CoyotesHFNHL
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- May 30, 2010
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In what was the first draft of the current Arizona Coyotes GM, the team saw a but of an underwhelming draft overall, but one that saw a key piece that remains with the team. The following is a review of the very first draft of the current Coyotes regime, 10 years later.
LD - Mark Katic - Sarnia Sting (OHL) 5'10" 181
HFNHL Draft: 1st Round, 16th Overall
NHL Draft: 3rd Round, 62nd Overall by the New York Islanders
Review: Mark has world class skating ability, and everything else aside is one of the best skaters of his generation. Ultimately it wasn't his feet that let him down but his shoulders. After hitting nearly double digits by the time he made his NHL Debut in 2011 with the New York Islanders, the reoccuring injuries set him back. Losing almost the entire 11-12 season was the final straw for Katic and he moved his game to Europe. Since then he has utilized his exceptional skating and puck rushing skills in Germany (DEL), Croatia, Russia (KHL), and most recently Sweden (SHL). Should Katic decide to return to the NHL, he has the skill to be an effective puck rushing defenseman. But with the number of shoulder injuries suffered that may not be the case.
Should have taken: David Perron, C, Montreal, 17th Overall
RD - Jonathon Blum - Vancouver Giants (WHL) 6'01" 187
HFNHL Draft: 1st Round, 24th Overall
NHL Draft: 1st Round, 23rd Overall by the Nashville Predators
Review: For the second straight time in the first round the Coyotes went after a smooth skating offensive defenseman. Blum helped is Giants win a Memorial Cup in his draft year. He continued to improve on his point totals, making Team USA in back to back seasons in the World Junior Championships, captaining the team in the second year. Over the next Jonathon split his time with the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild and their AHL affiliates. He was able to produce offensively at both levels but struggled defensively and with the physicality in the NHL. After 5 seasons of splitting time in the NHL and AHL he made the move to Russia (KHL). THe past two seasons he was able to play a big offensive role in the KHL, becoming team captain this past season.
Should have taken: Max Pacioretty, LW, Columbus 28th Overall
G - Steve Mason - London Knights (OHL) 6'04" 216
HFNHL Draft: 2nd Round, 46th Overall
NHL Draft: 3rd Round, 69th Overall by the Columbis Blue Jackets in 2006
Review: In a bold move by their first draft, Steve Mason was selected as a re-entry at 46th Overall. Mason lead the London Knights to the Western Conference finals playing 78 games between the regular season and playoffs. Mason would lead Canada to World Junior Gold the following season with a 1.19 GAA and .951 SV%. He would also win an OHL Championship after being traded to the Kitchener Rangers. Mason made the NHL as a starter at the age of 20 playing 61 games for the Blue Jackets in th e following season. Over the past 8 seasons Steve Mason has played 468 NHL games winning a Calder Trophy in 2009 as the NHL Rookie of the year. Mason has been the starting goaltender for the HFNHL's Coyotes for most of the past decade and will continue to do so for the forseeable future.
Should have taken: Steve Mason, G, Phoenix 46th Overall
RC - Jay Barriball - University of Minnesota (NCAA) 5'09" 170
HFNHL Draft: 2nd Round, 58th Overall
NHL Draft: 7th Round, 203rd Overall by the San Jose Sharks in 2006
Review: The Coyotes try to strike lightning twice taking another re-entry player in the second round. This time it didn't pan out as well. The undersized forward leading his high powered team in scoring as a freshman. He racked up an impressive 43 points, leading a team that included future NHLers Kyle Okposo, Alex Goligoski, Blake Wheeler, Ryan Stoa, Erik Johnson, Jim O'Brien and Jeff Frazee. Jay never matched his point totals again and suffered a major injury during the 2009-2010 season. He recovered but never really played to his potential seeing 36 games in the AHL before retiring in 2013.
Should have taken: Patric Hornqvist, C, Tampa Bay 77th Overall
RW - Matt Halischuk - Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 6'00" 181
HFNHL Draft: 3rd Round, 87th Overall
NHL Draft: 4th Round, 117th Overall by the New Jersey Devils
Review: Halischuk posted an impressive 33 goals and 66 points in his second OHL season. He would join fellow Coyotes' and Kitchener Rangers teammate Steve Mason at the World Junior Championships scoring the gold medal winning goal in overtime for Canada. He made the NHL as a 20 year old, but spent first three seasons back and forth between the NHL and AHL. He stuck in the league from 2011 to 2016 in the NHL but could never really find his ability to hit the back of the net again, posting double digits in goals just once, scoring 15 in 2011-12 with Nashville. Halischuk is a borderline NHLer right now, someone who would probably benefit a team in a bottom six role, but this past season went over to Germany (DEL) and is playing with the Iserlohn Roosters.
