Coyotes prospect profile: Henrik Samuelsson
When the Coyotes season began, general manager Don Maloney's expectation was that forward Henrik Samuelsson would be called up some time around the 40-game mark after a bit more seasoning with Portland of the AHL.
That didn't happen.
Samuelsson got a two-game, look-see while the Coyotes were on the East Coast in February and just happened to be playing the New York Rangers, for whom his father, Ulf, is an assistant coach. But when asked about Samuelsson's prospects for the remainder of the season, Maloney made it clear that the team's 2012 first-round pick (27th overall) wasn't ready for a longer look because he still needed to work on his skating.
That was reportedly a point of emphasis last summer as well, leading some to wonder if there's only so much progress Samuelsson can make in that area. Coyotes development coach Steve Sullivan doesn't think so.
"I think you can change your skating style," Sullivan said. "It isn't easy but you can make improvements on it.
"The game of hockey has evolved to where it's very much a speed game. The teams that are successful play a very fast tempo, straight north and south. I think the only thing lacking in Henrik's game is his footwork. He needs more time skating this summer, breaking down that stride and rebuilding it."
The rest of Samuelsson's game is what's keeping the Coyotes patient. In 56 games with Portland this season, Samuelsson has 13 goals and 32 assists, and as a junior the previous season, he led the Memorial Cup in scoring as his Edmonton Oil Kings won the title.
"He has really good hands and vision around the net and he makes very nice, small-area plays," Sullivan said. "He's good along the half wall and on the power play and he's not afraid to get gritty in front of the net so I'd say from the hash marks down, he is NHL ready."
COYOTES vs. AVALANCHE
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: Gila River Arena, Glendale
TV: FOX Sports Arizona
Season series: Colorado leads 2-0
Injuries: Arizona -- F Mikkel Boedker (splenectomy) Martin Hanzal (back surgery) are out for the season. Colorado -- F Nathan MacKinnon (broken foot) and F Jamie McGinn (back surgery) are out for the season. F Patrick Bordeleau (fractured kneecap), Joey Hishon (elbow, neck), D Erik Johnson (knee), D Ryan Wilson (shoulder) and F Jesse Winchester (concussion) are on injured reserve.
Quick facts: Colorado was six points behind Los Angeles for the final Western Conference playoff berth, entering play Wednesday. ... Former Coyotes Daniel Briere has been a health scratch three of the past seven games. ... Thirty-seven-year-old Jarome Iginla leads the Avs with 22 goals and 48 points.
Samuelsson worked on his skating over the summer with his dad. He also took power skating lessons with Rangers skating and skills coach, Mark Ciaccio, who used to work with the Coyotes. Samuelsson did quick-feet drills off the ice and he arrived in the Valley a month early for camp to work with new Coyotes strength and conditioning coach JP Major.
"The power skating wasn't anything too in-depth, but now that I see that it is hindering my ability to play in NHL it's something I really want to dig into this summer," Samuelsson said.
Sullivan said there are specific areas to target for the work to be done.
"I think he's missing on the opportunities for power," Sullivan said. "His feet come straight up and down instead of staying down and using the power in his legs. It's a technique that he needs to break down and change. He's a big boy who could get faster."
Samuelsson said he has arranged "to work my bag off" this summer with a power-skating instructor. In the meantime, he and brother Philip are preparing for the AHL playoffs. The Pirates, like Samuelsson, have caught fire after a sluggish start to the season with seven straight wins.
"I started off the season learning to adapt to the pro game," Samuelsson said. "I had to learn that I couldn't hold onto the puck as much as I could in juniors. There's not as much time -- the quickness of the game was a big step.
"But I feel like I'm playing my best hockey of the year now."
Samuelsson understands there are expectations associated with his draft status, but with just one season of pro hockey under his belt, he's not letting those expectations alter his approach.
"The way I look at is: I got a taste of the NHL in my first pro season and it was pretty cool," he said. "Obviously, I want more than that but I got a chance to see how hard it is, how fast and strong everyone is. It was a good way to find out how much I still need to do; how much more work I still have to do."
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