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Arizona Coyotes: Top 10 Prospects Entering 2019

By Dave Stevenson

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 21: Victor Soderstrom (C), eleventh overall pick by the Arizona Coyotes, poses for a group photo with team personnel onstage during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 21: Victor Soderstrom (C), eleventh overall pick by the Arizona Coyotes, poses for a group photo with team personnel onstage during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Michael Bunting (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

8. Michael Bunting

Acquired: 2014 draft, fourth-round pick

Position: Left wing/Right wing

Stats: 52 games, 19 goals, 22 assists, 41 points (AHL); 5 games, 1 goal, 1 point (NHL)

Michael Bunting had a very solid season in the AHL despite an injury that caused him to miss some time. But what fascinated me about him is he turned into a pest. And a darn good one at that. Bunting has also improved his defense quite a bit and plays a physical game despite being under 6 feet tall.

He’s got the potential to be a third-line forward in the NHL. Bunting is a good penalty killer and I’d like to see him work around the net on the power-play. The Coyotes haven’t really given him a chance to prove himself yet, but I think Bunting is on the verge of forcing their hand.

7. Pierre Oliver-Joseph

Acquired: 2017 1st round pick

Position: Defense

Stats: 62 games played, 9 goals, 38 assists, 47 points, 16 postseason games, 2 goals, 7 assists, 9 points (QMJHL, split between Charlottetown Islanders and Drummondville Voltigeurs)

Pierre Oliver-Joseph‘s offense is pretty consistent and his intangibles are strong, as he once again served as the Charlottetown Islanders’ captain before a trade. I expected him to be more productive last season, though he looked much closer to what I expected from him after his trade.

He’s intriguing to me because he’s a big defenseman (6’2″) who plays like he’s at least four inches smaller. Oliver-Joseph excels at what you’d expect a smaller defenseman to excel at – transition and moving the puck. He’s a very good skater, too. I’d have him higher, but he never really dominates the way you’d expect him to.

Oliver-Joseph turns 20 on July 1, so I expect him to play for the Tucson Roadrunners next season. That should be an important test for him. He’s been fairly dominant against his peers. Now he has to adjust to doing it against adults. I like his chances.

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