2018 Coyotes draft class review: Ty Emberson

In 2018, the Arizona Coyotes managed to get two third-round picks. Their second pick came as a result of the team trading Jordan Martinook and a fourth-round pick to the Carolina Hurricanes for Marcus Kruger and Carolina’s third round pick. Kruger would never play for the Coyotes, however. After the team re-signed Brad Richardson, Kruger was sent to the Chicago Blackhawks along with MacKenzie Entwistle, Jordan Maletta and Andrew Campbell in exchange for Marian Hossa’s contract, Vinnie Hinostroza, Jordan Oesterle and a third round pick*.

Ty Emberson

Team: University of Wisconsin

Regular Season Games Played: 37

Goals: 4

Assists: 8

Playoff Games Played: N/A

Playoff Goals: N/A

Playoff Assists: N/A

After play with the USNTDP Juniors team in the USHL and the US National U18 Team with the USDP, Ty Emberson went to the University of Wisconsin in the NCAA. Emerson isn’t the type of defenseman who generates offense, but he is developing well in college. While its not the most reliable stat, it should be noted that he was one of ten players to finish with a positive +/- as a +6.

With the University of Madison Badgers, Emberson has worked to develop his physical game. An article detailing a rather physical game against Michigan State showcases how he affected the game with his physical presence. Perhaps most importantly, he didn’t allow his physical play to take him away from his regular duties, noting:

A check loses a lot of its value if it puts a defenseman out of position as play continues. Emberson has learned to pick his spots to be physical, Badgers coach Tony Granato said, and learned how to trust his defensive partner, K’Andre Miller.

Recently, Emberson was one of five Wisconsin players to be selected for USA Hockey’s World Junior Summer Showcase. Along with the Coyotes Prospect Development Camp, this week Emberson should have a busy summer to help grow and improve.

It’s tougher to evaluate Emberson’s place in the Coyotes organization after his first season with the team. He seems to progressing fine in Wisconsin and he will hopefully continue to develop into a physical, shutdown defenseman. The Arizona Coyotes have a lot of blue line prospects, and they just got a new one. That’s not to say that Emberson doesn’t have a future with the organization, it just means he is going to need to continue to work hard to separate himself from the internal competition.

*If you are curious and want to dig deeper into how complicated trading can get that pick was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for the 98th, 151st, and 207th picks. The Buffalo Sabres originally owned the 98th pick and the Tampa Bay Lightning owned the 151st pick. With those three additional picks the Coyotes drafted Matias Maccelli, Aku Raty and Valentin Nussbaumer.