Welcome to the 2021 Top Shelf Prospects series. As we go through the Summer of 2021 LWOH will be featuring a team-by-team look at the top prospects in the NHL. You can find all the articles here. Since we had an extensive NHL Draft preview, we will not be reviewing the players who were drafted in the 2021 draft, as there have been no games since then, and our reports on them will not have changed. Today, we look at the 2021 Arizona Coyotes Prospects.
What we will be doing is linking you to those articles, as well as taking a look at prospects that were acquired before this year’s draft; their progress, and their chances of making the 2021-22 roster of the NHL team in question. We will also bring you one sleeper pick – a player who was either drafted in the 4th-round or later, or was an undrafted free agent signing who we pick as our dark horse to make the NHL. 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. These are not hard or fast rules though, and we may make some exceptions depending on the circumstances.
2021 Arizona Coyotes Prospects
Coyotes Off-Season
After narrowly missing the playoffs, the Coyotes have gone into rebuild mode. All three main goalies are gone, with Darcy Kuemper traded to Colorado, Adin Hill traded to San Jose, and Antti Raanta off to Carolina. In their place are Carter Hutton and Josef Korenar. Meanwhile, defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and forward Conor Garland were traded to Vancouver. The Coyotes also served as a clearinghouse for other teams’ undesirable contracts, taking on picks and prospects in the process. Add in an arena crisis in Glendale and this team appears to be taking several steps backwards this summer.
2021 Draft Picks: Dylan Guenther, Josh Doan, Ilya Fedotov, Janis Moser, Emil Martinsen Lilleberg, Rasmus Korhonen, Manix Landry, Cal Thomas, Samuel Lipkin
Graduations: Adin Hill (traded)
2021 Top Arizona Coyotes Prospect: Dylan Guenther
The Coyotes drafted Guenther with the 9th overall pick in this year’s NHL draft. Prior to the draft, we did an in-depth scouting report on Guenther. As no games have been played since that report; we will not repeat it. You can check out the report here.
#2 Prospect: Victor Soderstrom
Defence — shoots Right
Born February 26th, 2001 — Skutskär, Sweden
Height 5’11” — Weight 187 lbs [180 cm / 85 kg]
Drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the 1st Round, #11 Overall, at the 2019 NHL Draft.
With the start of the North American hockey season delayed, Soderstrom started in the Hockey Allsvenskan. He scored one goal and six points in 12 games for AIK. He also played for Sweden at the World Juniors, picking up five assists in five games. Soderstrom then joined the Tucson Roadrunners, where he had a solid AHL season with two goals and 10 points in 32 games. For a teenage defenceman, those are good numbers. He also got a chance to play in the NHL, scoring his first career goal and picking up two points in four games.
Skating
Soderstrom is an elite skater which allows him to play an effective two-way game. His speed is exceptional, in both directions. He gets up to speed quickly, with excellent acceleration and a great first step. He also has very good edgework and agility, allowing him to quickly change directions. With good pivots, he transitions from offence to defence and vice-versa quickly. This also allows him to cover huge areas of ice and makes him tough to beat in one-on-one situations. Soderstrom is strong on his skates allowing him to win battles on the boards and in front of the net at the junior level. However, he is a bit undersized and this becomes more apparent when he plays against men. His low centre of gravity can help going forward, provided he adds more muscle to his frame.
Offensive Game
Soderstrom has good vision and passing skills, whether it is starting the rush or quarterbacking the play at the point. He can also make the long breakaway pass in transition. His wrist shot features a quick release. He has really improved the power and accuracy in his shot since his draft year. Soderstrom can sneak in from the point and let go his wrist shot from the top of the circles. He has also improved his slap shot over the last two years but there is still more work to do. As he continues to mature and gain muscle in his upper body it will make his shot even more effective.
