Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. As we go through the summer of 2023, each day our LWOS Prospects Writers will bring you a look at one NHL team’s top prospects or other topical article. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow Ben Kerr, Kyle Pereira and Frederik Frandson on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical profiles and scouting reports! You can find all the articles here as well as our extensive NHL Draft preview. Today, we look at the 2023 Arizona Coyotes Prospects.
For those wondering, the cut-off for what is or isn’t a prospect is typically about 50 NHL games played (including playoff games) or is 25 years old. However, these are not hard or fast rules, and we may make some exceptions depending on the circumstances.
2023 Arizona Coyotes Top Prospects
1.) Logan Cooley
Logan Cooley is hands down the best of the Arizona Coyotes prospects. Without a doubt, he is the most skilled player in their system. He was supremely skilled when he played for the USNTDP the year he was drafted, where he scored 75 points in 51 games. Then, he went to the University of Minnesota for his much-anticipated NCAA freshman season. He would absolutely not disappoint. As a freshman, Cooley would not only impress by being one of Minnesota’s top players, but he would be one of the best players in the NCAA, period. Scoring 60 points in just 39 games, he took his smooth and absolutely dominant skills and expanded on them. After signing his entry-level contract, Cooley will look to bring that dominance to the NHL level.
2.) Dylan Guenther
Dylan Guenther was drafted in 2021 (ninth overall) during a season impacted by COVID. He scored 24 points in 12 games, but it was a small sample. He was big and strong, and between his off-puck movement and outstanding shot, was a threat as a goal-scorer. But could he do it for a full season? The following season he exploded for 91 points in 59 games. The following season, he would get a 33-game NHL stint, where he produced a rock-solid 15 points in 33 games before returning to the WHL. Back in juniors, he did well with 29 points in 20 games. With his mix of smarts, size, and skill, plus some previous NHL experience, him and Cooley could come together for a strong season this year.
3.) Dmitri Simashev
Dmitri Simashev just joined the Arizona Coyotes prospects pipeline. He is a big body on the back end and after his selection this year, comes in as the Coyotes top defensive prospect. His selection is certainly controversial, as he was ranked outside the top-10 almost anywhere one could look, yet was taken ahead of Zach Benson, Matvei Michkov, and Axel Sandin Pellikka. Regardless of that, he isn’t any less of a solid prospect. He certainly isn’t a world-beater, and no one should expect Simashev to produce much offence at any stage of his career, barring a complete breakout. Instead, he is a physical, shut-down presence who can eat tough minutes in the future. Might not be the conventional, modern-day number-one defender, but he could be a huge piece of the Coyotes D-core moving forward.
4.) Conor Geekie
Conor Geekie is another WHL forward on this list, coming after Guenther. However, while Guenther truly took a massive step forward, the younger Geekie did not. In his draft year, the big Geekie turned in 70 points in 63 games, which is impressive for someone of his stature (6’4” and 205 pounds). However, after being picked 11th overall in 2022, Geekie would follow up with 77 points in 66 games. His goal totals did jump, and he finished the season strong after a disappointing start. But his skating remains a weakness, and he’ll need to take that next step this season in the WHL. He’s still an excellent prospect, with tons of puck skills leading to highlight-reel plays. But he must show more moving forward.
5.) Daniil But
Daniil But is an interesting case. Joining the Arizona Coyotes prospects pipeline, he, like Simashev, was taken probably much sooner than most anticipated. However, the reasons for him being taken sooner is the polar opposite to Simashev. While Simashev was taken due to his pro style and translatability, But was taken for his high upside. That upside comes with a ton of risk, and serious question marks, which Simashev has very few of to this point. At his best, But has an incredible shot and puck skills, looking like a Tage Thompson-esque big man in the offensive end. However, But’s skating is not close to being NHL-ready and will make it difficult to keep up at the KHL level, let alone the NHL level. Defensive zone play should be better with his reach and size, but it isn’t. Those things, on top of offensive consistency, need to improve to translate his upside to any higher levels.
