The Phoenix Coyotes have endured a tumultuous couple of months, capping off a great regular season with an unfortunate sweep at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings in the first round. While that was going on, the rumours of moving the franchise back to Winnipeg surfaced, but the team was given a stay of execution and will remain in Glendale for at least one more season. Check yesterday’s post for a preview of the Coyotes pick.
As our Phoenix site, Howlin’ Hockey doesn’t currently have a writer attached to it, I have enlisted the services of our College Hockey Blog contributor, Steve, to make the Phoenix pick.
"Rocco Grimaldi, F, US National Team Development Program"
Jared’s Analysis – Finally the smallest player with possibly the biggest talent gets selected. Grimaldi is Martin St. Louis-sized, with as much, if not more, talent. People still look for size, but Rocco’s playmaking and skating abilities will be an even-up factor. With the success of players like St. Louis, Nathan Gerbe, and before them Theo Fleury among others, smaller players are making an impact, and Grimaldi has the tools to be among the best.
Steve discusses why Phoenix should select Grimaldi.
"Quite frankly, I think Rocco might end up the best player in the draft. He has excelled at the international level for a couple of years now and done things that few people in development program history have done. Corey Pronman of Hockey Prospectus said that scouting directors have told him that if Rocco was just a few inches taller, he would go #1 in the draft. He has elite speed, a good shot and even though he is 5’6″ he can go into the corners and play pretty physically. He has gotten it done at every level, and I expect him to continue. While I loved to get him at 20, I expect him to go earlier this summer."
Once again, the Fansided network is looking for writers to cover the Coyotes for Howlin Hockey. If interested, check this page for more details.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Here are the Mock Draft results so far (click on the team name to go to the post about that pick):
| Pick | TEAM | PLAYER |
| 1 | EDMONTON | Adam Larsson |
| 2 | COLORADO | Gabriel Landeskog |
| 3 | FLORIDA | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins |
| 4 | NEW JERSEY | Jonathan Huberdeau |
| 5 | NY ISLANDERS | Sean Couturier |
| 6 | OTTAWA | Ryan Strome |
| 7 | ATLANTA | Ryan Murphy |
| 8 | COLUMBUS | Dougie Hamilton |
| 9 | BOSTON (FR TOR) | Duncan Siemens |
| 10 | MINNESOTA | Sven Bartschi |
| 11 | COLORADO | Jamie Oleksiak |
| 12 | CAROLINA | Joel Armia |
| 13 | CALGARY | Mika Zibanejad |
| 14 | DALLAS | Nathan Beaulieu |
| 15 | NY RANGERS | Mark McNeill |
| 16 | BUFFALO | Brandon Saad |
| 17 | MONTREAL | Joseph Morrow |
| 18 | CHICAGO | Zack Phillips |
| 19 | EDMONTON | Mark Schiefele |
| 20 | PHOENIX | Rocco Grimaldi |
Now on the clock for the #21 selection, on behalf of the Ottawa Senators, is SenShot,
PREVIEWING THE SENATORS
2010-2011 Record: 32-40-10 (26th Overall, Pick acquired from Nashville for Mike Fisher)
League Rankings:
Goals for: 29th
Goals Against: 25th
Power Play: 15th
Penalty Kill: 9th
TOP 5 Prospects in the system: David Runblad (D), Jared Cowen (D), Robin Lehner (G), Jakob Silfverberg (C), Patrick Wiercioch (D)
NEEDS: Having acquired Ryan Strome earlier in the draft, the Senators will likely draft a scoring winger in the mold of JT Miller or Nicklas Jensen. . However, there are rumblings that they may go off the board with this pick and go for a goaltender, either of the Gibsons (Chris or John) who are unrelated but the top two ranked goalies in the draft. That would be a risky proposition, especially given the holes elsewhere in the lineup.
TOP 5 PLAYERS ON THE BOARD (per ISS):
1. Oscar Klefbom, D, Farjestad (SWE ELITE)
2. JT Miller, LW, USA Under-18 (USHL)
3. Connor Murphy, D, USA Under-18 (USHL)
4. Jonas Brodin, D, Farjestad (SWE ELITE)
5. Nicklas Jensen, F, Oshawa (OHL)
Check back on TOO MANY MEN ON THE SITE tomorrow evening to see who “SenShot” chooses to take for the OTTAWA SENATORS, as the Fansided mock draft continues!