Soderstrom is a very intelligent player. He reads the play extremely well, whether that be playing at the point on the power play or in leading the rush. His ability to anticipate and read the movements of his teammates and opponents allows him to be creative and create scoring chances. His good stickhandling ability also allows him to carry the puck out of the defensive zone and start the transition. He can also carry the puck through the neutral zone and generate effective zone entries.
Defensive Game
Soderstrom is also very good defensively, with a quick stick. He is tough to beat in one-on-one situations and forces opponents to the outside. His positioning is very good as he reads the play well and keeps himself between his opponent and the net. Soderstrom is strong on his skates and willing to play a physical game but is not a big hitter. That said, he battles hard along the boards and in front of the net. This is another area where he will need to get stronger to play this style going forward. He is more comfortable using his stick to poke check an opponent and steal the puck away. He also cuts off passing lanes. Soderstrom uses his skating ability and smarts to maintain good gap control.
Outlook
Soderstrom projects to be a solid all-around defenceman. There are some size concerns but with the way the NHL is going in recent years, they should not limit his potential. His elite skating and high IQ allows him to compensate for that lack of size. Soderstrom heads to camp looking to make the Coyotes. The team should be patient with him. If he’s ready for a top-four role, he should be in the NHL, however, if he is going to play limited minutes it might make more sense to have him playing all situations and 25 minutes a game in the AHL. Still, Soderstrom is not far away and should be up sometime this season.
#3 Prospect: Jan Jenik
Right Wing — shoots Left
Born September 15th, 2000 — Nymburk, Czech Republic
Height 6’1″ — Weight 180 lbs [185 cm/82 kg]
Drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the 3rd round, #65 overall, at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
Jenik started the season in the Mestis, the second tier Finnish League, with Kettera. He put up five goals and eight points in seven games. Once the North American season started, he moved to Tucson and put up six goals and 14 points in 29 games with the Roadrunners. He also made his NHL debut, scoring two goals in two games.
Skating
Jenik’s skating is a bit of a work in progress. His top-end speed and acceleration are improving. He will never be considered a speedster, but Jenik has gotten his speed to the point where he can keep up with the play at the NHL level and won’t fall behind. His stride is choppy and robs Jenik of much-needed speed and power though. If he can keep working on it and lengthen it, his speed will improve even more. Jenik has also improved his agility and edgework. This allows him to create space from defenders both with and without the puck. Jenik has added muscle and is now stronger on the puck and the boards, but there is still some work that can be done as he matures.
Offensive Game
Jenik has good size at six-foot-one and has added muscle to get up to 181 pounds. He can still get even stronger though. He plays an aggressive two-way game fighting in the corners for loose pucks and battling hard in front of the net. Jenik pressures defenders on the forecheck, forcing them to move the puck quickly and often causing them to make mistakes. He is willing to get to the front of the net and create traffic. When he has the puck, Jenik protects it well down low and creates in the cycle. However, he must bulk up to play that style at the NHL level.
Jenik also has skill. His puck protection game is aided by his strong stickhandling ability. He is able to keep the puck away from opponents. He is also able to make a quick change in angle, creating a passing lane and getting the puck to his teammate. Jenik shows good vision and playmaking aptitude. His shot has a quick release and the added muscle has improved the power. Jenik would score more goals if he can keep getting stronger.
Defensive Game
Jenik is also good in his own end of the rink. He is willing to bring his physical and gritty game in all three ends of the ice. Jenik supports the defence on the backcheck. He keeps players in front of him and away from the front of the net. He also does a good job of using a long stick to cut down passing and shooting lanes. One of the bigger issues though is his lack of strength. He can have issues containing other bigger forwards down low.
Outlook
Jenik returns to the AHL where he should get plenty of ice time and play against the opponent’s top line. He will need to spend some time in the weight room to prepare to move up to the NHL full time. He also needs to continue to work on his skating. He’s made great strides in both of those areas and this gives him a lot of hope for the future. His skill level is very high and if he can continue to clean up those minor issues, Jenik can take the next step and become a top-six winger for the Coyotes.
