Coyotes due to draft another first-rounder

At the end of last season, the Coyotes had their top choice from each of the previous three drafts in uniform. If all goes according to plan today, Phoenix’s roster for next season will include a fourth first-round pick.

The Coyotes have the eighth selection in today’s NHL draft and general manager Don Maloney believes there’s a good chance they’ll end up with a player ready to jump into the league right away.

“It’s a deep draft,” he said.

“In my mind, there’s probably six players who have a chance to play (in the NHL) this year. For us, that fits into exactly what we’re trying to do, get another good player into our system and grow with him.”

So who might that player be? It won’t be Canadian center Steven Stamkos. The 18-year-old who tallied 58 goals and 105 points in 61 games for Sarnia of the Ontario Hockey League is a gimme to be picked No. 1 overall by Tampa Bay.

Who goes after that is unclear. This year’s class is top heavy and deep in defensemen with Canadians Drew Doughty, Alex Pietrangelo, Luke Schenn and American Zach Bogosian headlining. Phoenix has stocked up on highly talented forwards the last few years (Martin Hanzal, Peter Mueller, Kyle Turris, Kevin Porter), so winding up with a blue liner from that group would be ideal.

“Our preference would be a defenseman,” Maloney said.

Doughty and Bogosian will likely go in the top four and Pietrangelo and Schenn are projected to be gone before the Coyotes are on the clock. So Phoenix will likely have to trade up to land one of those four, something it has already talked about.

“I wouldn’t expect us to be trading down,” Maloney said, “but we have had a couple discussions (with other teams about) going the other way.”

With five of the first 49 picks, Phoenix will have plenty of bargaining chips.

The wild card in the first round is Russian winger Nikita Filatov. His talent level is just below that of Stamkos, but since the NHL has no transfer agreement with Russia, getting him to North America may prove to be a major challenge. If Filatov is still available at No. 8, he’s a player Phoenix would consider.

“He’s certainly a guy we’d have to look at and do our homework on,” Maloney said. “It’s hard to find that type of front-line talent in a draft.”

If Phoenix doesn’t end up with any of those six players, 6-foot-7 Canadian defenseman Tyler Myers or Danish winger Mikkel Boedker are the next most likely candidates.

“The exciting thing for us is we really, really like eight players,” Maloney said.

LOOSE PUCKS: The Coyotes will host a free open house from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday at Jobing.com Arena. The event will feature complimentary hot dogs, drinks and games for children. Coyotes players Peter Mueller, Kyle Turris, Brett MacLean and others will be on-hand for autographs and photos. Fans should enter at Gate 6 on the east side of the arena.

NHL draft
When: 4 p.m. today (first round), 7 a.m. Saturday (rounds 2-7)
Where: Scotiabank Place, Ottawa
TV: Versus today; NHL Network on Saturday
Coyotes picks: No. 8 (first round), No. 35 (second), No. 38 (second), No. 39 (second), No. 49 (second), No. 69 (third), No. 90 (third), No. 99 (fourth), No. 159 (sixth), No. 189 (seventh)
Viewing party: 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Upper Deck Sports Grill in Scottsdale, 4224 N. Craftsman Court. Players Derek Morris and Peter Mueller along with mascot Howler are scheduled to appear from 4-5 p.m. for autographs and pictures.