2023 NHL MOCK DRAFT: ARIZONA COYOTES

The Arizona Coyotes had the 6th worst record in the NHL this season and have the 5th pick in the upcoming NHL draft. Arizona has plenty of issues to address in this draft.
This is a mock draft for the Arizona Coyotes in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Related: Montreal Canadiens

6. Zach Benson, LW/C, WINNIPEG ICE (WHL)

As the draft draws closer, the hype around Winnipeg ICE star forward, Zach Benson grew even greater. He was second in Western Hockey League scoring amongst draft-eligible players behind just Connor Bedard. In 60 games played, he totaled 36 goals and 62 assists for 98 points during the regular season, along with 7 goals and 17 points in 15 playoff games. In any of the three previous draft classes, he would have been a candidate for the first overall pick. Benson has a motor without an off switch in sight, is engaged in the defensive zone, moving to wherever the puck is, and is intense and competitive, which should make him an attractive player to bring into any organization. Benson’s intensity and drive fuel his ability to win virtually every puck battle that he is a part of. Benson is an elite passer with incredible vision, and can seamlessly thread the needle with his crisp 10-foot passes while being able to see plays several steps ahead. The Winnipeg ICE star is one of the smartest players in this draft class and uses that intelligence on both sides of the puck. He creates chances that lead to scoring opportunities. At worst Benson could be a Zach Hyman-type player, at best, he could have a Mitch Marner-type impact in the NHL. Most draft experts have Benson going in the top 10, in the range of 5-7. Zach Benson has the potential to be a legit elite forward who scores at a point-per-game pace, while playing a solid two-way game. Benson is an excellent pick at 6 because of his sky-high potential and he this gives the Coyotes another dynamic player they can play alongside Logan Cooley.

12. OLIVER MOORE, C, US NATIONAL U18 (USDP)/USNTDP (USHL)

The first thing anyone says about Oliver Moore is his incredible speed and for a good reason. In an incredibly deep draft class filled with high-skill centers, he might be the fastest of the bunch. Moore can get up to top speed in a flash, and if given any room, could blow by opponents like they were standing still; this level of speed allows him to dictate the flow of the game, as does his agility. Not only does he have the speed that can dictate the flow of the game, but he can also cut and turn on a dime and change speed effortlessly. Besides his speed and skating ability, he has a blistering shot with a quick release, which led him to score 31 goals this season with the United States U18 Development Program, as well as another 8 with the USNDP Juniors in the USHL. Despite having similar totals to Trevor Zegras and Clayton Keller during their time with the USDP, Oliver Moore is vastly overlooked because is slightly undersized and because he centers the second line, which doesn’t get as much buzz because of its high-flying first-line centered by Will Smith. Moore will need some time to hone his skills, so don’t expect him to make the NHL for at least two seasons, but once he arrives, he looks to be a dangerous top 2 center that can put up 70-plus points. While he is fairly unique in his skillset, he has been compared to Dylan Larkin, due to his speed and shot. The sky is the limit for him, it’ll just take some time to get there. The 12th pick is a great spot to pick a player like
Oliver Moore, a player with top-10 potential but won’t be taken in the top 10 because of how deep this year’s crop of forwards is. By drafting a player like Oliver Moore, the Coyotes would be getting a great 2nd line center behind Logan Cooley.