#4 Prospect: Barrett Hayton
Centre/Left Wing — shoots Left
Born June 9th, 2000 — Peterborough, Ontario
Height 6’1″ — Weight 191 lbs [185 cm / 87 kg]
Drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the 1st round, 5th Overall at the 2018 NHL Draft
Hayton also started his season in Finland but playing for Ilves in the top Finnish league. He put up four assists in eight games. Hayton also had 26 games in Tucson, scoring six goals and ten points. He got in 14 games with the Coyotes and struggled a bit, scoring two goals and three points.
Skating
Hayton is a good but not great skater. His top-end speed and acceleration are both good. He has very good edgework and agility and maneuvers well through traffic both with and without the puck. Hayon’s stride is long and powerful. He has good lower-body strength and is tough to knock off the puck. Hayton can fight through checks and get to the net. He will get even better as he adds more muscle to his frame.
Offensive Game
Hayton has a decent wrist shot and a good release. He needs to continue to get to the right spots and use that shot often. Early in his junior career this was an issue, but improved as time went on. He needs to keep improving that at the pro level now. Hayton has also improved his accuracy but can still stand to get better in this area. His slap shot needs some work though, as it lacks power and his wind-up is very big. Hayton is not afraid to get to the front of the net. Once he gets there, he battles hard for position and has the soft hands to finish plays in tight. Hayton scores on tip-ins, quick one-timers and by quickly pouncing on rebounds. He can even score on his backhand.
Hayton plays a straightforward game. He protects the puck well on the cycle and has some soft hands. However, he is not the type of forward to dangle a defenceman and get past him in a one-on-one situation. Instead, Hayton looks to keep the puck moving, find the open man, and then get it to the net. He is a smart player, who makes quick, smart plays with the puck on his stick. He is also good on the forecheck. While he does not lay a lot of big hits, he gets in quickly, pressuring defenders and creating turnovers.
Defensive Game
Defensively Hayton backchecks hard and shows good positioning. He provides solid backpressure and puck support, helping his defence. He battles hard on the boards, containing his man down low, and keeping him from getting to the front of the net. Hayton shows a good stick and cuts down passing lanes. He keeps himself between the puck and the net and is not afraid to block shots. Overall his defensive game will help him to stick at the NHL level.
Outlook
With the Coyotes in rebuild mode, it is time for Hayton to make the team on a full-time basis. The question will be how much of his junior-level offence can translate to the NHL game. He has not been a big scorer at either the NHL or AHL level yet. Hayton should start on the bottom-six but could move up the lineup if he produces.
#5 Prospect: Vladislav Kolyachonok
Left Defence — shoots Left
Born May 26th, 2001 — Minsk, Belarus
Height 6’1″ — Weight 190 lbs [185 cm/86 kg]
Drafted by the Florida Panthers in the 2nd round, #52 overall, at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft
Traded to the Arizona Coyotes, July 2021.
Kolyachonok was acquired as part of the trade that saw the Coyotes take on Anton Stralman and his hefty salary from the Florida Panthers. Last season he spent 46 games in the KHL with Dinamo Minsk, scoring one goal and six points. He also played ten games with Syracuse in the AHL, picking up two assists.
Skating
An outstanding skater, Kolyachonok uses this as the basis of a strong two-way game. He has very good speed both moving forwards and backwards. However, his first few steps and his acceleration really stand out. His skating can be described as explosive, as he can power into a hit, or win a short race for a loose puck, or turn on an extra gear to carry the puck past a forechecker or a defender in the neutral zone. He combines this with really good footwork and agility. Kolyachonok’s pivots are crisp, giving him the ability to transition quickly from offence to defence and vice-versa. He is strong on his skates. His balance allows him to protect the puck when carrying it as well as to win battles in the corners and in front of the net.
