Dylan Guenther

January 2024- When Guenther was called up in early January, Coyotes head coach Andre Tourigny said his stint with the team would be “short-term”. However, Guenther’s play so far is making that decision much more difficult. He has two goals and three points in three games with Arizona, showing off his very impressive shot. At the time of his call-up, he was leading Tucson in scoring with 10 goals and 28 points in 29 games. Guenther has been named to play in the AHL All-Star Game. Keith Duggan

October 2023- Expected to play a top six role with Arizona this year, Guenther did not have a strong training camp and preseason with the team. The Coyotes want their prospects to earn spots on the team and Arizona made the smart decision development wise and sent Guenther to Tucson to begin 2023-24. In the AHL, Guenther will play a top six role and so far, his play has been strong with a goal and two points in two games. Keith Duggan

June 2023- For a second year in a row, Guenther’s team made the Memorial Cup and came up just short of winning a championship. His Seatle Thunderbirds cruised through the WHL playoff’s, losing only three games in their march to the Memorial Cup. They made it all the way to the Memorial Cup Finals before losing to Quebec Remparts. Guenther was outstanding during the playoffs, racking up 16 goals and 28 points in 19 games, good for fourth in WHL playoff scoring. That was after he put up 13 goals and 29 points in 20 regular season games. Expect Guenther to earn a top six role with Arizona for the upcoming year, as the very talented winger is ready to be a difference maker. Keith Duggan

February 2023- Back on January 10th when the Seatle Thunderbirds acquired Guenther’s WHL rights it seemed a bold move. After an outstanding WJC, Guenther had been acquitting himself just fine with Arizona in the NHL and seemed his junior days were over. On February 5th though, that bold move paid off, as the Coyotes announced Guenther would be assigned to Seatle to finish off the 2022-23 campaign. The Thunderbirds gave up a lot to acquire Guenther’s rights too, a fourth-round pick in 2024 and the following picks conditional on Guenther being returned to the WHL this season: First- round pick in 2026, second- round pick in 2023, fourth- round pick in 2025, fourth-round pick in 2026, fifth- round pick in 2026 and a sixth- round pick in 2024. Guenther now joins a stacked Seattle team, one that will have five NHL first-round picks on the roster. He will join forwards Brad Lambert, Reid Schaefer along with defensemen Kevin Korchinski and Nolan Allan. This squad was already one of the best teams in the entire Canadian Hockey League and adding a supreme talent like Guenther instantly makes them a top Memorial Cup favorite. He finished with 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 33 games with the Coyotes. The winger ranked tied for sixth on the team in points per game (0.45) and is tied for the second-most power-play goals (4) among all NHL rookie skaters. Unfortunately, this season burned the first season of his entry-level contract, but if he had stuck around for 40 games, Guenther would be one year closer to being an unrestricted free agent. Keith Duggan

January 2023- It was an extremely successful World Junior Championship for Guenther, one capped by him scoring the “golden goal” for Team Canada. His overtime, game-winning goal against Czechia in the WJC final provided Canada their 20th gold medal and its first back-to-back titles since 2009.

Guenther finished with seven goals and 10 points through seven games, good for sixth in tournament scoring. Soon after the gold medal game, it was announced that Geunther had been recalled back to the Coyotes. Keith Duggan

December 2022- Arizona Coyotes have loaned rookie Guenther to Team Canada for the World Junior Championships, Hockey Canada announced. The announcement came on the same day Shane Wright was also loaned to Team Canada. Guenther has three goals and 11 points in 21 games with the Coyotes this season. He was sixth on Arizona in scoring and his three power-play goals have him tied for most tallies among rookies. Guenther only played two games for Team Canada at the 2022 COVID-19 postponed WJC last year. He did not play in the rescheduled tournament that was held last August due to injury. No word yet on where Guenther will suit up after the 2023 WJC. Whether that will be returning to the Coyotes or back to WHL Edmonton. Keith Duggan

November 2022- Guenther will stay with Arizona past the nine-game trial. “He has earned it with his play” Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong said before Guenther suited up for his 10th NHL game.

He entered his 10th contest with two goals and six points. That placed him tied for fifth among NHL rookies in points despite averaging less ice time (12:42) per game than any of the top-14 rookie scoring leaders. Keith Duggan

October 2022- Don’t look now but Guenther is making a serious case to stay with Arizona this year. He currently has scored in two straight games and has three points in five contests. Both his tallies have come on the power-play, where the young sniper has averaged 2:57 TOI. It’s still possible the rebuilding Coyotes return him to junior rather than burn a year of his entry-level contract in what will be a season near the bottom of the standings, but Guenther’s play is making that decision really difficult. Keith Duggan

October 2022- Guenther has made the Coyotes opening night roster. GM Bill Armstrong has stressed patience and not rushing prospects, so one would expect this to be a nine-game trial period. Arizona lacks scorers in their lineup though, and if Guenther gets off to a strong start, he definitely could extend that. Keith Duggan

August 2022- The lower body/knee injury that kept Guenther off the ice for part of the WHL finals and then Memorial Cup (where his Edmonton Oil Kings arguably would have won had he been in the lineup) has continued to plague him this summer. He was at Coyotes development camp but did not take part in any on-ice activities. Now, Guenther will not suit up for Canada at this summer’s World Junior Tournament. He continues to rehab and is expected to be ready for Coyotes training camp this fall. Keith Duggan

