Arizona Coyotes prospects Lamoureux, Geekie will play big roles – literally – for Canada at World Juniors

Credit: Maveric Lamoureux and Conor Geekie (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)

OAKVILLE, Ontario – The Arizona Coyotes are a human skyscraper factory.

Of the team’s first three draft picks in 2023, Dmitri Simashev is 6-foot-4, Daniil But is 6-foot-5 and goaltender Michael Hrabal is 6-foot-6. There isn’t a pipeline in the NHL even close to touching Arizona’s size.

And later this month, Canada’s world junior team is set to benefit thanks to two of their top young guns.

Conor Geekie is Canada’s biggest forward at 6-foot-4 and 196 pounds. He’s a modern-day power forward who can move quite well while also getting in the way of everyone around him. There’s a reason he’s so successful, putting up 49 points in 26 games with the Wenatchee Wild before heading to camp.

“He’s big, strong, and can skate,” Canadian coach Alan Letang said about Geekie. “In the 3-on-3 (during the scrimmage Monday), he lost the puck, and I think he got mad and just bullied two more guys and got it back… I love his confidence. He’s got some swagger in our dressing room.”

But there might not be a more imposing figure in the tournament, period, than defenseman Maveric Lamoureux. The 6-foot-7 mammoth can flatten you with ease – and he’s also a damn good skater. That’s not a good combination if you’re a forward trying to go 1-on-1 with him. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Fraser Minten called him the the most difficult player to play against in camp.

Together, both Geekie and Lamoureux will play big roles for Canada. Geekie should slot into the team’s top six, while Lamoureux could factor anywhere into the team’s defensive unit. Both entered camp as locks, and they’ll leave as teammates as the team flies out to Sweden on Thursday evening.

It’ll mark the first – and only – world junior appearances for both. Neither was invited to training camp last year, with Geekie’s exclusion being slightly more surprising.

But as 19-year-olds, they’ll be counted on to lead the country to gold for the third straight year. Canada isn’t the favorite to win, but they’re still one of the top teams with a deep lineup, no matter where you look.

For Geekie, his career year is coming at the right time. While he’s unlikely to match the offensive prowess of Logan Cooley or Dylan Guenther, Geekie’s energy and bulldog persona make him a difficult player to contain.

“I play with a little more pace to my game,” Geekie said. “I was pretty lanky when I was coming into the league and kind of a klutz, to be honest. It wasn’t nice. I think I found my game, and I think I’m just playing hard now and protecting the puck, using my body… I play with a chip on my shoulder, and it’s definitely a positive.

“The third-child gene’s coming out a little more,” added Geekie, the younger brother of Boston Bruins forward Morgan Geekie. “Being extra competitive and trying to bring that every single night.”

Lamoureux added about 15 pounds over the summer, bulking up from 199 to 214. He said it helped make him feel more stable and stronger, allowing him to win more puck battles.

But as a 19-year-old, that’s still a lot of size to work with – and trying to manage that can be difficult.

“I feel like I took a big step,” Lamoureux said about figuring out how to use his big frame effectively. “Last year was a big summer. I feel like before, I always wanted to go for the big hit. It’s always fun. It’s going to happen sometimes. I was looking for it way too much last year. Now, I’m just letting it come to me. When it’s going to happen, I’m going to do it. But I’m not going to take myself out of the play to go after a big hit.”

The Drummondville Voltigeurs defenseman said a shoulder injury during the summer of 2022 made it difficult to broaden up. But beyond the usual workout regimens, Lamoureux took it a bit further to hit his ideal size.

“I ate a lot,” Lamoureux said. “At night, I wanted to throw up because I ate so much during the day, but I had to do it to put on some weight. My grandmother has a farm, so she always brought chicken from there. Chicken with some garlic pasta was my go-to meal before bed. Like, right before bed.”

Alrighty then.

Neither prospect will factor into Arizona’s rise up the standings for at least a few more years, but excitement is growing. The Coyotes will have four representatives in Sweden – including Germany’s Julian Lutz and Slovakia’s Adam Zlnka – but neither are as high profile as Lamoureux and Geekie.

If Canada is going to win gold once again, it’ll take colossal performances from two of its hefty fellas. And you don’t want to bet against them – they’re the last two players you’d like to go into a corner with.

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Arizona Coyotes prospects Lamoureux, Geekie will play big roles – literally – for Canada at World Juniors

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