Coyotes go with late bloomer at 27th spot

GLENDALE, Ariz – The Phoenix Coyotes came oh so close in the 2012 post-season. They had advanced for the first time in franchise history beyond the first round of the playoffs and challenged the Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference Finals. Well, challenge is sort of an overstatement. But the Coyotes did manage to push the Kings to five games before succumbing in OT on home ice. What the series, and the entire post-season proved, was that the LA Kings were a better and bigger team than their opposition. And if the Coyotes want to build on their success this season they need to get bigger up front. General manager Don Maloney has built the current roster and farm system through the draft and shrewd trade moves on deadline day. This season his moves were less about drastic change than about minor tweaks and providing support and confidence for those on the bench. But all the building and moves were not enough to move the club up the statistical ladder this season. Phoenix was 18^th in offense, 5^th in defense, 29^th on the PP, 8^th on the PK, and 15th in face-offs. Over the last few drafts the Coyotes have looked to bolster their blueline in Glendale and in the farm system. They have decent depth in the American League who could supply the big club with a steady supply of defensemen who will challenge this year in camp. Where the club really needs the help is on the forward lines and they need size to compete with the Kings to keep up with the arms race to beef up the wings. It is no longer enough to have just speed. The Kings have 235-245-pound wingers with speed which translates to brute force, combined with talent and finesse. In the 27^th overall pick in the 2012 PHN Mock Draft, the Coyotes have more limited options but several players that remain on the table. The talent available includes: Cristoval Nieves, C, Kent School (HIGH-CT), Colton Sissons, C, Kelowna (WHL), Thomas Wilson, RW, Plymouth (OHL), Martin Frk, RW, Halifax (QMJHL), Phillip Di Giuseppe, LW, Michigan (CCHA). If Phoenix were to go with more blue line depth the following players are still available: Matthew Finn, Guelph (OHL), Slater Koekkoek, Peterborough (OHL), and Ville Pokka, Finland. The issue for all of these players is their size. If the race to increase size up front quickens this off season, then all teams in the western conference will be looking to expand their sweater sizes.   One player who seems to fit the mold is Tanner Pearson from the Ontario Hockey League’s Barrie Colts. The 19-year-old left winger stands six feet and 195 pounds. He is certainly big enough to start a career and young enough to grow. In 60 games with Barrie, Pearson picked up 37 goals and 91 points and was a +21. His numbers placed him third in the OHL in scoring. In six games in the World Junior Championship he netted a goal (a game winner) and five assists. The 2011-12 season in Barrie was something of a dramatic turn-around for Pearson from his previous year. In 2010-11, he was -12 with 42 points in 66 games. Scouting reports have listed Pearson as a “late bloomer” who is entering his third year of eligibility for the draft.   The downside is his age, which can be considered a negative. He will be age 20 when training camp starts, and he is at least two years older than most other draftees. Pearson suffered a broken fibula in the Colts’ final game of the season but should bounce back from it well enough. In fact, he was ranked 25^th at the recent scouting combine Central Scouting. The advantage for Pearson is his age, a more mature left winger with decent but not overwhelming size. At 20, Pearson may be able to crack the lineup quicker than his younger colleagues. “With the 27^th pick in the NHL Entry Draft, the Phoenix Coyotes select left wing Tanner Pearson of the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League.” Contact Lou.Lafrado@prohockeynews.com Contact the photographer at Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.com Follow us on twitter @prohockeynews