16 team: Windsor (OHL)
2015-16 stats: 66 games, 40 goals, 90 points
Notable: Fischer is close friends with Scottsdale product and No. 1 overall pick Auston Matthews. The two were roommates on the U.S. development team.
Conor Garland
Age: 20
Position: RW
Height/Weight: 5-8, 163
Hometown: Scituate, Mass.
Draft status: 2015 5th round (123rd)
2015-16 team: Moncton (QMJHL)
2015-16 stats: 62 games, 39 goals, 128 points
Notable: Garland is the first player in Wildcats history to lead the QMJHL in scoring, and he is only the second American-born player to do it (Pat LaFontaine was the first).
Kyle Wood
Age: 20
Position: D
Height/Weight: 6-5, 209
Hometown: Waterloo, Ont.
Draft status: 2014 3rd round (84th, Colorado)
2015-16 team: North Bay (OHL)
2015-16 stats: 49 games, 8 goals, 39 points
Notable: Wood came over along with Alex Tanguay and center Conner Bleackley in the 2015 trade-deadline deal that sent Mikkel Boedker to Colorado.
Kyle Capobianco
Age: 18
Position: D
Height/Weight: 6-1, 178
Hometown: Mississauga, Ont.
Draft status: 2015 3rd (63rd)
2015-16 team: Sudbury (OHL)
2015-16 stats: 68 games, 7 goals, 43 points
Notable: His uncle is former pro goalie Randy Exelby, who lives in the Valley and owns Behind the Mask, a hockey equipment store.
Adin Hill
Age: 20
Position: G
Height/Weight: 604, 190
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Draft status: 2015 3rd round (76th)
2015-16 team: Portland (WHL)
2015-16 stats: 65 games, 32-27-6, 2.96 GAA, .917 SP
Notable: Finished the year in Springfield (AHL) and will be the back-up in Tucson (AHL this season. Is considered Coyotes’ top goalie prospect.
Click here for a full development camp roster.