38. KOEHN ZIEMMER, RW, PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS (WHL)

Koehn Ziemmer has developed into one of the best power forwards in this draft class. Ziemmer is a prospect who understands how to use his size to his advantage, he is very good at shielding the puck from defenders and creating offensive chances, thanks to his high-end playmaking ability. When he is in the offensive zone, he isn’t afraid to drive the net with the puck or be a net-front presence creating a distraction while the goaltender is trying to track the puck. He is a fierce, passionate player who loves to score goals, while also being one of the smartest players on the ice and consistently makes highlight reel plays when the puck is on his stick. When Ziemmer has the puck on his stick in the offensive zone, he is a threat to do something special. He has one of the best shots in the entire draft, while his ability to stickhandle and pull off moves at high speed makes it incredibly difficult for defenders to knock the puck away from him. An underrated offensive skill he has is the ability to tip pucks in front of the net, he is always ready with his stick in position, giving the defender a clear target on where they should aim. This is a skill he has mastered as he makes contact with the puck more often than not, creating a scoring chance or a goal. Ziemmer also knows how to create space for himself in the offensive zone without the puck, which is an important skill to have. On the defensive side, Ziemmer is very good at anticipating the play and creating turnovers. The big question surrounding Ziemmer is, can he produce during the postseason; during the regular season with the Prince George Cougars of the WHL, he had put up 41 goals and 89 points in 68 games, but in playoffs, he only put up 3 goals and 7 points in 10 games. Ziemmer has all the tools to become a middle-six, power forward winger at the NHL level, that makes his living at the front of the net. Arizona needs more depth at RW behind Dylan Guenther and Ziemmer also happened to be the best available at this point in the draft.

70. TREY AUGUSTINE, G, US NATIONAL U18 TEAM (USDP)/USNTDP (USHL)

Trey Augustine is contending to be one of the top goalies in the 2023 Draft class. After a stellar performance at the World Junior Championship in Halifax and Moncton, Augustine has shot up the draft rankings. At the U18 WJC, Augustine was fantastic, recording a 1.61 GAA, and .934 SV% in 6 games, and at the U20 WJC, Augustine had a 2.85 GAA and .891 SV% in 6 games. The Michigan State commit had a stellar 2022-23 campaign with the US National U18 of the USDP, recording a 2.13 GAA and .926 SV% in 33 games, along with a 2.34 GAA and .928 SV% in 14 games with the USNTDP Juniors of the USHL. Augustine has excellent reflexes and moves around the crease very effectively. His positioning is as good as it can get, and he is always in the right place to make the save. His ability to track the puck through traffic is outstanding and gives his team confidence every start he makes. Along with his excellent vision and agility, he has a terrific glove hand, which he uses very well. When the opposition is coming off the rush, he stands big in his net and cuts off angles, not giving the shooter much to work with. A goaltender like Augustine is rare to come by. If he was two or three inches taller he would be one of the most highly touted prospects of the 2023 Draft, and his skill set would have him in the same conversation as other young goaltenders such as Sebastian Cossa. Regardless of the slightly undersized build, Augustine is an excellent young goaltender that will make an impact at the NHL level. Augustine has all of the skills required to be a starting goaltender in the NHL. Despite being on the smaller side of most starting goalies, he has enough agility and talent to make up for it in similar ways Juuse Saros does. Arizona definitely has to start looking for their goalie of the future, and Augustine certainly could be that.

72. DYLAN MACKINNON, D, HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS (QMJHL)

Although more defensemen are starting to be quicker and offensively minded, there’s still a purpose for steady, stay-at-home defenders that can provide a punishing style of play. Halifax Mooseheads defenseman Dylan Mackinnon provides just that, as he is a very capable and strong defensive-minded player that can be relied on. Standing at 6 foot 2, 187 pounds, MacKinnon shines within his own end and is a difficult player to go up against when he defends the rush. No matter what situation he’s in, he doesn’t cheat on the play as he’s always in position and showing great gap control. He’s always providing a calm presence in the neutral zone and doesn’t panic on his own end. He has an active stick to anticipate plays and break them up, while also getting into the lanes to sacrifice the body. He has the presence and mindset to stay with the puck carrier to tie them up and negate any chance from unfolding. He provides great net front coverage and can box out players easily given his size and strength. He shows a consistently competitive level and engages physically with open ice hits or along the boards. MacKinnon is a strong skater for his size, showing great mobility in transition, but also great pivots when changing angles to stay with his assignments. MacKinnon doesn’t have the “wow factor” offensively, but because of what he does as a top-tier shutdown defenseman, he should have no issue being a top 4 shutdown type defenseman in the NHL. Dylan MacKinnon is comparable in play style to Adam Larsson, who is a solid top 4 defenseman, capable of logging tons of minutes and killing penalties, and shutting down top offensive players. Dylan MacKinnon is a safe pick in the third round, at worst he should be a bottom-pair defenseman, who can kill penalties. Mackinnon has similarities to Maveric Lamoureux, who had questions about his upside and other aspects of his game in 2022, but was taken in the first round by the Arizona Coyotes; none of these players have game-breaking offensive skill, but they are trying to build a defense that is difficult to play against.

