The season is quickly approaching, which means it’s time to look towards the future. We do that every year with the Five For Howling 25 Under 25, ranking the Coyotes’ best players under 25. For this year’s rankings, I am joined by James Reeve (@JamesRJReeve), Mike Gould (@miketgould), Haynes Evans (@HaynesPEvans), and Matthew Jacobson (@TheAZSportsGuy).
Dylan Guenther
2022-23 League: WHL (Seattle Thunderbirds), NHL (Arizona Coyotes)
Games Played: 20, 33
Goals: 13, 6
Assists: 16, 9
Playoffs Games Played: 19
Playoffs Goals: 16
Playoffs Assists: 12
Highest Rating: 2
Lowest Rating: 5
The Arizona Coyotes acquiring the 2021 ninth overall pick can be seen as the start of their most recent rebuild. With that pick, the Coyotes selected forward Dylan Guenther, who is poised to be a significant piece of the Coyotes moving forward.
Guenther made his professional debut last season, playing 33 games with the Coyotes. He was good, but there were gaps in his game that showed he is still growing. The team would send him to the World Juniors and, eventually, back to the WHL, where he played for the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Away from the Coyotes, Guenther showed that there was nothing else for him to do in juniors. He wore an “A” for Team Canada at the World Juniors and won gold and then went on to be a big piece of the Thunderbirds team that would win the WHL Championship before falling to the Quebec Remparts in the Memorial Cup. His 16 goals in the playoffs would ultimately be the best in the WHL.
But if Guenther struggles to find his offense this season, he won’t have to drop back to a league he can dominate. For the first time in his career, Guenther is eligible to be assigned to the AHL and play for the Tucson Roadrunners this season. He doubtlessly wants to play in the NHL, but sometimes younger players need some AHL time to adjust to the professional game.
An assignment to the AHL can be temporary. Guenther could start with the Coyotes, and if he struggles, he could be sent down for a few weeks to gain some confidence. Craig Morgan of PHNX recently wrote about the different paths for Guenther this season, which is worth a read.
Dylan Guenther is a big piece of the Coyotes and may be the Coyotes’ best pure goal-scorer since Radim Vrbata. Undoubtedly, he will be an NHL player soon, and if he finds chemistry with the likes of Logan Cooley and Jason Zucker, the Coyotes may have two deadly lines moving forward.
Guenther has two years left on his entry-level contract, which sees him on a very team-friendly deal. Depending on how well he progresses this season and next, Bill Armstrong could re-sign him to a bridge deal or give him a long-term contract.