Camp Suggestions

The signing of Lee Stempniak is a huge step in solidifying the forward core for the upcoming season. The Coyotes have a great luxury with the youth coming into camp in all positions. There is no doubt the young players will have a battle on their hands for the final roster spots. One way of making training camp more interesting would be to invite a few veteran free agents for tryouts. This year more than any other free agency year, the amount of veteran free agents left is large. The veterans would benefit from having other teams get a solid look at them in camp to earn an NHL contract. It will give the Coyotes a chance to push the young guns to really earn there stripes. In a worst case scenario the camp invites will play well enough to earn a depth spot on the NHL roster. This could buy the youngsters some time to develop more in the AHL. Three specific invites that make sense would be Bill Guerin, Shane Hnidy, and Garnet Exelby. Guerin may have what it takes to make a club, especially one that could use a veteran presence. He would be an excellent player to put with Kyle Turris, and let Doan play on the top line as planned. Guerin may be signed before camps open, but if he is not then its certainly worth a try. A veteran like Guerin wants to play with a winner, and with the Coyotes he would have that chance. The defense could be the best shot for a veteran try out to make the big club. The defense was very solid last year, but unfortunately lost a big part in Michalek. Jovanovski, Aucoin, and Morris all are a year older as well. Lepisto played well in the opportunities given to him. It is difficult to just hand over the 5th defenseman spot to him especially when a rookie will be taking the 6th spot as it stands now. Oliver Ekman-Larsson is NHL ready, but could use a veteran insurance in a 7th defenseman. The 7th defenseman would even have a shot to take Lepisto’s spot. At this point the power play will be handed over to the top 4 in Yandle, Aucoin, Morris, and Jovanovski. This means that the veteran defenseman tryout would need to provide steady, limited defensive minded minutes. Hnidy and Exelby both can provide the physical play needed in their own end. These would be low risk, high reward moves that championship contenders make. It would be a good way to let the league know that up and down the organization, the Coyotes are here to stay.