CoyotesHFNHL
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- May 30, 2010
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For the first time ever, the Arizona Coyotes have all of their players drafted by NHL teams before the end of the sixth round. The Coyotes made 9 selections taking players from 7 different countries at the 2018 HFNHL Draft. Germany, Canada, Sweden, Finland, USA, Russia, Norway. All 9 of the HFNHL Arizona Coyotes picks went to 9 different NHL teams.
Dominik Bokk - LW - Vaxjo Lakers (SHL) 6'01” 176
HFNHL: 1st Round - 16th Overall
NHL: 1st Round - 25th Overall by the St. Louis Blues in 2018
GM Says: “For the first time since 2011 when the Coyotes took Oscar Klefbom 16th overall, the Coyotes go outside of North America for their first round pick of the draft. He's a big 6'01” winger with great hands and puck skills. Has the hands and the feet to beat defenders one on one. His skating could stand to be more technically sound but he gets where he needs to go. Future top six forward with goal scoirng ability.
Akil Thomas - RC - Niagara Ice Dogs (OHL) 5'11.25” 177
HFNHL: 2nd Round - 35th Overall
NHL: 2nd Round - 51st Overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2018
GM Says: “For the first time since drafting Jonathan Dahlen in the 2nd round in 2016 the Coyotes take a player under six feet tall. Thomas has pure top six scoring ability, a great shot, great hands and good skill. He is a highly competitive forward and is a fairly safe pick due to his skill level and his ability to play a variety of roles. He has the upside to be a 50+ point player in the NHL who uses his skill to help his team, but he's the type of player who, if he doesn't reach his offensive upside he has the compete and defensive acumen to be a valuable player at the NHL level.”
Jared McIssac – LD – Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) 6'01” 189
HFNHL: 2nd Round - 54th Overall
NHL: 2nd Round - 36th Overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 2018
GM Says: “Jared is a 6'01” defenseman with great skating ability and a very well rounded game. He doesn't really have a single flaw that stands out, but he also doesn't have a skill that stands out either. With his size and skating ability it creates opportunities for him at the next level. He can play on the offensive side of the game and the defensive side. Doesn't project as a top pairing defenseman, but as one that could play a secondary role in all game situations at the NHL level and be a second pairing defenseman. Getting to play top minutes at the 2019 Memorial Cup will be a great experience for him and help his development.”
Albin Eriksson – RW – Skelleftea AIK (SEL) 6'04.25” 207
HFNHL: 3rd Round - 76th Overall
NHL: 2nd Round - 44th Overall by the Dallas Stars in 2018
GM Says: “Eriksson may not project to be a top round player on draft day, but he has the raw upside of a player who could become a top six forward at the NHL level one day. He is a sleeper and a late bloomer who was never a dominant player, but this season score over 20 goals and played 16 games in the SHL and didn't look out of place. He has never had the chance to represent Sweden in any of the big or mid level international events except the Hlinka. He has an excellent shot and is a great threat to score. He also protects the puck well. 7 years ago the Dallas Stars took a big winger at 44 who the Coyotes selected at the 2011 HFNHL Entry Draft who has almost 200 games played in the NHL, Brett Ritchie”
Giovanni Vallati – LD – Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 6'01.5” 184
HFNHL: 4th Round - 101st Overall
NHL: 5th Round - 153rd Overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2018
GM Says: “Giovanni is a well rounded defenseman who can play in all game situations. He's over 6'01” and skates very well. There are actually a lot of similarities between him and McIsaac. Giovanni struggles a little with consistency and can be very streaky dating back to his minor hockey days, but his upside is as a lower end top four defenseman and that's a solid pick up after 100 in the HFNHL draft, he's just got to figure out to play at that level on a daily basis.”
Oskari Laaksonen – RD – Ilves (Lliga) 6'02” 165
HFNHL: 5th Round - 132nd Overall
NHL: 3rd Round - 89th Overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2017
GM Says: “Oskari was the highest player drafted in the 2017 NHL Draft to go unselected at the 2017 HFNHL Draft. The Coyotes pick him up at 132 this year, over 40 picks later than he was taken last year. Oskari has outstanding skating ability and can fly around the ice. He has great hockey sense and processes the game at a high level. He is steady at both ends of the ice playing opponents well in one on one situations but can also contribute offensively. An under the radar prospect who's quickly losing the under the radar status. If he was born 10 weeks later, this year would have been his first year of draft eligibility.”