Offensive Game
Kolyachonok uses his skating to move the puck up the ice. He combines this with good stickhandling and puck protection skills. Kolyachonok can skate past forecheckers and out of dangerous areas in his own zone. His speed and agility allow him to create passing lanes and move the puck up the ice on the breakout. He is also able to lead the rush and generate clean entries at the offensive blue line. Poised with the puck on his stick, Kolyachonok has good vision and can make the long breakaway pass from his own end as well as quarterback things from the point on the power play. His point totals might not show it yet, as playing on weak teams has led to lower numbers, but there is an offensive game here.
His game would be even better if he improved his shot. Kolyachonok’s slap shot is below average and as a result, he does not really use it a lot. Instead, he prefers to sneak down from the point and let off a wrist shot. While his wrist shot is better and more accurate, relatively speaking, he could use a quicker release and a bit more power as well. This might improve as he adds upper body strength, but it is unlikely to be a plus tool at the next level. The concern here is that without a shot to keep defenders honest, his offensive production will always be less than what it could otherwise be.
Defensive Game
Kolyachonok is strong defensively. His skating allows him to maintain good gap control and he is difficult to beat one-on-one. He often played big minutes for Flint in the OHL, going up against the league’s top players. However, he was further down the lineup last season playing against men in the KHL. Kolyachonok is willing to play a physical game, throwing hits along the boards and battling in front of his net. However, he is disciplined enough not to chase out of position or to take bad penalties. Kolyachonok will need to develop his upper-body strength before he is ready to play this style in the pros. He reads the play extremely well and cuts off passing and shooting lanes. Kolyachonok adapted very quickly to the smaller ice surface, which shows his hockey IQ and work ethic. A left-hand shot Kolyachonok is able to play both left and right defence, another sign of his hockey IQ and adaptability.
Outlook
Kolyachonok could develop into a top-four defender capable of playing in all situations and matching up against top lines. His game will need time to develop as he needs to add upper body strength and there are some questions if he can use his offensive weapons and shot more consistently going forward. He could be three or four years away from the NHL, but if he develops to his ceiling, could be a valuable piece of an NHL team. Excellent skating, good size, strong work ethic and high hockey IQ all suggest that he could develop with proper coaching. He will likely spend the season with Tucson, getting top-four minutes.
#6 Prospect: Conor Timmins
Defence — shoots Right
Born September 18th, 1998 — Thorold, Ontario
Height 6’2″ — Weight 185 lbs [188 cm / 84 kg]
Drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2nd round, #32 overall, at the 2017 NHL Draft.
Traded to the Arizona Coyotes, July 2021.
Timmins spent most of last season with the Avalanche. He played 31 games, picking up seven assists. He also played 10 playoff games. In six AHL games with the Colorado Eagles, Timmins picked up one goal and four points. Timmins was part of the Darcy Kuemper trade which went down in late July.
Skating
Timmins is a good skater. He has a strong first step and accelerates smoothly and quickly. His top-end speed is good in both directions, and solid edgework and pivots allow him to cover a lot of ice. Timmins has good lateral agility, allowing him to walk the line, and open up passing lanes and shooting lanes in the offensive zone. He is also strong on his skates, helping him to battle for position in the corners and in front of the net.
Offensive Game
Timmins has been hesitant to show his offence at the NHL level thus far. In the AHL he has shown the stickhandling ability to beat forecheckers and move the puck quickly up the ice. He is comfortable both leading the rush and joining in as a trailer. His skating skill allows him to do this, as well as pinch in at the blue line, and still get back defensively. Timmins is an outstanding playmaker. He is very smart, seeing plays develop and reacting to the movements of teammates and defenders. His vision is good and he sees plays that others don’t. Timmins passing skills are also very good. He can fit pucks through tight openings. He has the skills to make saucer passes to teammates, landing the puck flat on the tape.
Timmins has a good shot from the point. His slap shot is accurate and has good power. He keeps his shot low and manages to get it on the net and through traffic. His low shot allows teammates to get to the front of the net, screening goalkeepers, and getting tips and deflections. He also has a good wrist shot which he can use to get the puck on net when pressured at the point. He has a quick release which also makes his shot effective on the rush. As he gains confidence at the NHL level, he should show more of this.
