If there is a group to be heavily showcased, it's the Coyotes' 2018 draft class; seven of Arizona's nine selections from two summers prior have secured a camp roster spot. Along with the aforementioned Hayton, that '18 class includes forwards Liam Kirk and Jan Jenik, defensemen Dennis Busby and Kevin Bahl, and goaltenders Ivan Prosvetov and David Tendeck.
To round out the roster, there are seven names that dressed in the American Hockey League with Tucson last season and six players attending on camp invite.
Jay Varady, on leading the bench during the 2019 Anaheim Rookie Faceoff:
For me, it's just a really exciting time. You go through the summer, the draft, you get development camp in where we introduce guys into a teaching environment and now we transition into training camp. There's potential for some of these guys to end up in main camp, maybe there's an opportunity for some of the guys to get exhibition games in at the NHL level if they do well, so it's a good time to compete and earn a spot.
Varady, on the principles set forth for the three exhibition contests:
It's just mentorship for us. We're here to help to develop our players and make sure that they have the attributes and identity that they need to be a part of the Coyotes organization. This is a chance to introduce these guys to some of those concepts and to try and build on that.
Varady, on the coaching staff's plans for mapping out game lineups:
Five lines, nine defenseman, three goalies. You establish a plan early, and obviously there are things that change over the course of the three games. We're going in with a little bit of a layout, and then we go from there.
Varady, on the main objective heading into Saturday's tournament opener:
It's just about working with everybody, making sure everybody is getting the information they need, understanding the goals of the tournament, and going after it.
