Under 23 Team Spotlight: Arizona Coyotes

Welcome to a new Spotlight blog where I will be looking at players for each team, that are under 23. Why 23? Well last August the World Cup had a team comprised of "Young Stars" who were 23 or younger. A team that surprised at the tournament, and represented the future of the league. That is where I got my inspiration to do this list. Within this spotlight, I will look at teams, with players that are 23 or under. I will give ranking, opinion, and an overall team grade. Today we look at the Arizona Coyotes.

***Left Wing***

1) Maxi Domi, age 22

- Domi has all the tools to be a superstar in the NHL. He is already one of the Coyotes best forwards. (If not the best) A talented feisty forward who can score. Zach Parise type of skill. One of the best young talents in the league

2) Brendan Perlini, age 20

-Speed, skill, hockey sense, and has quickly found a permanent home in the Coyotes lineup. Reminds me of Bobby Ryan

3) Lawson Crouse age 19

- A big man with a big shot. Can drive to the net, and cause havoc in front of the goalie. Already has become a mainstay on the Yotes lineup. Why Florida let this kid go is beyond me...

Other notables: Mitchell Moroz age 22, Anton Karlsson age 20, Brendan Warren age 19

***Center***

1) Dylan Strome, age 20

-Wise move by the Coyotes to return him back to juniors, where he has been on a force. He will be given the green light next year, and is an early Calder Trophy favorite for next season. Paired with Max Domi, they could do some major damage.

2) Christian Dvorak age 21

-He will never be a elite score, but he has shown that he can be a solid 2nd/3rd line winger. On pace for a 30 point season. He brings balance to the lineup, and should have a long NHL career.

3) Clayton Keller age 18

-Strong shifty skater, who could become a real force in the NHL. He is still a few years away, but when he arrives, watch out!

4) Laurent Dauphin age 21

-A defensive zone specialist, who has had a slow start to his career.

5) Ryan MacInnis, age 21

-Has yet to crack the NHL yet, and has struggled in the AHL this year. Trying to find his grove. A 3 line forward, who could provide some solid play.

Other notables: Tyler Gaudet age 23 , Nick Merkley age 19, Lane Pederson age 19

***Right Wing***

1) Anthony Duclair age 21

- He is having a sophomore slump, but no reason to give up on him yet. The real test will see how he does next season. Especially

2) Christian Fischer age 19

- Looked good in his brief stint with the Coyotes. (2 goals in 3 games) Should crack the Coyotes lineup permanently, starting next season. He is a RFA at the end of this season, so it will be interesting to see if Arizona re-signs hi,.

3) Conor Garland age 20

-Dominated the juniors. Has his detractors, due to his smallish frame, but he oozes talent. A hidden gem, that just needs to be mined properly.

Other notables: Brandon Troock age 22, Jens Looke age 19

***Defense***

1) Jakob Chychrun age 18

- 18 year old defenseman are a rare thing in the NHL. This kid reminds me of Aaron Ekblad. He could become a dominating force, and fast.

2) Anthony DeAngelo age 21

-The perfect partner for Chychrun. He has the speed, and offensive talent to put up great numbers in the NHL. Tampa Bay might regret trading him

3) Cam Dineen age 18

-Still alot of work to do before he makes it to the NHL. However, he has the hockey sense, and talent to succeed. Could be another hidden gem in the Yotes organization.

Other notables: Kyle Wood age 20, Dysin Mayo age 20, Kyle Capobianco age 19, Dean Stewart 18 years old

***Goalies***

1) Adin Hill age 20

-Still in development, and it good take a few years before he gets serious NHL action. However, he has done well with the AHL Roadrunners this season. Future backup for the Coyotes.

Other notables: Marek Langhammer age 22, Erik Kallgren age 20

Team Ranking:

- The Coyotes have one of the most impressive under 23 teams in the league. They have at least 5 elite prospects that will make immediate impact on the team. The only weakness in between the pipes. Other than that, Coyotes fans have plenty to cheer for. ( In a few years at least)

Overall Score: 94/100 A+