Spencer Stastney – LD – USA-NTDP (USHL) 510” 180
HFNHL: 5th Round - 148th Overall
NHL: 5th Round - 131st by the Nashville Predators in 2018
GM Says: “Stastney is a player I first saw play with the Chicago Mission. His skating has always been a level above his competition and I'm suprised how under the radar he's flown. Possibly because his numbers aren't where you'd like it to be for his style of play. With that said it doesn't take away from his upside. He can rush the puck extremely well and has great mobility. He reads the game quickly and reacts appropriately. He has a good stick defensively and can be tough to beat one on one despite the lack of size. Going to the University of Notre Dame next season.”
Nikolai Kovalenko – RW – Loko Yaroslavl (MHL) 5'10” 174
HFNHL: 6th Round – 163rd Overall
NHL: 6th Round - 171st Overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2018
GM Says: “Alexei the son of former NHLer Andrei Kovalenko. He is a strong skater and has great compete level. His hands are great in tight and likes to create offense for himself and others. He uses this creativity to make others better. Alexei finished one point short of the scoring lead for his team en route to winning the junior hockey championships in Russia (MHL). He was one of four MHL players selected to play in the KHL All-Star game. Another one of our euro selections who has yet to play in any big tournaments internationally.”
Mathias Emilio-Pettersen – LC – Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) 5'09.5” 170
HFNHL: 7th Round – 194th Overall
NHL: 6th Round - 167th Overall by the Calgary Flames in 2018
GM Says: “Everyone knows who Mathias is. He's the first YouTube sensation in hockey. We've seen videos of him surface for the past 10 years ago watching him dominate competition back home. After posting over 3.5 points per game in Norway's U16 league as a 13 year old, he came to North America where he continued to dominate at the minor hockey level. He finished top 5 in the USHL among U18 players in scoring. He is a shifty skater with great agility and can evade checkers with skill. Outstanding puck skills and is effective setting up his linemates. He also competes hard and plays a full 200 foot game. He will need to overcome size but has the skill to be a great late round pick. He is going to the University of Denver next season.
Dominik Bokk - LW - Vaxjo Lakers (SHL) 6'01” 176
HFNHL: 1st Round - 16th Overall
NHL: 1st Round - 25th Overall by the St. Louis Blues in 2018
GM Says: “For the first time since 2011 when the Coyotes took Oscar Klefbom 16th overall, the Coyotes go outside of North America for their first round pick of the draft. He's a big 6'01” winger with great hands and puck skills. Has the hands and the feet to beat defenders one on one. His skating could stand to be more technically sound but he gets where he needs to go. Future top six forward with goal scoirng ability.
Akil Thomas - RC - Niagara Ice Dogs (OHL) 5'11.25” 177
HFNHL: 2nd Round - 35th Overall
NHL: 2nd Round - 51st Overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2018
GM Says: “For the first time since drafting Jonathan Dahlen in the 2nd round in 2016 the Coyotes take a player under six feet tall. Thomas has pure top six scoring ability, a great shot, great hands and good skill. He is a highly competitive forward and is a fairly safe pick due to his skill level and his ability to play a variety of roles. He has the upside to be a 50+ point player in the NHL who uses his skill to help his team, but he's the type of player who, if he doesn't reach his offensive upside he has the compete and defensive acumen to be a valuable player at the NHL level.”
Jared McIssac – LD – Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) 6'01” 189
HFNHL: 2nd Round - 54th Overall
NHL: 2nd Round - 36th Overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 2018
GM Says: “Jared is a 6'01” defenseman with great skating ability and a very well rounded game. He doesn't really have a single flaw that stands out, but he also doesn't have a skill that stands out either. With his size and skating ability it creates opportunities for him at the next level. He can play on the offensive side of the game and the defensive side. Doesn't project as a top pairing defenseman, but as one that could play a secondary role in all game situations at the NHL level and be a second pairing defenseman. Getting to play top minutes at the 2019 Memorial Cup will be a great experience for him and help his development.”
