Making the cut
The opportunity is there for forward prospects Jack McBain, Nathan Smith,
Matias Maccelli
and
Jan Jenik
, and defenseman prospect
Victor Soderstrom
, to break training camp with the Coyotes. McBain, 22, might start as the fourth-line center. He ended his career at Boston College with 33 points (19 goals, 14 assists) in 24 games as a senior and had two goals and one assist in 10 games for the Coyotes following a trade from the Minnesota Wild on March 21 and signing a two-year, entry-level contract two days later. Travis Boyd, Nick Bjugstad and Barrett Hayton enter camp ahead on the depth chart, a storyline that will be fluid depending on McBain's development.
Most intriguing addition
The Coyotes need a bit of everything and hope Bjugstad provides versatility, experience and leadership to a team without a captain since Oliver Ekman-Larsson was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on July 23, 2021. Bjugstad signed a one-year contract July 13 after he had 13 points (seven goals, 13 assists) for the Wild last season. The 30-year-old forward played 57 games last season, his most since playing 64 in 2018-19 (32 each for the Florida Panthers and Penguins), because of multiple groin surgeries and back surgery.
Biggest potential surprise
J.J. Moser is set to challenge for major minutes in his first full NHL season, especially if the Coyotes trade Chychrun or Shayne Gostisbehere, a pending unrestricted free agent. Moser, a 22-year-old defenseman, could be another building block after Dysin Mayo, a fifth-round pick (No. 133) in the 2014 NHL Draft, emerged last season on the top pair with Gostisbehere. Though Moser was minus-10 with 24 turnovers in 43 games, he blocked 55 shots and had one goal and one assist in his last four games while averaging more than 21 minutes. The second-round pick (No. 60) in the 2021 NHL Draft was expected to contribute, just not this quickly.
Ready to break through
Crouse signed a five-year contract Aug. 8 following NHL career highs of 20 goals and 34 points in 65 games. The 25-year-old was a restricted free agent and avoided a salary arbitration hearing by choosing stability in Arizona. He's projected for big minutes at second-line left wing, which could produce better numbers over 82 games.
Fantasy sleeper
Schmaltz, C/RW (fantasy average draft position: 173.2) -- He nearly had a point per game for the Coyotes last season (NHL career-high 59 in 63 games), including seven points on March 5 (most in NHL in single game since Sam Gagner had eight for Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 2, 2012), and remains a fantasy sleeper candidate with usual linemate Keller (tied with Schmaltz for Arizona's lead with 0.94 points per game). -- Pete Jensen
