1. Barrett Hayton, F
How acquired: Selected with No. 5 pick in 2018 NHL Draft
2019-20 season: Arizona (NHL): 20 GP, 1-3-4; Tucson (AHL): 5 GP, 1-4-5
Hayton is on loan with Ilves in Liiga, the top pro league in Finland, after the 20-year-old center was cleared to play Oct. 31 following a shoulder injury sustained while playing for Canada at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship.
"I'm fortunate to be over here," Hayton told the Coyotes website. "I'll have a lot of momentum coming into camp. I'll be on my game, and personally that's something I can really use to kind of propel myself into the season this year."
Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet said he believes Hayton (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) possesses the traits that could lead to a full-time role in the NHL.
"For him, it starts with his pedigree," Tocchet said. "He's a high-character guy. He's a guy that wants to be great. He'll do whatever it takes. When you have high character and leadership skills that he does, the future's bright in your career. That's the two checkmarks that I see with him, his character and his leadership skills."
Projected NHL arrival: This season
2. Victor Soderstrom, D
How acquired: Selected with No. 11 pick in 2019 NHL Draft
2019-20 season: Brynas (SHL): 35 GP, 5-11-16
The 19-year-old (5-11, 179) could make his North America debut with Tucson of the American Hockey League this season. Soderstrom is expected to play for Sweden in the 2021 World Juniors after he scored six points (one goal, five assists) in seven games in a third-place finish in 2020.
"Very heads-up right defenseman that we definitely need in our organization," Tocchet said. "High skill. Excellent at breakouts, can run a power play. He's got to play reps, whether it's in the minors or with us. He's got to play pro reps, and we've got to get him out in those situations, wherever that is for his development."
Projected NHL arrival: 2021-22 season
3. Kyle Capobianco, D
How acquired: Selected with No. 63 pick in 2015 NHL Draft
2019-20 season: Arizona (NHL): 9 GP, 1-0-1; Tucson (AHL): 42 GP, 10-27-37
Capobianco (6-1, 196) signed a two-year contract Oct. 5 after leading Tucson defensemen in scoring last season. A three-time AHL all-star, the 23-year-old has scored 99 points (19 goals, 80 assists) and is plus-26 in 135 games.
"This is an important year for Kyle," Tocchet said. "We have to know where he's at. Can he make our team, and can he contribute? The mental part of Kyle's game has to get stronger. This offseason of training and getting himself ready is going to be huge."
Projected NHL arrival: This season
4. Jan Jenik, F
How acquired: Selected with No. 65 pick in 2018 NHL Draft
2019-20 season: Hamilton (OHL): 27 GP, 22-34-56
The 20-year-old right wing is expected at Coyotes training camp but is projected for the AHL so he can get more acclimated to the pro game after two seasons in the Ontario Hockey League. Jenik (6-1, 161) played three games for the Czech Republic at the 2020 World Juniors until a knee injury that required surgery ended his season.
Projected NHL arrival: 2021-22
5. Matias MacCelli, F
How acquired: Selected with No. 98 pick in 2019 NHL Draft
2019-20 season: Ilves (Liiga): 43 GP, 13-17-30
MacCelli (5-11, 165) is playing on the same line as Hayton in Finland; it's MacCelli's second season with Ilves after he was named Liiga rookie of the year. The 20-year-old left wing could play for Finland at the 2021 World Juniors after he scored seven points (two goals, three assists) in seven games in the 2020 tournament.
"Getting on the ice with him and being on the same line, it's pretty eye-opening how skilled he is," Hayton said. "We have a similar feel for the game."
Projected NHL arrival: 2021-22
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