6.) Michael Hrabal
Another 2023 prospect, and the first (and only) goalie on the list. Hrabal was arguably the best goaltender to enter the 2023 draft. His size (6’7” and 216 pounds) is the perfect frame for a modern-day goalie. In his career, since 2019-20 at the U17 levels in Czechia, he has never had lower than a .901 save percentage in a season. Joining the USHL last season with the Omaha Lancers, he got experience in a smaller rink and performed well (.908 save percentage in 31 games). Not to mention, he performed at a high level for Czechia internationally in the World Juniors (.920 save percentage in five games). He’s quick and uses his size exceptionally well. Moving to UMass Amherst this upcoming year, Hrabal has the makings of a future NHL starter.
7.) Maveric Lamoureux
The second defenceman on this list, Lamoureux is another imposing presence in the Coyotes pipeline. Standing at 6’7” and 198 pounds, he is a physical presence on the blueline, throwing his body around and being a terrifying force on the ice. He also defends exceptionally well, taking full advantage of his physical tools and reach. He also possesses surprising agility for a big man, which allows him to have some decent puck-moving ability. However, his offence, while improving since his draft selection in 2022 (29th overall) is still a concern. Additionally, he suffered a shoulder injury last season, and was limited to just 35 QMJHL games. Lamoureux is looking to take a big step forward next season in the QMJHL, as he continues to push for an NHL opportunity in the future.
8.) Artyom Duda
Duda is a smaller defender with offensive tools, something the aforementioned two defenders on this list don’t necessarily possess. He has excellent playmaking abilities, flashing his smarts with the puck on his stick. It helps that he is a strong skater, able to get out of tight spots using his feet and puck skills when needed. What helps his stock is the fact he got 14 KHL games, experience against men, last season, and is now making the decision to come to North America to play NCAA hockey. Coming to North America, as a Russian athlete, is a huge development, and the NCAA has become a fantastic developmental league. Duda could really fine tune his offensive game and continue to work on his defensive abilities with Maine.
9.) Josh Doan
The son of Shane Doan, a Coyotes legend, is coming off an impressive 14-game stint in the AHL this past season. This comes off the coattails of two NCAA seasons with Arizona State, including one season as a captain. He totaled 75 points in 74 games before scoring six points in the aforementioned 14 AHL games. While Doan has been impressive, his skating is still a concern, as is his offensive consistency. The 21-year-old Doan may need a full season in the AHL, but he is trending up with each passing season.
10.) Julian Lutz
Lutz, coming into his draft year, was a complete player with high end skating. While his raw skills weren’t special, the idea was that his motor, awareness, and well-rounded game would make him an NHLer one day, with the hopes his raw skills will take strong strides forward. Instead, to no mistake of his own, an injury derailed his draft season, and impacted the start of this past season. He had a slow start due to a lack of conditioning and training, and even worse, it was a back injury. Essentially, he lost more than one full season due to health, and now needs to catch back up to where he once was, never mind taking steps forward. Yet, the upside is still there as a middle-six energy player.
HM (Round 4 or Later): Sam Lipkin
Lipkin, who was taken in the seventh round in 2021, played between the NCDC and USHL in his draft year. With 25 points in 19 NCDC games, and 11 points in 30 USHL games, he was not looked at as a top prospect of any kind. Yet, the Coyotes took a swing. The following season, he broke out with 71 points in 59 games at the USHL level. That came when he was a captain of the Chicago Steel. Then, he made the decision to join Quinnipiac University this past season. He flew onto the scene with 43 points in 39 NCAA games as a freshman. This was en route to helping Quinnipiac win their first national title.
He will return to Quinnipiac for his sophomore season. However, there was a very legitimate chance Arizona was going to sign him earlier this offseason. Potentially, they could have had him on the NHL roster. While the potential isn’t outstanding, he is a big body. Lipkin plays a responsible 200-foot game and could be a legitimate middle-six option moving forward. His improvement has absolutely strengthened the Arizona Coyotes prospects depth.
In The System
Other Arizona Coyotes prospects include players who already graduated to the Coyotes NHL roster, like Matias Macceli, Barrett Hayton, Jack McBain, Jan Jenik, JJ Moser, Victor Soderstrom and Vladislav Kolyachonok. On top of those guys and the 11 names mentioned above, they also have Aku Raty, Liam Kirk, Michael Kesselring, Carson Bantle, John Farinacci, Ilya Fedotov and more.
That being said, there are a bunch of young players looking to make an impact to turn the Coyotes into a true contender in the NHL. From what is in their system and any future acquisitions, it’s clear that the future is bright as currently constructed. These Arizona Coyotes prospects should fill fans with hope moving forward.
Main Photo Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
