Potential Forward Line Combinations for the Coyotes 2023-24 Season

The Arizona Coyotes made some shake ups to their forward group this offseason adding Jason Zucker, Alexander Kerfoot, and Nick Bjugstad while top prospect Logan Cooley is also expected to be with the team full-time.

With all these new pieces being added, it will be interesting to see what lines coach Andre Tourigny strings together. Here are the projected line combinations for the Coyotes from Daily Faceoff.

Clayton Keller- Barrett Hayton- Nick Schmaltz

Matias Maccelli- Logan Cooley- Jason Zucker

Alexander Kerfoot- Nick Bjugstad- Dylan Guenther

Jack McBain- Travis Boyd- Lawson Crouse

The first line between Keller, Hayton and Schmaltz was extremely effective last season. Hayton really started to thrive playing on the first line tallying 19 goals 24 assists and 43 points.

Keller led the team in points with a career high 86 while Schmaltz ranked second with 58 points. This line was clicking before so there is no reason to split them up now.

A potential second line between Maccelli, Cooley and Zucker would certainly be intriguing. All eyes will be on Cooley during his rookie season. The 19-year-old was drafted with the third overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and he put his offensive prowess and blazing speed on display last year playing for the University of Minnesota where he scored 22 goals along with 38 assists and 60 points.

Fresh off being named to the 2022-23 NHL All-Rookie Team, Maccelli is looking to build upon a season where he had 11 goals, 39 assists and 49 points. Zucker had a huge bounce back year for the Pittsburgh Penguins producing 27 goals, 21 assists and 48 points. The 31-year-old is a reliable goalscorer that could help mentor both Maccelli and Cooley if they are paired together.

The proposed third line of Kerfoot, Bjugstad and Guenther could be sneaky. The Coyotes’ 2021 ninth overall pick, Dylan Guenther, is expected to make the jump to the NHL. The 20-year-old actually played 33 games with Arizona last year tallying six goals, nine assists and 15 points. Guenther has a lot of potential but starting on the third line could benefit him as he still has to get more accustomed to professional play.

Coming from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kerfoot has shown some flashes of his offensive potential. With some playoff experience under his belt over the past couple of seasons, Kerfoot is a good veteran piece to have. Bjugstad had a resurgence this past year posting 17 goals, 12 assists and 29 points. He spent most of the year with the Coyotes where he really thrived but was traded to the Edmonton Oilers just one day before the trade deadline.

The potential fourth line consists of gritty players with Jack McBain, Travis Boyd and Lawson Crouse. It's Crouse that really headlines this trio. The 26-year-old was second on amongst all Coyotes in goals with 22 so having a skilled guy like that on the fourth line is extremely valuable.

McBain played a key physical role in his rookie campaign for Arizona and while he may not light up the stat sheet, his big presence is definitely needed. Over the past two years, Boyd has found a home for himself in the Valley. He played all 82 games last season where he had 15 goals, 19 assists and 34 points.

While these lines are not set in stone, all of them have an identity and specific strong points which is extremely important for any team in the NHL.