GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Coyotes coach Dave Tippett has a soft spot in his heart for players like Tyler Gaudet. As a checking forward whose best offensive output was 41 points, Tippett appreciates players who excel in what he calls the guts of the game.
"Size-wise and strength-wise, he's close to being an NHL player," Tippett said of Gaudet. "He's a penalty killer, a checker, a good shut-down center man. He's good on faceoffs. The one part of his game that needs to continue to grow is the offensive side where (he's) not just a one-dimensional checker."
That has been the point of emphasis for Gaudet in his first full season as a pro with Portland of the American Hockey League.
"My offensive game does need work," Gaudet said. "I need to work on my ability to use my size and skating and attack those one-on-one battles; attack defensemen and go to the net instead of shying away and making a pass."
Coyotes development coach Steve Sullivan understands why Gaudet does what he does.
"He's a very responsible defensive player, but he's almost too safe, defensively," Sullivan said. "He takes away some scoring opportunities for himself and his linemates because he doesn't want to make any mistakes.
"There's a fine line there, obviously, but he needs to get a little more offensive minded. More balance will come once that happens."
The Coyotes signed Gaudet to a three-year, entry-level deal in 2013, and he scored 26 goals and had 61 points in 65 games for Sault St. Marie of the OHL that season before finishing the year with two games in Portland.
In 59 games this year with the Pirates, he has six goals, 17 points and is a minus-1 while often being trusted to protect leads late in games.
"He's one of those guys who's a late bloomer," Sullivan said. "He only got a year and a half to two years of juniors under his belt between Quebec and the OHL, so he needs a little seasoning. He needs to get used to playing 80-plus games a year and being consistent."
Tippett agreed.
"He'll get more confidence by playing down there and getting put in more opportunities down there," he said. "(Offense is) an area where we want to see some growth in his game, but the thinking part and the size and the skating are all very strong, all trending the right way."
The skating, in particular, should serve Gaudet well at the next level as the NHL game gets faster and faster. It's an element he's been working on since he was 12, teaching at Kelly Reed Hockey & Power Skating in Hamilton, Ontario.
"That was my summer job," Gaudet said, laughing. "I remember going to Niagara Falls and Oakville and Burlington to teach. I've always been able to work at it so it's one of my strong suits but that doesn't mean I can't get better. I need to learn to use my skating on the offensive attack."
Tippett believes Gaudet's NHL future is as a third- or fourth-line center. The Coyotes have Joe Vitale under contract for two more years and Kyle Chipchura for one more, although Chipchura can also play the wing. Gaudet understands that, but he still sees opportunity with a team looking to get younger and faster, so he is comfortable with where the organization believes he fits for now.
"My ultimate goal is to be an NHL player so if at this point, that's the role they want me to play in, I want to embrace it," he said. "At the same time, I want to develop my game and be better offensively and not be stuck in that position. I want to be able to move up. I don't want to be satisfied staying in that role."
TYLER GAUDET
Team: Portland Pirates (AHL)
Age: 21
Height: 6-3
Weight: 205
Position: C
Shoots: Left
Drafted: Undrafted
2014-15 stats: 59 games, six goals, 17 points, 10 PIM.
Timeline: Gaudet will have a chance to challenge for a bottom-six role in training camp, but the safe bet is he will play another year in the AHL with some call-ups to test his NHL readiness.
Quote: "I think I have a good shot. I just need to utilize it a little more. I don't feel like I shoot enough in games so I'm trying to focus on getting three to five shots per game - quality shots not just pointless shots for the sake of shooting. And I'm trying to work on a quicker release. In today's game, you have a split second to release a shot at the right time, and sometimes I second-guess it."
Did You Know? Gaudet began the 2011-12 season with Gatineau of the QMJHL, but with just three goals and five points in 38 games, he had to go back to Junior A in Pembroke, Ontario. ... To make ends meet, Gaudet worked for Home Depot, rising at 4:20 a.m. to ride his bike to a nearly full work day before training at a gym before practice.
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