Sarah McLellan

azcentral sports

The nine-year naming-rights agreement between the Coyotes and Gila River Casinos that was triggered Wednesday will bring change to the newly minted Gila River Arena with signage expected to go up on the exterior of the building in time for the team's opening game Oct. 9, but the deal won't help revise the roster that's housed inside — at least not immediately.

"It won't have any impact on where we are today," President and CEO Anthony LeBlanc said.

The hope, however, is that the agreement will help the ownership group achieve its goal to be profitable in a year's time, and that would enable the hockey operations department to receive a boost.

"Our plan as an ownership group is to ensure that we can get to the point that we can put everything back into the hockey team," LeBlanc said. "… We realize we need to invest in this team, and deals like this allow us to execute that plan."

So with General Manager Don Maloney's budget untouched by this agreement, additional free-agent signings aren't a given. Trade activity could heat up, and the Coyotes already have invited three players to training camp via professional tryout, but it's more likely the handful of holes that still exist on the roster will be filled internally.

Rookie camp starts Saturday, and five prospects have the best chance of not only standing out when the veterans report but also lassoing an invitation to Opening Night.

Winger Max Domi

Domi was among the final cuts last year in training camp as an 18-year-old only months removed from the draft, so his odds of sticking around this time have improved — especially considering the shortage of offensive options.

The departure of forwards Radim Vrbata and Mike Ribeiro have left the Coyotes thirsty for creativity in their top six, and Domi has that in spades. But whether he earns a spot will be determined by how well he's operates when he's at the other end of the rink.

"Can he adjust to playing in (coach) Dave Tippett's system and be responsible without the puck?" Maloney said.

Center Tyler Gaudet

Combine Domi's skill with Gaudet's defensive awareness, and the Coyotes would have their perfect player. Gaudet is a leading candidate to make the team because he's responsible and would slide easily into a bottom-six role as a faceoff and shut-down specialist.

"The reservation for him, if there is one, is we've never seen him at a pro camp," Maloney said. "We haven't seen him at the pro level."

Winger Lucas Lessio

Lessio was with the team at the start of last season after winning a job out of training camp but ended up spending most of 2013-14 in the American Hockey League. There, his speed and strength on the puck shined. Both are areas the Coyotes are lacking.

"He has a habit of maybe trying to do a little more by himself versus using his teammates a little more," Maloney said. "But it's just maturity and understanding the pro game."

Winger Tobias Rieder

Rieder merits a look because he has a nose for the net. He's smart and has slick hands, but bulking up would fast-track his development.

"With more strength comes a little more quickness," Maloney said. "Just a half a step is keeping him away from being a regular NHL player."

Winger Henrik Samuelsson

Samuelsson has been skating in the Valley for the past month, and he's smart to be working on his quickness and strength. He already has the offensive instincts, but keeping up with NHLers will be his challenge.

"From the ability to make plays, he's as good as anybody we have from a prospect perspective," Maloney said. "It's just is his pace and tempo going to be ready come October?"

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Camp schedule

-- Rookie camp starts Saturday with a practice from 1:45 p.m. to 3 p.m.

-- On-ice sessions Sunday and Monday will include practices and a scrimmage and run 10 a.m. to 11:35 a.m. The Coyotes will scrimmage the Kings Tuesday at 6 p.m. and Wednesday at 2 p.m.

-- All sessions are at Gila River Arena and are free and open to the public. Enter the arena at Gate 3.