After selecting a goaltender with their second-round pick, the Arizona Coyotes made another to restock the pipeline. Early in the fifth round, the Desert Dogs selected Swedish goaltender Melker Thelin.
With the No. 134 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, we've selected Melker Thelin
Excited to have you, Melker. ☀️ pic.twitter.com/Zrgwe5vdhM
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) June 29, 2023
Thelin spent last season playing for five different Swedish teams. The team he spent the most time with was Tegs SK in HockeyEttan, where he played 15 games and registered a 2.11 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage.
After drafting a top goaltending prospect, the Coyotes could afford to take a bit of a risk with Thelin. Arizona clearly spent a lot in Europe, and they must have liked what they saw with the 6’2″, 170-pound netminder.