The Coyotes right now have 16 healthy forwards and 7 healthy defenseman on the roster. This team has had a few years to build up some nice young players, and trade for quality players. It appears that after the trade deadline, Don Maloney set the team up in a good cap situation with many players fighting for spots. The Coyotes, having a potential high draft pick, will have to decide this summer who is ready for the NHL and who is not. Right now the players looking to earn playing time and contracts next year are Lindstrom, Lisin, Winnik, Reinprecht, Prust, and Hale. All of these players seem to be in a rotation from here on out for the season.
Enver Lisin is a player that is too good for the AHL and needs a full season in the NHL to find out what he can do. Lisin has tremendous speed, and NHL hands. Lisin is a player that can create some scoring opportunities, and has a knack of scoring around the net. He is better off playing with a big forward who can create some space for Lisin. Lisin possesses a good sense around the net, but has not shown off a overly powerful shot at this point. Enver has had brief success in some of the stints with the Coyotes this year. It was surprising to see that Lisin did not open the season in the NHL, and when he got his first call he really thrived. Mentally, Lisin needs to know he is playing a full season and will have a chance to stick with the big club through the rough patches. Lindstrom had some early success with the Coyotes, but did not show that much after the first few weeks. It was a big mistake putting Lindstrom on the point for the power play; he just does not possess the power play skills. I see Lindstrom has a nice fourth liner with skill. It was a nice story trading for Lindstrom and seeing some success, but it is time they move forward and give the better prospects a chance. Lindstrom could be a nice addition in a package trade.
Steven Reinprecht is obviously playing for a contract next season, whether with the Coyotes or some other NHL team. Reinprecht has been a tremendous locker room presence and been the Coyotes best center at times this season. I think at this point Reinprecht just does not fit in with this team’s direction. He is a highly skilled center, that shows signs of greatness, but just is not the explosive center that the Coyotes need right now. The system has plenty of centers that have potential and will not cost much. Right now the best thing Reinprecht can do for himself is to be the great locker room veteran, and give NHL teams just another reason to bring him on their roster. Brandon Prust is a nice depth player for the Coyotes. The toughness that Prust brings to this team will be very valuable this season and next season. Prust will have every opportunity to step up and become the enforcer that the Coyotes need after trading Daniel Carcillo to Philadelphia. Prust needs to work on his defensive zone play, and breakout passing for him to really get on Gretzky’s good side.
Every team needs a solid third or fourth line player that can contribute in many aspects of the game. Daniel Winnik is a player that brings speed, intensity, toughness, and great penalty killing ability. No one is calling this player a star sniper, but he is the type of player every championship team needs to win in long playoff series. Winnik had a rough start to the season, spending time with San Antonio. Winnik has gotten an opportunity to play the majority of the last few months, and he is really running with it. Gretzky always changes the line combinations, and Winnik provides him a player that can play from the fourth line to the first line, while playing wing or center. He needs to polish his game down the stretch, and stay consistent. The combination of these two will provide him a roster spot next season. David Hale has made some big mistakes this season with turnovers, but has been able to stick up for his teammates and pitch in with some goals. I think Hale has a lot to work on for next season, but he is a tremendous 7th defenseman. Time will tell if he can slip in as a 6th defenseman, but nothing would surprise me.
Enver Lisin is a player that is too good for the AHL and needs a full season in the NHL to find out what he can do. Lisin has tremendous speed, and NHL hands. Lisin is a player that can create some scoring opportunities, and has a knack of scoring around the net. He is better off playing with a big forward who can create some space for Lisin. Lisin possesses a good sense around the net, but has not shown off a overly powerful shot at this point. Enver has had brief success in some of the stints with the Coyotes this year. It was surprising to see that Lisin did not open the season in the NHL, and when he got his first call he really thrived. Mentally, Lisin needs to know he is playing a full season and will have a chance to stick with the big club through the rough patches. Lindstrom had some early success with the Coyotes, but did not show that much after the first few weeks. It was a big mistake putting Lindstrom on the point for the power play; he just does not possess the power play skills. I see Lindstrom has a nice fourth liner with skill. It was a nice story trading for Lindstrom and seeing some success, but it is time they move forward and give the better prospects a chance. Lindstrom could be a nice addition in a package trade.
Steven Reinprecht is obviously playing for a contract next season, whether with the Coyotes or some other NHL team. Reinprecht has been a tremendous locker room presence and been the Coyotes best center at times this season. I think at this point Reinprecht just does not fit in with this team’s direction. He is a highly skilled center, that shows signs of greatness, but just is not the explosive center that the Coyotes need right now. The system has plenty of centers that have potential and will not cost much. Right now the best thing Reinprecht can do for himself is to be the great locker room veteran, and give NHL teams just another reason to bring him on their roster. Brandon Prust is a nice depth player for the Coyotes. The toughness that Prust brings to this team will be very valuable this season and next season. Prust will have every opportunity to step up and become the enforcer that the Coyotes need after trading Daniel Carcillo to Philadelphia. Prust needs to work on his defensive zone play, and breakout passing for him to really get on Gretzky’s good side.
Every team needs a solid third or fourth line player that can contribute in many aspects of the game. Daniel Winnik is a player that brings speed, intensity, toughness, and great penalty killing ability. No one is calling this player a star sniper, but he is the type of player every championship team needs to win in long playoff series. Winnik had a rough start to the season, spending time with San Antonio. Winnik has gotten an opportunity to play the majority of the last few months, and he is really running with it. Gretzky always changes the line combinations, and Winnik provides him a player that can play from the fourth line to the first line, while playing wing or center. He needs to polish his game down the stretch, and stay consistent. The combination of these two will provide him a roster spot next season. David Hale has made some big mistakes this season with turnovers, but has been able to stick up for his teammates and pitch in with some goals. I think Hale has a lot to work on for next season, but he is a tremendous 7th defenseman. Time will tell if he can slip in as a 6th defenseman, but nothing would surprise me.
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