Should have taken: Matt Halischuk, RW, Phoenix 87th Overall
D - Josh Godfrey - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) 6'02" 205
HFNHL Draft: 4th Round, 116th Overall
NHL Draft: 2nd Round, 34th Overall by the Washington Capitals
Review: Josh is an offensive minded defenseman who scored an outstanding 24 goals in his draft year with the Coyotes. He had one of, if not the hardest shot in junior hockey and also possessed a big physical game. He would join fellow Coyotes' draftee's Steve Mason and Matt Halischuk helping Canada to a Gold Medal at the World Junior Championships posting 5 points in 7 games. Josh was able to translate his goal scoring ability from the blueline in the ECHL, but was never very productive in the AHL. After trying for five seasons, Josh headed to Europe where he played in Germany (DEL), Norway, and has most recently spent the past two seasons in England (EIHL)
Should have taken: P.K. Subban, D, Anaheim 134th Overall
G - John Murray - Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 6'00" 196
HFNHL Draft: 5th Round, 147th Overall
NHL Draft: Undrafted
Review: John posted impressive numbers with the Kitchener Rangers as an OHL rookie. He was subsequently traded to the Kingston Frontenacs the following season where he got a tryout with the Reaading Royals after the OHL season. He played well in the ECHL but couldn't get past there playing in only 1 AHL game in his career. He traveled to Poland and Kazakhstan where he was the starting goaltender for KH Sanok leading them to a Poland league championship in 2014. He continues to play in Poland's top men's league today.
Should have taken: Jamie Benn, LW, Los Angeles 181st Overall
LC - Jared Gomes - Sarnia Sting (OHL) 6'01" 190
HFNHL Draft: 7th Round, 202nd Overall
NHL Draft: Undrafted
Review: Jared was one of the best two-way forwards in the OHL in 2007. He was able to improve on his point totals posting 31 goals in his overage season. He played three years in the CIS with UPEI. Afterwards he was selected to play in the AHL and did so for two seasons with the San Antonio Rampage. He played a season with Bridgeport before leaving for Germany playing SC Riessersee in Germany's second men's league (DEL2) where he remains today.
Should have taken: Wayne Simmonds, RW, Undrafted
LD - Mark Katic - Sarnia Sting (OHL) 5'10" 181
HFNHL Draft: 1st Round, 16th Overall
NHL Draft: 3rd Round, 62nd Overall by the New York Islanders
Review: Mark has world class skating ability, and everything else aside is one of the best skaters of his generation. Ultimately it wasn't his feet that let him down but his shoulders. After hitting nearly double digits by the time he made his NHL Debut in 2011 with the New York Islanders, the reoccuring injuries set him back. Losing almost the entire 11-12 season was the final straw for Katic and he moved his game to Europe. Since then he has utilized his exceptional skating and puck rushing skills in Germany (DEL), Croatia, Russia (KHL), and most recently Sweden (SHL). Should Katic decide to return to the NHL, he has the skill to be an effective puck rushing defenseman. But with the number of shoulder injuries suffered that may not be the case.
Should have taken: David Perron, C, Montreal, 17th Overall
RD - Jonathon Blum - Vancouver Giants (WHL) 6'01" 187
HFNHL Draft: 1st Round, 24th Overall
NHL Draft: 1st Round, 23rd Overall by the Nashville Predators
Review: For the second straight time in the first round the Coyotes went after a smooth skating offensive defenseman. Blum helped is Giants win a Memorial Cup in his draft year. He continued to improve on his point totals, making Team USA in back to back seasons in the World Junior Championships, captaining the team in the second year. Over the next Jonathon split his time with the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild and their AHL affiliates. He was able to produce offensively at both levels but struggled defensively and with the physicality in the NHL. After 5 seasons of splitting time in the NHL and AHL he made the move to Russia (KHL). THe past two seasons he was able to play a big offensive role in the KHL, becoming team captain this past season.
