Arizona Coyotes: Three Observations From Rookie Game Vs. LA Kings
The Arizona Coyotes’ rookies started off sluggish this preseason with a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings’ youngsters.
It wasn’t the return to hockey many were expecting for the vaunted Arizona Coyotes group of prospects.
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Tentative. Hesitant. However you want to describe it, the Yotes appeared mighty uncomfortable in their matchup against the Kings.
There were plenty of defensive lapses, as well as garish turnovers in the 3-1 loss.
Some of that is to be expected with so many fresh faces on the ice combined with the nerves of playing in front of NHL management. Other mistakes were more glaring and, in theory, easily correctable for the kids vying for NHL and AHL ice time in the organization.
Conor Garland Continues To Tantalize And Frustrate
Conor Garland is perhaps the most intriguing prospect in the Arizona Coyotes organization bar recent draftee Clayton Keller.
His combination of speed, skill, and tenacity has fans thinking perhaps they’ve found some hybrid combination of Johnny Gaudreau and Brad Marchand. It’d be hard not to love him.
Garland’s penchant for overdoing it, however, is frustrating as the turnovers mount.
If or when the Massachusetts native can harness his exuberance and begin to facilitate play instead of try to play hero ball (hero puck?) on every rush, he may be the most lethal piece in the Coyotes’ arsenal. Until then, though, Garland might remain the hockey version of Jimmer Fredette.
Flashy, but ultimately bad for the collective.
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Christian Fischer And Lawson Crouse Looked Good
With all of the headlines on the two center prospects, it was easy to forget about the big trade for Lawson Crouse or the pre-camp hype surrounding Christian Fischer.
Craig Morgan wrote about Fischer early in the offseason, suggesting that he might be this season’s Tobi Rieder or Jordan Martinook as a surprise camp inclusion on the NHL roster. He did nothing to discourage that talk on Tuesday night.
Fischer played on a line with Crouse that was centered by Christian Dvorak, and the trio’s size and skill provided the Arizona Coyotes it’s best source of attack.
Crouse impressed fans with his debut performance for the franchise and even pitched in an assist on Dvorak’s goal.
Dylan Strome And Christian Dvorak Took Center Stage, But Dvo Dominated The Night
The first period was a disaster for the Arizona Coyotes, but one of the few bright spots was Dylan Strome.
He was in the right place, was one of the few Yotes creating chances, and had a few of his own.
As the game continued on, however, Christian Dvorak stepped to the fore and Strome faded into the background.
Dvorak scored the Coyotes’ lone goal and was a menace throughout the final two periods after being quiet in the first frame. This makes twice this year that Dvorak has gotten the better of Strome at rookie camp, as Dvo’s team dominated Strome’s during Coyotes development camp this summer.
With a few more outings like that, it’ll be hard to deny Dvorak that #18 sweater on opening night in Glendale. For Strome, he must keep that motor going throughout the contest.
Fans will (hopefully) get a peek at Jakob Chychrun and Nick Merkley tomorrow.