Follow @james_tanner123 The Coyotes have called up top prospect Dylan Strome.
In a corresponding move, they have demoted Mario Kempe.
Strome, the former #3 overall pick from 2015, had eight goals and 18 assists for 26 points in 15 AHL games. He was dominant, and leaves the AHL just one point behind its scoring leader, having played six less games.
The Coyotes sent him down earlier after two games where he got 12 minutes of ice-time, no power-play time and was paired with two other young, struggling AHL/NHL players in Lawson Crouse and Branden Perlini.
I hope now that he is back, they play him in a way in which he can succeed. This means getting on the power-play and playing on one of the top two lines. Christian Dvorak hasn't been very good anyways (3 goals 14 points, 42% CF) and he's basically been their second line centre.
I would actually like them to call up Nick Merkley - also top ten in AHL scoring - to play with Strome, but until they do that, I'd stick him with Jordan Martinook and Anthony Duclair. Two players who have a decent history of driving possession, and a line which would have a nice combination of grit, defense and offense.
I think it's a well balanced line that would work out nicely, but who knows?
The Coyotes are quietly building a team that will soon rival the Leafs in terms of offensive depth on forward, and they already have one of the best defense cores in the NHL.
If Strome plays in the NHL at the star-level that he is expected to, and you add in Jacob Chychrun (back from injury this week probably) that's an infusion of talent that is almost unheard of midway through a season.
With Nick Merkley sure to join soon, the Coyotes are working their way to having one of the best rosters in the NHL, which I know sounds like an insane thing to say about a team with six wins that is in last place, but it's true.
Domi - Stepan - Keller Duclair - Strome - Merkley Perlini - Dvorak - Fischer Martinook - Richardson - Crouse
OEL - Demers Chychrun - Hjalmarsson Goligoski - Schenn
Raanta
They just need to get to a place where they don't play Rieder, Cousins and Rinaldo, and which Richardson can play a role he's actually suited to. Once that happens, good times are ahead!
As for now, It's still fun to watch a team this young and with so much potential, regardless of what the standings say.