Should have taken: Max Pacioretty, LW, Columbus 28th Overall
G - Steve Mason - London Knights (OHL) 6'04" 216
HFNHL Draft: 2nd Round, 46th Overall
NHL Draft: 3rd Round, 69th Overall by the Columbis Blue Jackets in 2006
Review: In a bold move by their first draft, Steve Mason was selected as a re-entry at 46th Overall. Mason lead the London Knights to the Western Conference finals playing 78 games between the regular season and playoffs. Mason would lead Canada to World Junior Gold the following season with a 1.19 GAA and .951 SV%. He would also win an OHL Championship after being traded to the Kitchener Rangers. Mason made the NHL as a starter at the age of 20 playing 61 games for the Blue Jackets in th e following season. Over the past 8 seasons Steve Mason has played 468 NHL games winning a Calder Trophy in 2009 as the NHL Rookie of the year. Mason has been the starting goaltender for the HFNHL's Coyotes for most of the past decade and will continue to do so for the forseeable future.
Should have taken: Steve Mason, G, Phoenix 46th Overall
RC - Jay Barriball - University of Minnesota (NCAA) 5'09" 170
HFNHL Draft: 2nd Round, 58th Overall
NHL Draft: 7th Round, 203rd Overall by the San Jose Sharks in 2006
Review: The Coyotes try to strike lightning twice taking another re-entry player in the second round. This time it didn't pan out as well. The undersized forward leading his high powered team in scoring as a freshman. He racked up an impressive 43 points, leading a team that included future NHLers Kyle Okposo, Alex Goligoski, Blake Wheeler, Ryan Stoa, Erik Johnson, Jim O'Brien and Jeff Frazee. Jay never matched his point totals again and suffered a major injury during the 2009-2010 season. He recovered but never really played to his potential seeing 36 games in the AHL before retiring in 2013.
Should have taken: Patric Hornqvist, C, Tampa Bay 77th Overall
RW - Matt Halischuk - Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 6'00" 181
HFNHL Draft: 3rd Round, 87th Overall
NHL Draft: 4th Round, 117th Overall by the New Jersey Devils
Review: Halischuk posted an impressive 33 goals and 66 points in his second OHL season. He would join fellow Coyotes' and Kitchener Rangers teammate Steve Mason at the World Junior Championships scoring the gold medal winning goal in overtime for Canada. He made the NHL as a 20 year old, but spent first three seasons back and forth between the NHL and AHL. He stuck in the league from 2011 to 2016 in the NHL but could never really find his ability to hit the back of the net again, posting double digits in goals just once, scoring 15 in 2011-12 with Nashville. Halischuk is a borderline NHLer right now, someone who would probably benefit a team in a bottom six role, but this past season went over to Germany (DEL) and is playing with the Iserlohn Roosters.
Should have taken: Matt Halischuk, RW, Phoenix 87th Overall
D - Josh Godfrey - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) 6'02" 205
HFNHL Draft: 4th Round, 116th Overall
NHL Draft: 2nd Round, 34th Overall by the Washington Capitals
Review: Josh is an offensive minded defenseman who scored an outstanding 24 goals in his draft year with the Coyotes. He had one of, if not the hardest shot in junior hockey and also possessed a big physical game. He would join fellow Coyotes' draftee's Steve Mason and Matt Halischuk helping Canada to a Gold Medal at the World Junior Championships posting 5 points in 7 games. Josh was able to translate his goal scoring ability from the blueline in the ECHL, but was never very productive in the AHL. After trying for five seasons, Josh headed to Europe where he played in Germany (DEL), Norway, and has most recently spent the past two seasons in England (EIHL)
Should have taken: P.K. Subban, D, Anaheim 134th Overall
G - John Murray - Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 6'00" 196
HFNHL Draft: 5th Round, 147th Overall
NHL Draft: Undrafted
Review: John posted impressive numbers with the Kitchener Rangers as an OHL rookie. He was subsequently traded to the Kingston Frontenacs the following season where he got a tryout with the Reaading Royals after the OHL season. He played well in the ECHL but couldn't get past there playing in only 1 AHL game in his career. He traveled to Poland and Kazakhstan where he was the starting goaltender for KH Sanok leading them to a Poland league championship in 2014. He continues to play in Poland's top men's league today.
Should have taken: Jamie Benn, LW, Los Angeles 181st Overall
LC - Jared Gomes - Sarnia Sting (OHL) 6'01" 190
HFNHL Draft: 7th Round, 202nd Overall
NHL Draft: Undrafted
Review: Jared was one of the best two-way forwards in the OHL in 2007. He was able to improve on his point totals posting 31 goals in his overage season. He played three years in the CIS with UPEI. Afterwards he was selected to play in the AHL and did so for two seasons with the San Antonio Rampage. He played a season with Bridgeport before leaving for Germany playing SC Riessersee in Germany's second men's league (DEL2) where he remains today.
Should have taken: Wayne Simmonds, RW, Undrafted