Defensive Game
Timmins is very physical in his own end of the rink. Forwards have to keep their head up on his side of the ice, as he is always looking to make an impact with a big hit. He maintains good gap control and uses an explosive lower body to just explode into the hit. Timmins is also physical in the corners and in front of the net. He must continue to get stronger in order to continue to play this style at higher levels against bigger, stronger forwards. He also needs to work on his discipline. Timmins can look for the hit too often, getting himself caught out of position as he chases the big hit. Timmins can transition the puck quickly out of his own zone when he gets the opportunity.
Outlook
Timmins will get every opportunity to take a role on the Coyotes blueline this season. The question will be if he can show the offence at the NHL level as well as improve his defensive game enough to become a top-four defenceman. He struggled at times with the Avalanche but is young enough that he could grow into a bigger role with the Coyotes.
#7 Prospect: Josh Doan
The Coyotes drafted Doan with the 37th overall pick in this year’s NHL draft. Prior to the draft, we did an in-depth scouting report on Doan. As no games have been played since that report; we will not repeat it. You can check out the report here.
#8 Prospect: Matias Maccelli
Left Wing — shoots Left
Born October 14th, 2000 — Turku, Finland
Height 5’10” — Weight 165 lbs [178 cm/75 kg]
Drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the 4th round, #98 overall, at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Maccelli spent last season with Ilves in the SM-Liiga. He was highly productive with 15 goals and 39 points in 51 games. He also added a goal and two points in five playoff games.
Skating
Maccelli has a very long stride. This helps him to gain speed and power. His acceleration is very good and his top-end speed is very good. He will likely never be the fastest player on his team but he more than keeps up with the play when he is moving. One issue though is that he can sometimes get caught flat-footed. He needs to keep his feet moving at all times on the ice. Maccelli has excellent edgework and agility though. He has excellent crossovers and gains speed and power coming out of his turns. Maccelli has a low centre of gravity, which gives him better balance than one would expect given his lack of size but he needs to get stronger to play the game in North America.
Offensive Game
Maccelli is an excellent playmaker. He controls the puck well, with very good stickhandling. This helps him to control the puck in the offensive zone and control the pace of play. He can slow things down or speed them up when needed. Maccelli has excellent vision as well. He gives teammates the time to get open and when they do, he can put the puck through tight spaces to create a scoring chance. He plays the half-boards on the power play. Maccelli can also make plays while moving at top speed. This allows him to carry the puck through the neutral zone and create efficient and effective zone entries.
Maccelli is more of a playmaker than a goal scorer. While he needs to add power to his shot, his quick hands allow him to get it off with a deceptive release that can fool goaltenders. Maccelli needs to get inside the face-off dots in order to score on good goalies consistently. More power might come as he adds muscle to his frame. Maccelli also needs to get better on the boards and in front of the net.
Defensive Game
Maccelli is willing to work in the defensive zone, getting himself into good positions and cutting down passing and shooting lanes most of the time. However, he needs to get over a tendency to puck-watch from time to time. This can lead to Maccelli not moving his feet and his man beating him to open ice at times. He also can be a liability due to his lack of size. Maccelli can be pushed aside by bigger and stronger opponents. If he can bulk up, this would help. Even with more muscle though, his game still needs more refinement. He is young enough that there is time though.
Outlook
Maccelli is signed to his entry-level deal. He should be with the Coyotes for training camp. However, if he does not make the team, the Coyotes will need to choose between As such, if he does not make the Coyotes, the team will have to choose between sending him to Tucson where he can get big minutes in the AHL or sending him back to Finland for another year.
#9 Prospect: John Farinacci
Center — shoots Right
Born February 14th, 2001 — Red Bank, New Jersey
Height 6’0″ — Weight 185 lbs [183 cm/84 kg]
Drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the 3rd round, #76 overall, at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Harvard and the other Ivy League schools did not play in 2020-21 due to the Pandemic. As a result, Farinacci had limited games last year. He played seven games for Team USA at the World Juniors, scoring five goals and seven points and winning a gold medal. He also had four goals and eight points in seven games with Muskegon in the USHL.
