With the 2012 NHL Entry Draft only a week away things are about to heat up in the Coyotes’ camp. Aside from having a few Restricted free agents on the team, General Don Maloney will have his hands full with the six Non-Restricted free agents, one of those being team captain, Shane Doan. But free agency doesn’t start until July 1st, until then Don Maloney will only be having the Entry Draft on his mind.

“We’re probably more inclined to move the pick one way or the other.” - Don Maloney

Maloney is already hard at work strategizing his way into a lower seed. The General Manager is feeling confident in defensive prospects, “We have a lot of defenseman in our system, young defenseman, that we feel really good with where we’re at.” But that isn’t stopping the Coyotes GM from taking on another defenseman, “We may get to our pick and it’s an average forward and a real good defenseman, and we’ll take the defenseman.”

As it stands, the Phoenix Coyotes are set to pick 27th overall on Friday, June 22nd.

Notable 27th picks:

• John Carlson (Washington, 2008)
• Jeff Schultz (Washington, 2004)
• Jeff Woywitka (Philadelphia, 2001)
• Scott Gomez (New Jersey, 1998)
• Tie Domi (Toronto, 1988)
• Joe Nieuwendyk (Calgary, 1985)

Coyotes are set to have 8 draft picks Saturday, June 23rd.

• Second round – No. 58
• Third round – No. 81
• Third round – No. 88
• Fourth round – No. 102
• Fifth round – No 148
• Sixth round – No. 178
• Seventh round – No. 184
• Seventh round – No. 208