First-Round Picks Joseph, Hayton Headline Arizona's Rookie Camp Roster

GLENDALE --Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Barrett Hayton have a lot in common.
Both Coyotes prospects were selected by Arizona in the first round of recent NHL drafts, and both participated at the team's development camp in June and Hockey Canada's World Junior Showcase camp in late July/early August.
They've become friends.
This weekend, the new pals, and 28 other prospects, will reunite at Coyotes Rookie Camp, which will, after a few days in Arizona, be based at a six-team rookie event in Las Vegas starting Saturday.

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"To have a chance to compete in that tournament is going to be pretty nice for all of us," said Joseph, who's been skating with Coyotes Skating Coach Lars Hepso and training in Arizona for most of the summer. "It's that time of the year and I can't wait to start competing again. I'm ready to go."
Joseph, whom Arizona drafted 23rd overall in 2017, will be attending his second Coyotes Rookie Camp. The 6-foot-2 defenseman turned heads at last year's training camp before being assigned back to his junior team, the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He notched a career-high 13 goals and 46 points for Charlottetown last season, and is progressing nicely. Adding weight to his 168-pound frame is the main project for Joseph as he eyes turning pro.

"We're going to be patient with him," Coyotes General Manager John Chayka told NHL.com this summer. "It will take as long as it takes, but once he's physically developed, we see a high upside for him. He's taken steps exactly as we'd hoped, and we're really happy with that pick."
Joseph, 19, is eager to play in the rookie event and show team management that he's improved and that he's in the best physical shape of his career. His mind-set is to play well in Las Vegas so he's ready for main training camp back in Arizona once the veterans show up.
"After Vegas, I'll go to the main camp and try to make the team," Joseph said. "Nobody goes to a camp expecting to be cut, so I will go and enjoy playing against the best players in the world and see what happens. Hopefully I'll get a chance with the big club. If not, I know that I'm still young and there's a lot in front of me in the future, so I'm pretty excited."

Like Joseph, Hayton, 18, is approaching the Coyotes Rookie Camp as a stepping-stone to the main camp. He, too, wants to play in the NHL this season.
"I'm really just looking to go in there and show what I bring to the table and prove myself as a player," Hayton said. "My end goal is to earn a spot on the Coyotes roster for this season. You don't go into a camp thinking 'I'm just here for the experience.' I'm hungry to make that team so that's my mind-set. The rookie camp and the games up in Vegas are a great opportunity to get right into the swing of things after a long off-season. It should be a great week. Based on what I saw at the development camp, and our roster for this camp, I expect us to really compete there and win games."
Hayton skated and worked out in Whitby, Ontario this summer. Life has slowed down a little bit for him after being chosen fifth overall at the NHL Draft last June.
"The draft was a lot of fun and really nice to enjoy, but once I got home it was right back to work," Hayton said. "This summer was key for me in my development and I've been working hard on my (skating) speed and overall strength."

The Coyotes surprised some draft gurus by selecting Hayton, a center with Sault Ste. Marie of the Ontario Hockey League, with the fifth pick. Chayka, however, said selecting Hayton at that time was a no-brainer.
"Everyone wants that one thing that kind of jumps off the page at you and it's easy to see and grab onto," Chayka said regarding Hayton's skills. "What makes him special is that he's really good at everything."