88. DREW FORTESCUE, D, US NATIONAL U18 TEAM (USDP)/USNTDP (USHL)

Often times a player who is just very defensively sound and doesn’t put up a lot of points gets overlooked by fans, but it would be foolish for NHL teams to do the same. Drew Fortescue fits that bill; he is a big-bodied, 6 foot 1, 170-pound defenseman who is smart and understands how to play the game. While he may not be the sexiest name from that group, he has a lot of potential with his NHL-caliber size and solid toolkit. This season, Fortescue played 62 games U.S. National U18 team, along with 22 games for the USNTDP Juniors. While his time in Juniors showed his solid defensive acumen, he totaled 26 points in those 62 games for the U18 team, along with a monster +34, which was a marked improvement from the 2021-22 season. All of this shows an incredible amount of growth for Fortescue over the last year, which bodes well for his future. Not every player can project to be a star when they enter their draft year, but if they can show steady development of their core toolkit, then they will be a solid selection. The one thing that holds Fortescue back is his lack of foot speed, but because he is a defenseman, he can make up for it with his High IQ and great defensive instincts. The Boston College commit has been steadily rising up on draft boards, so it would not be shocking to see him be taking in the 3rd or 4th round. If things go well, I could see Fortescue topping out as a second-pairing stay-at-home defenseman that kills penalties and allows his linemate to roam in the offensive zone. I see Drew Fortescue as an Alec Martinez clone, and this is precisely the type of defenseman that the Arizona Coyotes need.

102. BRAD GARDINER, C, OTTAWA 67S (OHL)

Brad Gardiner’s 2022-23 season started out as well as anyone could ask for in their draft season. Thanks to opportunity and playing in a top role, Brad, the son of former NHL’er Bruce Gardiner, Brad scored 16 goals in his first 30 games of the season for the Ottawa 67s, however, he only scored 3 more goals the rest of the season, causing him to plummet in draft rankings. During the first 30 games, Gardiner was the 67’s top center, won over 50% of his faceoffs this season, and played in important situations. While injuries were definitely a factor on the 67s at large, Gardiner played the type of game that could fit anywhere in the lineup based on whatever the most important need was at that moment. This included time as a bottom-six winger. When we say anywhere in the lineup, we literally mean anywhere from fourth-line winger to first-line center. His versatility and play style is a blessing and a curse; it’s a blessing for his team because you can play him anywhere in the lineup and have him play either center or wing, but it’s also a curse because it hurts his draft stock completely. Gardiner is one of the most hard-working and determined players you will see, with a relentless motor and high IQ. While he most likely will never be a high-profile scoring player in the NHL, I can definitely see him being a valuable 3rd or 4th line Center, who can bump up into the top 6 in case of injury. Gardiner projects to be a later-round pick at the 2023 NHL Draft, likely somewhere between rounds 4-6. Given his bloodline, work ethic, and ability to play various roles, he should be a highly coveted player in the later rounds. Every team could use a player like Brad Gardiner, you can never have enough of those types of players.

