After his team’s early playoff exit, the Arizona Coyotes’ general manager immediately started planning his offseason agenda. Having been hired following last year’s edition, he was determined to make sure his first EHEC Entry Draft would be a fruitful one. Five days before the event, the Coyotes traded Mike Richards and Luca Hischier to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Magnus Hellberg, Luca Sbisa, Ryan Martindale, Oleg Misyul as well as Edmonton’s first-round (18th overall) and Montreal’s second-round (46th) selections in the 2015 draft. That transaction allowed the Coyotes to gain a seat at the table in the first round, since their own first pick had been traded away by their previous general manager. A few hours before the start of the event, which was held at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida, the Coyotes acquired three second-round picks for defenseman Kyle Quincey’s signing rights. That trade allowed Arizona to move one step closer to settling its salary cap issues.
With their newly-acquired first-round pick, the Coyotes selected right winger Daniel Sprong, from the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Born in Amsterdam, Sprong is a gifted shooter who can handle the puck like few other 2015 draftees. Rumors of inconsistency might be the reason he fell to the 18th rank.
With the 46th overall pick, the Coyotes drafted Cape Breton Screaming Eagles winger Evgeni Svechnikov. This six-foot-two Russian forward is an offensive force with blazing speed. Svechnikov possesses the perfect frame to become a punishing power forward, but he does not seem to be fond of physical play. Moments after the pick was announced, head coach Bill Barber confided to a Glendale reporter that the Russian winger had been ranked much higher on the team’s draft board.
While on the clock with the 16th pick of round number two, the Coyotes sealed a blockbuster deal with the New Jersey Devils, with whom they had held long negotiations throughout the week leading up to the draft. Recent rumors of Steven Stamkos changing uniforms turned out to be true: the Devils sent their star forward to the Coyotes in exchange for Jordan Staal, in addition to prospects Gustav Forsling and Sam Grist. Arizona also gave up their current selection spot, which they had acquired from Dallas earlier, as well as their own second-round pick.
After sending picks 48 and 49 to the Devils, the Coyotes still held a pair of back-to-back selections in the second round. They used the first one to draft center Tyler Soy, from the Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League. Soy is a decent shooter who can skate like the wind. However, much like the newest Coyotes drafted before him, he does not particularly enjoy the physical game.
With the next pick, Arizona selected QMJHL defenseman Thomas Chabot, one the many Saint John Sea Dogs chosen in the 2015 draft. Chabot is a well-rounded player who is effective at both ends of the ice.
Before the end of the second round, the Coyotes announced yet another spectacular transaction: they had just parted ways with superstar goaltender and Vezina Trophy candidate Roberto Luongo. Rumors of a Luongo trade had been circulating for weeks, especially since the Coyotes had acquired young goaltender Magnus Hellberg from the Montreal Canadiens in the Mike Richards deal. In addition to acquiring Luongo, the San Jose Sharks were moving up to the 59th slot in the draft. In return, the Coyotes obtained goaltender Jonathan Bernier and San Jose’s first and third-round picks in the 2016 draft.
In the third round, the Arizona Coyotes used their selection on Boston University forward AJ Greer. Arizona assistant coach Wayne Gretzky mentionned that the organization was primarily looking to add a bit more grit with this selection, but that Greer was also an impressive shooter.
After a relatively uneventful third round, the Coyotes resumed their wheeling and dealing. They traded up to pick number 99 to select Saint John Sea Dogs winger Adam Marsh. A teammate of second-round pick Thomas Chabot in the QMJHL, Marsh could become a regular member of the Coyotes in the near future. He possesses decent playmaking abilities and is a well-rounded player. Many observers considered him a steal in the fourth round. To move up to this slot, the Coyotes sent prospect Luc Snuggerud, as well as picks 113 and 149, to the Boston Bruins.
In the fifth round, the Coyotes selected defenseman Nick Boka of the U.S. National Under-18 Team. Boka, a bruising presence at the blue line, is also capable of playing right wing.
Finally, with their last two selections in the 2015 EHEC Entry Draft, the Coyotes chose defenseman Austin Cho, from St. Andrew's College, and center Marcus Vela, from the Langley Rivermen of the British Columbia Hockey League.
That concluded a very eventful couple of weeks, during which the Coyotes managed to lower their payroll and inject new blood into the organization.