Coyotes' Prospect Depth Shines on Tucson’s Top Line

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TUCSON - The Arizona Coyotes have often been lauded as having the one of the best prospect pools in the NHL. For the past three seasons, the Coyotes have brought a strong youth movement to the NHL.

First, it was Max Domi and Anthony Duclair.

Last season, fans saw rookies like Jakob Chychrun, Chrisitan Dvorak, and Brendan Perlini break out.

This season, it’s the Clayton Keller show.

Coyotes' rookies have been making a name for themselves for a while now, but believe it or not there is even more talent waiting in the pipeline.

Three first round draft picks from 2015 combine for fast-paced, offensive first line in Tucson (AHL)

Nothing displays the talent and depth of the Tucson Roadrunners more than Lawson Crouse, Dylan Strome, and Nick Merkley combining for the top line. All three are first round draft picks from the 2015 draft, and played together long before they were all in the Arizona Coyotes organization.

Crouse spent last year in the NHL with the Coyotes. He posted 12 points, 5 goals and 7 assists, in 75 games played. He was often praised for his big-bodied heavy hitting and defense of his teammates.

Strome spent last year tearing up the OHL in his final year of Juniors eligibility. After being sent home just short of nine NHL games, it was clear to most that he felt he had something to prove. He captained team Canada to a silver medal in the World Juniors Championship, led his team to the Memorial Cup and won numerous personal awards. He played only 35 games with the Erie Otters but tallied 75 points (22 goals, 53 assists).

Merkley spent his final year in Kelowna coming off a season in which he only played 43 games after tearing his ACL. Injury had set Merkley back a bit with the Coyotes organization, but he was determined to not let it stunt his last year in the WHL. He posted a point per game with 63 points (23 goals, 40 assists) in 63 games.

While the past year certainly looked different for the three first-rounders, they all had the same goal heading into the season and that was to prove themselves.

With Crouse being sent down to the AHL after 7 games with the Coyotes, an already talented first line, highlighted by Merkley and Strome, got even better.

“Obviously they’re [Crouse and Merkley] great players,” Strome said. “They were great players in juniors, and now are great players at the pro-level. I thought we worked great together. There were a couple of goals for our line and great chances. Whenever you get those [kind of chances] you always have to be positive.”

Merkley echoed the positive thoughts of his line mate.

“It’s really nice to see,” Merkley said when asked about the talent the first line has. “It’s nice to see those guys making good plays and I think we all have good hockey sense so it’s nice to be a part of.”

For Crouse, the familiarity with Strome and Merkley, and their reunion made the line even better.

“I’ve known both of those guys for a long time now,” Crouse said. “We’ve been a part of many teams. Whether it’s World Juniors or U-18’s. I actually played with Merkley in U-18’s and we had a pretty good connection there, so it’s obviously fun to play with some familiar faces.”

Maybe some familiar faces are all that Crouse needs to improve his game to the Coyotes satisfaction. After the game and the Roadrunners’ first home ice win of the season, head coach Mike Van Ryn was proud of all of his lines, but especially the performance of those three first round draft picks.

“It’s nice to see Crouse handling the puck again,” Van Ryn said after the lines debut. “That’s the goal of having him down here. Merkley and Stromer have created some pretty good chemistry together and all three of those guys see the ice well.”

Merkley and Strome were already finding their way in the AHL, before Crouse was sent down, but his addition is something that Van Ryn only sees as beneficial for everyone.

“Having the added size of Crouse to go and recover pucks for those other two guys, though they both have a tenacity in their game, but to have the heavy body that skates as well as Crouse does allows them to go and get a lot of pucks back,” Van Ryn said. “I think the chemistry looks good on that line.”

The Roadrunners’ are currently sitting atop the AHL, and are looking to continue their dominance. The first line continuing to generate points will be key if their success is to continue. Clearly there’s no doubt the Roadrunners aren’t lacking in talent or depth.

As of today Merkley currently has a point per game with 6 goals and 3 assists in 9 games. Only Strome who has 1 goal and 9 assists in 8 games tops his point total. Crouse has 2 assists in 4 games.

While Crouse, Merkley and Strome will continue to work to improve their game, they obviously all have the same goal once again, to make the jump from the AHL to the NHL. Strome thinks that there’s work that needs to put in to do just that.

“You need to keep getting confident, keep feeling the puck,” Strome said. “The opportunities and the chances, if you’re getting chances you know it’s a good thing, a good sign so I love being out there. I’m appreciating the opportunity and taking it in stride.”

In the meantime, their chemistry and performance in Tucson only speaks to the quality of the Arizona Coyotes system. Perhaps the best is yet to come. Who knows who the next young gun to shine in the NHL might be.