1. Logan Cooley , F
How acquired: Selected with No. 3 pick in 2022 NHL Draft
2022-23 season: University of Minnesota (NCAA): 39 GP, 22-38-60
Cooley (5-foot-10, 174 pounds) signed a three-year, entry-level contract July 26 after the 19-year-old had announced he'd return to Minnesota for his sophomore season. He led the NCAA in assists, finished second in points behind University of Michigan freshman Adam Fantilli (65) and helped the United States finish third at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, when he had 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in seven games, second to Canada forward Connor Bedard (23 points; nine goals, 14 assists).
"[Cooley] is one of our best players," Armstrong said. "He had some star quality moments in (development) camp for us like he had in Minnesota. He's got a game that's unique in the sense of his compete [level], his high energy and high skill. I have a feeling in my heart that he's ready to play in the National Hockey League."
Projected NHL arrival: This season
2. Dylan Guenther , F
How acquired: Selected with No. 9 pick in 2021 NHL Draft
2022-23 season: Arizona (NHL): 33 GP, 6-9-15; Seattle (WHL): 20 GP, 13-16-29
Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny labeled the 20-year-old as "the leader of our young generation." Guenther (6-2, 175) had one assist in 14:33 of ice time in his NHL debut, a 6-3 loss at the Boston Bruins on Oct. 15, scored the gold-medal winning goal in overtime for Canada at the 2023 World Juniors and reached the finals of the 2023 Memorial Cup. His 28 playoff points led Seattle, and his 16 playoff goals were the most in the Western Hockey League.
"He gives you offense, but he doesn't give up much on the other end," Armstrong said. "He's got to grow his game with his strength and his weight and all the other things that young prospects have to do, but he has a chance to be a very good player at this level."
Projected NHL arrival: This season
3. Dmitriy Simashev, D
How acquired: Selected with No. 6 pick in 2023 NHL Draft
2022-23 season: Yaroslavl (KHL): 18 GP, 0-0-0; Yaroslavl Jr. (RUS-JR): 29 GP, 1-9-10
The 18-year-old (6-4, 198) will have to remain in the Kontinental Hockey League for two more seasons. Armstrong thought Simashev didn't create much buzz at the 2023 draft. Neither did defenseman Moritz Seider (6-4, 204) when he was chosen No. 6 by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2019 NHL Draft, but he won the Calder Trophy voted as NHL rookie of the year in 2022.
"Simashev is the best skater as a big man I've ever seen in my 20-plus years of scouting. It's not even close," Armstrong said. "He's going to change the game by how quick he closes on people. I believe that Simashev, in my heart, he will be probably the second-best player in that draft by the time it plays out."
Projected NHL arrival: 2025-26 season
4. Conor Geekie, F
How acquired: Selected with No. 11 pick in 2022 NHL Draft
2022-23 season: Winnipeg (WHL): 66 GP, 35-42-77
Geekie (6-3, 193) played against Guenther in the WHL final. The 19-year-old has a chance at a top-nine spot with the Coyotes, but if he isn't ready he'll have to play another season in junior, where he set career highs in games, goals and points last season and had 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 19 postseason games.
"He was very effective in driving Winnipeg as far as they were last year because of his instincts on both sides of the puck," Armstrong said. "We believe he can be a No. 2 center, somebody that can really push the pace but also play against the other team's best line. We want to see him take another step."
Projected NHL arrival: 2025-26 season
5. Maveric Lamoureux, D
How acquired: Selected with No. 29 pick in 2022 NHL Draft
2022-23 season: Drummondville (QMJHL): 35 GP, 5-14-19
Armstrong compared Lamoureux's development to that of defenseman Colton Parayko while he was assistant GM of the St. Louis Blues. Lamoureux (6-6, 196) is similar in size age 19 to Parayko (6-6, 228) at age 30. He's healthy following surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder that sidelined him last season until Dec. 16 and likely to play another season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
"It was a long process," Lamoureux said last month, "but for right now I just feel really good. It's even stronger than the other one, so everything's perfect with my shoulder now. There's a lot of things I have to work on … My main goal is to be one of the best defensemen [in the QMJHL]."
Projected NHL arrival: Next season
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