‘Yotes Notes: Rookie tournament in Coyotes’ future?
Sep 17, 2016, 5:39 PM | Updated: Sep 18, 2016, 7:01 am
Team Cherry's Jakob Chychrun, top, checks Team Orr's Matthew Tkachuk during first-period CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game hockey action in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
(Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Twenty-six of the NHL’s 30 teams are competing in rookie/prospect tournaments this week in various cities. The Arizona Coyotes, the Los Angeles Kings, the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Islanders are the only teams that are not.
As the Coyotes began rookie camp on Saturday at Gila River Arena, Coyotes general manager John Chayka said that could change soon.
Chayka said the team is considering a couple of options, including taking part in the Rookie Showcase in Westminster, Colorado, which began this year with the Colorado Avalanche, Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks.
“They reached out and we had some discussions,” said Chayka, who added that the team chose not to participate this year but could next year. “Our guys worked hard all summer and they’re in shape. Usually these (rookie camps) are to get them moving and get them back in the flow and rhythm of their season, but these guys came into camp in great shape. The skill set is all there and they want to play games. Just going into a tournament setting where they have an end goal, I think is helpful.”
It will also be interesting to see how Las Vegas’ entrance to the NHL in 2017-18 impacts the Coyotes’ decision.
Aside from the Colorado event, the NHL Prospect Tournament in Traverse City, Michigan includes the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars and Columbus Blue Jackets.
The London (Ontario) Rookie Tournament includes the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators. The Young Stars Classic in Penticton, British Columbia, includes the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets.
The Prospects Challenge at Buffalo’s HarborCenter includes the Sabres, Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils, and a four-team rookie tournament in Coral Springs, Florida, includes the Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Nashville Predators and Washington Capitals.
The Coyotes prospects will play two exhibition games against L.A.’s prospects on Tuesday and Wednesday.
FULL HOUSE
Every one of the Coyotes rookies available on Saturday passed their physicals and participated in the first day of rookie camp, including wing Nick Merkley, who had surgery to repair a torn ACL suffered in February while finishing a check for Kelowna against Spokane in the Western Hockey League, and spent the summer rehabbing.
“It was good to get out there and get my feet under me again,” said Merkley, the team’s second first-round pick (30th overall) in 2015. “It was tough going every day to rehab and doing that extra stuff; skating 30 minutes before everyone else gets out there, just kind of getting bagged. It’s just a great feeling to be here.”
Merkley admitted there were mental hurdles to overcome when he first started skating about two months ago, but he has overcome those. He has not been cleared yet for the games against Los Angeles next week, but he is hoping that will happen in the next couple of practices so that he can finally show the management and coaching staffs what he can do.
“It’s tough,” he said. “They haven’t really looked at me at all yet. Last year, I got hurt 10 minutes into rookie camp and (I was) hurt for all of development camp here.
“Now it’s my time to show what I have and I’ve prepared well for this.”
FLEXIBLITY ON DEFENSE
Chayka was asked how he would handle the situation if defenseman Jakob Chychrun proved he was ready to play in the NHL this season, but still sat third on the left-side depth chart behind Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Alex Goligoski, which might limit his minutes and development on a third pairing.
“Guys can move over and play on the off side if a player stands out,” Chayka said. “We’re definitely favoring left-right splits, so it’s not something that we’re evaluating yet but it’s not something you’re locked into if a player steps in and is good enough.
“You’re always trying to weigh the long term short-term development path of a player. It’s no different for Jakob.”
Goligoski has played the right side before, although he prefers the left. Chychrun said he’d be fine playing the right side.
“I want to be in the NHL next year,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if I’m going to be playing 30 minutes or 15 minutes. I would love the experience at this age.
“I’ll play forward if they want me to play forward. I’ve moved from left to right at times, mostly left but I definitely have played the right side when I’m needed.”
INJURY UPDATE
Defenseman Cam Dineen missed the opening of rookie camp after suffering an upper-body injury in junior camp. Chayka said the injury appears to be short-term and the Coyotes hope to have him in their camp soon, but he will rehab with his junior club (North Bay) until he is ready. Dineen was the team’s third-round pick (68th overall) this year.
