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Arizona Coyotes: Top 5 Prospects of 2014-15

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5 Best Arizona Coyotes Prospects

Arizona Coyotes
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Coyotes have been very cautious with their prospects over the last few years. They've invested in a few players who had a father who played in the NHL. Connor Murphy is the only one to make it out of the preseason and onto the active roster. Tobias Rieder and Tyler Gaudet are on the cusp of breaking the top five showing the Coyotes' depth in the youth ranks.

5. Lucas Lessio

Lucas Lessio
Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

5. Lucas Lessio

Lucas Lessio2
Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Lessio was taken in the second round of the 2011 draft and played his first full professional season last year in the AHL. His size allows for versatility, and he isn't afraid to throw his weight around. Lessio, a left winger, has recorded two points in four games for the Portland Pirates this season.

4. Henrik Samuelsson

Henrik Samuelsson2
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

4. Henrik Samuelsson

Henrik Samuelsson
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The son of Ulf is a much better offensive player than his father. He needs to improve his skating but has great hands. His size would allow him to get into corners and grind, but Samuelsson has a scoring touch. The Coyotes expect Samuelsson to be a top-six forward.

3. Brandon Gormley

Brandon Gormley
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

3. Brandon Gormley

Brandon Gormley2
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Gormley is the only defenseman in the top five for the Coyotes. He was the 13th pick in the 2010 draft and played five games in Arizona last year. He is praised for his hockey IQ, but this will be a make-or-break year. News broke over the weekend that Gormley is unhappy starting the season in Portland and may be on the trading block.

2. Brendan Perlini

Brendan Perlini
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

2. Brendan Perlini

Brendan Perlini2
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

After being drafted in June, Perlini was impressive in prospect camp. He is a few years away from the NHL but has a long stride and the ability to score that adds to his promise. The Coyotes expect him to add some muscle to his large frame and find a role in the top-six forwards.

1. Max Domi

Max did not inherit the enforcer gene from his father. Instead he is one of the most offensively-gifted prospects in the game. Although he isn't afraid to mix it up, Domi is coming off a 93-point season for the London Knights in only 61 games. This was in spite of increased penalty minutes from the previous season. He has nine points in eight games this season.

Douglas Smith is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
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