Skating
Farinacci has very good top-end speed. Once he gets a step on a defender, he can pull away, creating an odd-man opportunity. However, he needs some room to get up to full speed as his acceleration needs some work. Farinacci is elusive with good agility and the ability to change directions on his edges. This allows him to avoid defenders both with and without the puck. He has a powerful stride and is able to fight through checks, hooks, and holds. Farinacci is strong on his skates. He protects the puck well and does a good job of winning battles along the boards.
Offensive Game
Farinacci is a pure sniper. His wrist shot is incredible. He fires the puck with a lot of power as well as a lightning-quick release. It is a weapon that can trouble goaltenders both off the rush as well as when he gets a pass from a teammate in the offensive zone. Farinacci also has a very good one-timer. He understands how to get open and finds soft spots in the opponent’s defence. Farinacci is also a very good playmaker. He sees the ice well and can make passes through tight areas. With strong stickhandling ability, he can control the puck down low and extend plays to wait for teammates to get open.
Farinacci has a tendency to play on the perimeter. He is strong when he is involved in battles on the boards or when he gets to the front of the net but does not seem to do that often enough. He could stand to play a more physical and gritty game. Farinacci could also be more effective on the forecheck. He also has a tendency to hold onto the puck a bit too long and will need to move things more quickly as he faces pro opponents.
Defensive Games
Farinacci has a quick stick. He does a good job of cutting down passing lanes and intercepting passes in the defensive zone. He is also quick to poke check the puck away from an opponent. Once a turnover is created, Farinacci is able to transition quickly into offence. He uses his size to angle attackers into the corners and away from the front of the net. However, this is another aspect of his game that could be improved with more physical play.
Projection and Comparison
Farinacci could become a top-six centre in the NHL. However, given the level of competition he has faced to date, he is a bit of a long-term project. A few years at Harvard will be helpful as they will give him time to work in the weight room and bulk up while playing a much tougher schedule than he has so far in his career. Even after a couple of years at college, he will need some AHL time, to adjust to playing against professional players.
#10 Prospect: Kyle Capobianco
Defence — shoots Left
Born August 13th, 1997 — Mississauga, Ontario
Height 6’1″ — Weight 196 lbs [185 cm / 89 kg]
Drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the 3rd round, #63 overall, at the 2015 NHL Draft.
Capobianco continues to score at the AHL level, but has had issues cracking the Coyotes lineup. He put up two goals and 13 points in 20 games with Tucson last year. However, he only had two games in the NHL going pointless.
Skating
Capobianco’s game is defined by his outstanding skating ability. He is so smooth it is like he glides out there on the ice, often looking like he is floating just above the surface. Capobianco shows excellent speed and acceleration both forwards and backwards, great pivots, excellent lateral agility, and fantastic edgework.
The great skating gives him outstanding mobility. It allows Capobianco to lead or join the rush offensively and still recover back to his position. He covers a ton of ice, and it is very difficult to beat Capobianco one-on-one because he is so good on his feet. His footwork can give Capobianco an edge on retrieving loose pucks and moving them out of the zone quickly. He could stand to add some lower body strength to improve his balance and work on the boards and in front of the net.
Offensive Game
Capobianco adds very good stickhandling to his skating skill allowing him to move the puck out of danger, and to lead the rush. He also has the instincts to know when to join as a trailer. Capobianco has an excellent wrist shot, with a good release. He sneaks in from the point and lets that shot go from the top of the face-off cirles. His slapshot is decent, could use more power. He is more of a facilitator than a shooter though, as he can quarterback the power play. Capobianco is calm and poised with the puck at the blueline. He uses his agility to walk the line and open up passing and shooting lanes. He sees the ice well and makes smart passes through small openings to set up his teammates.