Albin Eriksson – RW – Skelleftea AIK (SEL) 6'04.25” 207
HFNHL: 3rd Round - 76th Overall
NHL: 2nd Round - 44th Overall by the Dallas Stars in 2018
GM Says: “Eriksson may not project to be a top round player on draft day, but he has the raw upside of a player who could become a top six forward at the NHL level one day. He is a sleeper and a late bloomer who was never a dominant player, but this season score over 20 goals and played 16 games in the SHL and didn't look out of place. He has never had the chance to represent Sweden in any of the big or mid level international events except the Hlinka. He has an excellent shot and is a great threat to score. He also protects the puck well. 7 years ago the Dallas Stars took a big winger at 44 who the Coyotes selected at the 2011 HFNHL Entry Draft who has almost 200 games played in the NHL, Brett Ritchie”
Giovanni Vallati – LD – Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 6'01.5” 184
HFNHL: 4th Round - 101st Overall
NHL: 5th Round - 153rd Overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2018
GM Says: “Giovanni is a well rounded defenseman who can play in all game situations. He's over 6'01” and skates very well. There are actually a lot of similarities between him and McIsaac. Giovanni struggles a little with consistency and can be very streaky dating back to his minor hockey days, but his upside is as a lower end top four defenseman and that's a solid pick up after 100 in the HFNHL draft, he's just got to figure out to play at that level on a daily basis.”
Oskari Laaksonen – RD – Ilves (Lliga) 6'02” 165
HFNHL: 5th Round - 132nd Overall
NHL: 3rd Round - 89th Overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2017
GM Says: “Oskari was the highest player drafted in the 2017 NHL Draft to go unselected at the 2017 HFNHL Draft. The Coyotes pick him up at 132 this year, over 40 picks later than he was taken last year. Oskari has outstanding skating ability and can fly around the ice. He has great hockey sense and processes the game at a high level. He is steady at both ends of the ice playing opponents well in one on one situations but can also contribute offensively. An under the radar prospect who's quickly losing the under the radar status. If he was born 10 weeks later, this year would have been his first year of draft eligibility.”
Spencer Stastney – LD – USA-NTDP (USHL) 510” 180
HFNHL: 5th Round - 148th Overall
NHL: 5th Round - 131st by the Nashville Predators in 2018
GM Says: “Stastney is a player I first saw play with the Chicago Mission. His skating has always been a level above his competition and I'm suprised how under the radar he's flown. Possibly because his numbers aren't where you'd like it to be for his style of play. With that said it doesn't take away from his upside. He can rush the puck extremely well and has great mobility. He reads the game quickly and reacts appropriately. He has a good stick defensively and can be tough to beat one on one despite the lack of size. Going to the University of Notre Dame next season.”
Nikolai Kovalenko – RW – Loko Yaroslavl (MHL) 5'10” 174
HFNHL: 6th Round – 163rd Overall
NHL: 6th Round - 171st Overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2018
GM Says: “Alexei the son of former NHLer Andrei Kovalenko. He is a strong skater and has great compete level. His hands are great in tight and likes to create offense for himself and others. He uses this creativity to make others better. Alexei finished one point short of the scoring lead for his team en route to winning the junior hockey championships in Russia (MHL). He was one of four MHL players selected to play in the KHL All-Star game. Another one of our euro selections who has yet to play in any big tournaments internationally.”
Mathias Emilio-Pettersen – LC – Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) 5'09.5” 170
HFNHL: 7th Round – 194th Overall
NHL: 6th Round - 167th Overall by the Calgary Flames in 2018
GM Says: “Everyone knows who Mathias is. He's the first YouTube sensation in hockey. We've seen videos of him surface for the past 10 years ago watching him dominate competition back home. After posting over 3.5 points per game in Norway's U16 league as a 13 year old, he came to North America where he continued to dominate at the minor hockey level. He finished top 5 in the USHL among U18 players in scoring. He is a shifty skater with great agility and can evade checkers with skill. Outstanding puck skills and is effective setting up his linemates. He also competes hard and plays a full 200 foot game. He will need to overcome size but has the skill to be a great late round pick. He is going to the University of Denver next season.
