The Arizona Coyotes have announced their 2021 first-round pick Dylan Guenther has signed a three-year entry-level contract. He was picked ninth overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
It's official!
We've signed 2021 first round draft pick Dylan Guenther to a three-year entry-level contract. ✍️ https://t.co/LmdzxCHlM4
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) August 30, 2021
Dylan Guenther Signs Entry-Level Contract With Arizona
The pick used to draft Guenther was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks in the Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Conor Garland trade. Arizona did not have a first-round pick in this year’s draft, after forfeiting the 11th pick for violating the NHL Combine Testing Policy during the 2019-20 season. The Coyotes general manager, Bill Armstrong, says the team is very confident about the young player.
“Dylan is an extremely skilled and smart player with a great work ethic. We are confident that he will become a very good NHL player and look forward to watching his development this season.”, said Armstrong.
Guenther has played in the WHL since 2019, with the Edmonton Oil Kings. During the 2020-21 season, the 18-year-old recorded 12 goals and 24 points in 12 games with Edmonton. He also represented Team Canada in the 2021 U18 World Junior Championship, helping the team win the gold medal. During the tournament, Guenther scored four goals and seven points in seven games.
In 2020, he became the first Oil Kings player to win Rookie of the Year in the WHL after scoring 26 goals and 59 points in 58 games in the 2019-20 season. During his WHL career, he has scored 41 goals and 87 points in 78 games with Edmonton.
What This Means For The Future
Even though it is unlikely that Guenther will be playing in the NHL in the next season, having him under contract is a great sign for Arizona. The 18-year-old player was mainly projected to go before seventh but he ended up being picked ninth by the Coyotes. When asked about it, Guenther said he’s excited to prove the teams that have passed on him wrong and that’s certainly a good sign. Having motivation as he goes to training camp and then to the WHL will help him get better. That is always good for young players wanting to make it to the NHL.
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