The lad from Maltby has earned himself an NHL contract.
Many detractors said Arizona’s decision to select Liam Kirk 189th overall in the 2018 NHL Entry draft was nothing more than a publicity stunt.
They also said the Peterborough Petes only selected Kirk in the CHL import draft because of the Sheffield connection.
Those naysayers have been made to eat humble pie with the news from his agent that the 21-year-old forward has signed a three-year NHL Entry Level contract with the Arizona Coyotes.
The first English-born and trained player to be selected in the NHL Entry Draft has repeated the trick in signing an NHL ELC.
Many in the hockey world are delighted for the former Peterborough Petes winger.
It’s been quite a whirlwind this week with talks seemingly picking up pace after Elliotte Friedman wrote in his ‘31 Thoughts’ article that Arizona had permitted other NHL teams to speak with Liam.
This now seems a bizarre decision given that they’ve penned Kirk to a three-year deal within a couple of days.
According to Craig Morgan, this isn’t a sign-to-trade deal either, which was speculated.
It seems that his performances at the World Championships hastened other NHL team’s interest whilst it sparked the Arizona Coyotes into realising they owned a prospect with potential.
Quite what might have happened had Kirk hit a few posts, been struck down by an injury or missed the World Championships entirely, is a question we’ll never know the answer to.
It would appear unlikely that he’d have been putting pen to paper on an NHL contract so soon, however.
So what next for #14?
After spending the summer working out, Kirk will be invited to the Arizona Coyotes training camp where he’ll be assessed.
From there the 21-year-old will be placed with one of Arizona’s affiliates of which there are two options.
The Tucson Roadrunners (Arizona) of the American Hockey League or the ECHL with Rapid City Rush (South Dakota).
It’s uncertain what shape the hockey landscape will take come September/October but I would not be shocked if Kirk is initially assigned to the ECHL.
That will be an opportunity to play top-line minutes, on special teams, acclimatise to the North American style and then impress enough to earn a call-up to the AHL.
That’s not to say that the British forward can’t or won’t start in the American League and if he makes a strong impression in camp the likelihood is he’s afforded that opportunity.
As he’s shown through his career to date, it’s folly to underestimate or write off Liam Kirk.
The Yorkshire lad who grew up in a former mining town and a part of the world more known for rugby and football is now a legitimate NHL prospect.
But this is only the beginning of the story with plenty more pages of the book to be written.
UK Hockey Blog 