GLENDALE, Ariz – In a difficult Western Conference in the National Hockey League, the Phoenix Coyotes were anything but a push-over, at least in the regular season.
The Coyotes ended the season with 99 points and might well have challenged for the top spot in the division if not for 13 OT losses. They were just six points behind the San Jose Sharks for first place.
Phoenix’s home and road records for the season were nearly identical at 21-13-7 at home and 22-13-6, respectively.
By the number, the Coyotes were just average in most categories including 
14th on offense, 13th on defense, 23rd on the power play, 26th on the penalty kill, and 7th on face-offs won. Despite those numbers the team amassed those 99 points in the standings.
The problem for the Coyotes is the post season. Once again a young, talented, motivated team could get out of the first round. This is a franchise that since its days in Winnipeg has been unable to move into the second round of the playoffs.
Heap on the off-ice issues and the Coyotes are a team with real problems that a first round pick is not going to fix overnight. But perhaps tapping a talented prospect will permit the club’s management to promote its young talent in the minor league system including the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League.
Most of the team’s offense comes from the wingers. Their top scoring center was Eric Belanger (tied for 6th with 40 points) but Martin Hanzel had more goals (16). They had only one scorer with 20 goals and that was leading scorer Shane Doan. Needless to say they are in dire need of scorers down the middle of the ice.
On defense, Keith Yandle was second on the team in points and Adrian Aucoin led the team in plus/minus (+18). Four of their top eight prospects are defensemen so one would think they will go for blueline support in the later rounds.
In goal, Ilya Bryzgalov is gone but two of their top 10 prospects are goalies. They will get a stop gap until someone is ready. They will most likely add more goalies in the draft and could take one in the first round but Pro Hockey News sees the Coyotes will be looking for true goal-scorer and most likely a centerman.
Looking over some of the Coyotes choices at center there are talented players including Rocco Grimaldi (USHL) fits the Phoenix need but he’s only 5′ 6″ however he had 34 goals in 50 games . Vladislav Namestnikov played for London and picked up 30 goals in 68 games. Then there is Mark Scheifele who is 6’2″ and had an excellent year for Barrie.
Beyond the North American field of candidates, there is European pool of talent to choose from as well. If Phoenix goes Euro they could look at Finland’s Markus Grandlund who had 20 goals in 40 games.
Namestnikov is the highest rated player of the 4. He played well in the U18 tournament in February of 2010 when he helped Russia win the tourney. In seven games, Namestnikov picked up five goals and seven points.
The Scouting Report said of Namestnikov, “One of Namestnikov’s biggest strengths is his skating ability; something that is generally on display any time you get the opportunity to view him. An effortless skater, Namestnikov has a textbook blend of top speed, agility, and acceleration which allow him to move around the ice with ease. His offensive skills are up there with any in this crop and his puckhandling ability rivals any of the players in the draft. Namestnikov has a toolbox of nifty moves he is able to use in game situations and is a very good stickhandler at top speed and on the rush.”
There are two weaknesses cited by other scouting services including his shooting ability and defensive awareness with each scored as C-. The defensive awareness issue can always be fixed as he matures in the Ontario system in London or in the Coyotes’ minor league system where defense is key. The shooting deficit will need attention while Namestnikov skates in London.
The Coyotes would be well-served with the addition of Namestnikov to the line-up in the desert.
“With the 20th pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the Phoenix Coyotes are proud to select center Vladislav Namestnikov of the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League.”
For more information on Vladislav Namestnikov see this link .
Contact Lou.Lafrado@prohockeynews.com
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