134. ALEXANDER HELLNEMO, G, Rögle BK (SHL)

Even though the Arizona Coyotes already selected Trey Augustine earlier in the draft, it’s never a bad idea to stock up on goalie prospects. Swedish-born netminder Alexander Hellnemo is a rather polarizing prospect, he is actually the #1 ranked goalie on NHL Central Scouting amongst EU Goalies, however, he is ranked 88th overall on Elite Prospects, 195th on FCHockey, and 119th on McKeen’s Hockey. Hellnemo had already broken out during the 2021-22 season when he led the J20 Nationell in SV% with a .921% and helped backstop Sweden to the U18 WJC Gold medal. This pales in comparison to his 2022-23 season, in which he was the J20 Nationell’s Best Goalie and lead J20 National North in SV% (.921). With a 6’2 frame, Hellnemo already has a pro-sized frame and incredible positioning and poise for a goalie his age. Hellnemo is good with handing low shots and shots to the glove hand, however, he could clean up his rebound control and he has a tendency to stay deep in the blue paint. With International goalies, it’s tough projecting their NHL potential, but if he reaches his potential, he could be the next great Swedish netminder.

159. MARTIN MISIAK, LW/C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)

Martin Misiak is a Slovak forward who spent time between two teams this season: HC Nove Zamky in the Slovak Extraliga and the Youngstown Phantoms in the United States Hockey League (USHL). He totaled ten points in 29 games with Nove Zamky, a solid rate for an 18-year-old in a professional league. Unfortunately, he struggled with the Youngstown Phantoms, as he put up just 17 points in 27 games. The first thing that stands out about Misiak is his skating. He’s a quick skater with a very smooth stride and can use it effectively when he’s on the rush. Not only is he a speedy skater, but he has a quickness to his overall game. While Misiak has shown some offensive flare, he lacks consistency. Having said that, there are things he does well consistently enough on offense. He’s not afraid to get in on the forecheck with his 6-foot-2, 198-pound frame, nor will he shy away from going to the net front. While Misiak needs to become a more well-rounded offensive player, his defensive game is already well-polished. His positioning in the defensive zone is excellent, partly because he has a high-end hockey sense on defense. He gets into shooting lanes, and he’s quite adept at forcing turnovers in the defensive zone. His defensive game is so sound in fact that if his offensive totals were a little higher, he could be a second-round talent. Because of consistency issues, I would not be shocked if Misiak drops to the 5th or 6th round, but at the same time if a team is in dire need of a defensive forward, he could go earlier. Misiak’s NHL potential depends on how his offensive game develops in his post-draft years. If his production booms after getting drafted, there’s plenty of reason to believe he could become a high-end third-line center who’s productive at both ends of the ice. If his offensive game never develops, he most likely could be a 4th line center, which is also valuable. Arizona isn’t trying to build a flashy team, they are trying to build a team that is gritty and tough to play against.

162. KADEN HAMMELL, D, EVERETT (WHL)

Another Big defenseman, Kaden Hammell is a 6 foot 2, 181 pound, Right Handed defenseman who spit his time this season with the Everett Silvertips and Kamloops Blazers of the WHL.
After a good start to the season in which he record 10 points in 36 games with Kamloops, Hammell was dealt to the Everett Silvertips, where he put up 16 points in 31 games. Kaden is a smooth-skating defenseman for his size, with good puck-moving ability and passing ability. His Offensive game is limited because of his lack of a shot, but he was able to make up for it with his skating and passing. If Hammell is to be a regular in the NHL, he needs to either make a commitment to being better defensively or to improve his shot a lot more. Arizona should not hesitate to load on a big defenseman, especially Right-handed defenseman.

Draft Recap

A-

Zach Benson (LW)
Oliver Moore (C)
Koehn Ziemmer (RW)
Trey Augustine (G)
Dylan MacKinnon (D)
Drew Fortescue (D)
Brad Garnider (C/W)
Alexander Hellnemo (G)
Martin Misiak (C/LW)
Kaden Hammell (D)

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