June 2022- Guenther has continued to have an excellent 2021-22 campaign. After finishing sixth in WHL scoring with 91 points in just 59 games, his 45 goals fifth, Guenther has continued his prolific scoring in the playoffs for the powerhouse Edmonton Oil Kings. He has 13 goals and 21 points in 16 games but has missed the last few games of the WHL finals after taking a big hit along the boards in Game 3. With a berth in the Memorial Cup tournament on the line, Edmonton hopes to have one of its biggest weapons back soon. Keith Duggan

March 2022- To no one’s surprise, Arizona’s top prospect, Dylan Guenther, is having an excellent campaign for Edmonton in the WHL. He’s currently sixth in scoring with 70 points in 46 games, along with his 36 goals third right now. Which is even more impressive since he missed a portion of the season while away with Canada at the WJC (two assists in as many games), which ended up being postponed and rescheduled for this summer. He also jumped on the highlight reels after scoring a “Michigan” style goal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj-ZE7dZOGw against the Saskatoon Blades to complete a hat-trick (he finished the game with four goals). His prolific production earned him the moniker #spicydyl on social media, where his highlight-reel moves are on full display. Keith Duggan

October 2021- Despite shining in Coyotes Rookie Faceoff Tournament and early preseason action, Guenther was returned to Edmonton of the WHL. Arizona has stressed they will not be rushing prospects during their current rebuild and kept to that plan. He had four goals in three rookie tournament games and then two points in as many preseason contests. The 2021 first rounder looked as though he definitely could have contributed to what will be a weak Arizona lineup this campaign. Expect a big offensive year from Guenther in the WHL and to suit up for Canada at the 2022 WJC. Keith Duggan

September 2021- The Coyotes have signed their first-round pick to an entry-level contract. Even though Guenther has the skill to make the Coyotes this campaign, he probably spends at least one more season in the WHL. Keith Duggan

July 2021 – Guenther was selected in the first round, 9th overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2021 NHL Draft. Nick Richard

July 2021 – Guenther made everyone take notice this season as he finished with 12 goals and 24 points in just 12 games. He is a volume shooter whose finishing instincts help him find positioning in smart areas around the net. His skating is an asset that will become even more of a weapon as he gets physically stronger. Guenther is not likely to wow you with highlight-reel puck skills, but he is a well-rounded offensive player who knows what makes him effective. He uses his strong read/react abilities to make smart plays, create space, and generate consistent offensive chances for his team. He is not an elite playmaker, but he does a great job of finding teammates in the net-front area with which, in combination with his one-timer and general shooting ability, makes him a great asset on the power play. Guenther has the potential to be a long-term top-six forward in the NHL and since this draft is pretty wide open, do not be surprised if he goes anywhere from second to 15th overall. Jameson Ewasiuk

March 2021 – It’s safe to say that Guenther is excited to be back on the ice with the Edmonton Oil Kings as the young winger currently leads the WHL in scoring with 15 points in just six games to start the year. He has been a wizard on the powerplay, showing off his high-end one-timer and deceptive passing ability. He has been able to find teammates for backdoor tap-ins or in high-danger areas because his show has become such a threat and draws attention. After almost a year without game action outside of a short stint in the AJHL that only lasted a few games before COVID shut the season down there as well, Guenther has made his mark on this young WHL season helping pump his draft stock publicly. If there was any question that he was the top draft-eligible prospect from the WHL, he has answered it emphatically. Solidifying himself as a top-10 prospect, his rise could continue right into the conversation at the top of the draft. Tony Ferrari

November 2020 – Dylan Guenther is currently playing with the Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL) on a loan while he waits for WHL training camp with the Edmonton Oil Kings. He plays the game with a boatload of skill, smarts, and pace. He has a bit of a lanky frame but at 6’1″, he should fill out as he matures physically. The areas of weakness in his game are few and far between. His defensive game was decent as a 16-year-old last season with most of his issues coming from a lack of strength or getting a bit overeager and chasing the puck carrier. If he can reign things in a bit, he could be a very good defensive winger because he has all of the tools to stay agile and effective defensively. He is very efficient in transition, scanning the ice and identifying skating paths and openings to exploit. He is a good skater who has a quick first step and can look eerily calm with the puck on his stick. He does need to up the pace a bit, but he gets around fine for now. He has the hands and puck skills to weave through the opposition regardless of what zone they are in. He has dangled his way out of trouble in his own zone to start a breakout and deked defenders below the goal line to set up his teammates for an excellent scoring chance. His offensive game is well-rounded and opportunistic. His ability to read defenses like an NFL quarterback and attack them at their weak points is special. He understands what the opponents want to do and forces them to do the opposite. His passing is silky smooth, and his shot pops off his stick in an instant, picking corners. Guenther has the ability to finish in tight with crafty hands and instant elevation of the puck or score from distance by concealing his shooting intentions until it’s too late. He has some positions;l versatility and can play center in a pinch but he is the rare winger who can drive play and make his teammates better without having to play the pivot position. The Oil Kings forward should be a top-10 pick if all goes well this season and depending on how well it goes, he could be in the conversation for number one by season’s end. Tony Ferrari