Phoenix Coyotes: A Look At The 2013 Draft

The 2013 NHL draft is just seven months away. This article will look at players the Phoenix Coyotes could target next June. Below is a range of where the Coyotes could pick (in the 20s, in the teens and top 10) and players the Coyotes could be interested in at that draft position.

20s:

Bo Horvat (C – London Knights – OHL): Horvat is the best defensive forward in the draft. He will not provide much offensively but could lead a team’s forward corps in blocked shots. Horvat is nearly a lock to be a bottom-6 forward at the NHL level.

Hudson Fasching (C – U.S. National Under-18 Team – USHL): Compher’s teammate is a prototypical power forward prospect. He plays the body; he is physical and has some offensive ability but nothing to write home about. Fashcing’s skating is a concern for some scouts. His best comparable may be the 27^th overall pick in last year’s draft, Henrik Samuelsson.

Jacob De La Rose (W – Leksand – Allevenskan): De La Rose is one of the best power forwards in the draft. The offensive game has not translated into points yet but his side and upside could.

Teens:

Kerby Rychel (W – Windsor Spitfires – OHL): The son of former NHLer Warren Rychel plays the game with a ton of energy. Rychel looks for body checks often and uses his strength to create offensive opportunities. Rychel is one of the best power forwards in the draft.

Anthony Duclair (W – Quebec Remparts – QMJHL): Duclair has many fine traits of an offensively gifted winger. He has good speed, positioning and finishing ability. Duclair scored 31 goals last season as a QMJHL rookie.

Back end of the top 10:

Jonathan Drouin (W – Halifax Mooseheads – QMJHL): Drouin is one of the best pure goal scorers in the draft. Don’t confuse Drouin with some other elite goal scorers that are puck hogs, he is more than willing to pass the puck. Drouin’s point production is helped by the fact he plays on a line with MacKinnon. He could sneak his way into the top-10 before it is all said and done.

Max Domi (C – London Knights – OHL): The son of Tie Domi scored 21 goals as an OHL rookie last season. While his father is known for his fists, Max is an offensively gifted playmaker. The Knights are owned by the Hunter brothers (one being last year’s Washington Capitals head coach Dale Hunter) who should help Domi understand what is needed at the NHL level.

Curtis Lazar (C – Edmonton Oil Kings – WHL): Lazar is a speed demon who already has elite skating ability for his age. Scouts are concerned about his offensive game translating to the NHL. Lazar’s upside is Logan Couture. His downside is Gilbert Brule.