Coyotes Head to San Jose to Compete in Rookie Faceoff Tournament

It's time to prove it.
The Arizona Coyotes are heading to San Jose to participate in the
2022 Rookie Faceoff Tournament
with 28 prospects that were either drafted, acquired via trade, signed as free agents, or offered an individual tryout. The tournament is an opportunity for some to potentially receive an invitation to the team's main training camp, all while squaring off against prospects from other NHL teams.
Games run from Sept. 16 - 19, and Arizona is slated to face rookies from the Vegas Golden Knights, Anaheim Ducks, and Colorado Avalanche.

Though nothing from this upcoming weekend will ultimately end up in the record books, second-year Coyotes coach André Tourigny said after Wednesday's rookie camp that this is the opportunity for young, rising stars to begin to set themselves apart from the proverbial pack.
"There's many things that can separate you, and there's many roles in the NHL. There's not one role that fits," Tourigny said. "We don't need 12 Clayton Kellers … We need a Crouser (Lawson Crouse). We need a Mayo (Dysin Mayo).
"We need different style of players who will bring a lot to our team."
Arizona's roster is comprised of a mixture of players from all hockey backgrounds. Some were taken high in the draft, like forward Dylan Guenther (2021, 9th overall), forward Conor Geekie (2022, 11th overall), and defenseman Julian Lutz (43rd overall). Some have been in the club's system for a few years, like forward Liam Kirk (2018), forward Ben McCartney (2020), and goalie David Tendeck (2018).
There are also 13 players on a tryout.
Others are expected to lead by example, like forwards Nathan Smith and Jack McBain, who were both acquired via trade and appeared in 10 NHL games last season with the Coyotes.

No matter the individual's situation, Tourigny and his staff will keep a close eye to see who commands the Coyotes' attention.
"You don't arrive in the beginning of the game and say I want to see numbers 6, 12, 24, and 28 -- that's not the way you do it," Tourigny said. "You just watch the game, and the guys pop into your eyes. That's the way it happens, and at the end of the game, if you didn't pop at any time, that's not good news."
Arizona's coach went on to say there are many things that help players stand out. It could be something as basic as a good hit, a blocked shot, or even an impressive move with the puck. An effective read in a critical situation can demonstrate the ever-coveted Hockey IQ, and a player's ability to be coached also factors in.
Though there's no exact formula for what Tourigny and his staff are looking to see, Geekie is well aware of the stakes.
"There's a reason I went where I went [in the draft], so I'm going to try and be the best I can, and play how I play," he said. "There's a lot of guys competing for spots, and everyone wants to be in that group that goes to main camp.
"I'm not taking it for granted."

Geekie is
especially excited to get in the game
considering he sustained a lower-body injury on the first day of rookie development camp in July. Though the injury wasn't a major one, it knocked him out of the week's on-ice events, something that he hasn't been used to in his career.
He's not the only one itching to get back on the ice. Guenther hasn't played in a game since sustaining a lower-body injury while playing with the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL Final, but is
back to playing form
and expected to compete in the tournament.
Both could eventually factor into everyday NHL roles, even if it's years down the road.
"Playing in the NHL is not a sprint, it's a marathon," Tourigny said. "We have a really good development crew here with Lee (Stempniak) and his crew, and Potsie (Steve Potvin) and his crew, so those guys will learn a ton."
The team will be coached by Tucson Roadrunners head coach Steve Potvin, and assistant coaches John Slaney and Zack Stortini, and its first game is at 4:30 pm on Friday against the Golden Knights.

Even though the games are ultimately exhibition in nature, Arizona's rookies are doing more than just going through the motions. Geekie said he knows that he and his fellow prospects will be watched closely, so in the end, the effort is ultimately more important than the end result.
"Obviously I want points, I want to score, I want to do all that good stuff," he said, "but that will come with time, or it might happen right away. I'm just going to keep poking at it, and I think my compete and my work ethic is somewhere I can get noticed."
That's not to say he won't be playing to win.
"I'm just going to try my hardest, compete, work hard, and obviously try and win," Geekie said. "I'm not that good of a loser."