For the Coyotes, it's all about the process

Max Domi, Brendan Perlini, Christian Dvorak, and an imminent Top 10 draft selection have many an Arizona Coyotes fan thinking big about a quick turnaround, perhaps as soon as next year. But here's some extra food for thought:

BTW those expecting Perlini & Dvorak to make a big impact next yr or even make the team might want to look at what the Coyotes did with Domi

— Tim Greene (@CoyotesAvs12) February 7, 2015

The sentiment is highly mindful of the Coyotes recent history with draft selections. Domi has now spent two seasons in major-junior after being selected by the Coyotes in 2012. Henrik Samuelsson is now in his third season as a Coyotes prospect and hasn't even sniffed the NHL yet, spending all of this year in AHL Portland.

Add to that list 2011 draft choice Lucas Lessio (three years), Tobias Rieder (two years in the Coyotes system after two years with Edmonton), Connor Murphy (two and a half years), and undrafted free agent Brendan Shinnimin (two years), and it is clear to see that Arizona rarely plays its draft selections in the NHL the year after they are drafted so long as Don Maloney has been general manager, with Oliver Ekman-Larsson being the rare exception (and even he didn't spend the full season in the NHL).

Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel are NHL ready by consensus. None of Noah Hanifin, Mitch Marner, Dylan Strome, or any of the other top choices have earned the same distinction. No matter how high their upside may be, recent history suggests that barring a Draft Lottery win, the 2015 selection of the Arizona Coyotes may have to wait for his moment in the spotlight.