Capobianco is also able to carry the puck out of his own end. He avoids forecheckers and starts the rush. He can also carry the puck effectively through the neutral zone. His stickhandling, combined with his skating ability allows him to avoid defenders and generate effective zone entries. Capobianco is not afraid to push the pace and try to create offence.
Defensive Game
Defensively, Capobianco continues to improve each year. While his skating makes him hard to beat in one-on-one situations, he can still have some trouble when the puck is pinned in his end. He has gotten stronger which helps him to handle stronger forwards in the cycle game, to clear the front of the net, and to win battles along the boards. While his strength improved over where he was in junior, it still needs a bit more work as he is now facing stronger forwards at the pro level.
His positioning and instincts are also improving. He still relies a bit too much on his skating ability to get him out of trouble and tight spots. At the pro level, quickness is a huge asset, but defenders cannot get away with relying solely on quickness. He will need to be properly positioned as well. It is an area that he has improved though there is still some work to do. The question, given Capobianco’s age, is if he can get his game to NHL level in the near future.
Outlook
The time is now for Capobianco to make the Coyotes on a full-time basis. While his defensive game has improved and his offensive game is close to NHL ready. The question remains if Capobianco can do enough defensively to make the team on a full-time basis. With the Coyotes in full rebuild mode, he needs to make his mark this year.
Sleeper Prospect: Ivan Prosvetov
Goalie — shoots Left – catches Left
Born March 5th, 1999 — Moscow, Russia
Height 6’5″ — Weight 175 lbs [196 cm/79 kg]
Drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the 4th round, #114 overall, at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
Prosvetov spent the majority of the season with Tucson. In 18 games, he put up a 9-9-0 record with a 3.54 goals-against-average and .895 save percentage. He also played three games with the Coyotes, putting up a 4.15 goals-against-average and .824 save percentage.
Talent Analysis
Coming in at 6-foot-5, Prosvetov has the type of ideal size that NHL teams are looking for in 2021. He makes the most of that size by getting well out of his crease to challenge shooters. His skating helps him to get back on dekes, and to move side to side on cross-ice passes, however, there are times he still gets himself out of position. He could be more disciplined and a bit less aggressive in order to be more consistent. Prosvetov has quick and powerful legs. He covers the bottom of the net well and also gets in and out of his butterfly quickly. Prosvetov is also good with his glove and blocker taking away the top of the net. His size makes him hard to beat up high, even if he is down in the butterfly.
Like many young goalies, Prosvetov has some issues with rebound control. While he has improved in recent years, there is still more room to grow in this area. He also needs to work on his five-hole and being beaten between his body and his arm. These are often issues for bigger goalies.
Mental Makeup
Prosvetov has played behind some weak defences in recent years. He has shown that he does not get rattled, even when facing heavy shot counts. He remains calm and cool in the net and is a source of strength to his teammates. When he does give up a bad goal, he recovers quickly and does not let it linger, being ready for the next shot by the time of the faceoff at centre ice.
Outlook
Prosvetov heads to Coyotes camp looking to nail down a job on the team. He will compete with Josef Krosenar for a spot. However, it may make more sense for Prosvetov to be the starting goalie in the AHL, playing big minutes and continuing his development.
Other 2021 Arizona Coyotes Prospects
With nine picks in the 2021 Draft along with all of their trades this off-season, the Coyotes have started the process of re-stocking a prospect pool that has become a bit shallow in recent years. That said, there are some players worth watching beyond the 11 profiled above. In goal, the Coyotes acquired Josef Korenar from San Jose, and also have David Tendeck in the system. On the blue line, prospects to watch include Ty Emberson, Cole Hults, Michael Callahan, Cameron Crotty, Emil Martinsen Lilleberg, and Cam Dineen. Upfront the Coyotes have Liam Kirk, Alexander Daryin, Ryan McGregor, Ben McCartney, Blake Speers, Carson Bantle, Valentin Nussbaumer, and Aku Raty as players to watch.
