Arizona Coyotes‘ 2nd year center Tyler Gaudet(32) has been enjoying some extended playing time with the parent club in his sophomore season.
After failing to record a point in two games during his rookie campaign, on two recalls he scored his first NHL goal plus added a couple of assists, while only skating roughly 10 minutes per contest in mostly an energy line role.
He has been doing pretty well in the face off circle and seen a good amount of time on the penalty kill, where his game seems to excel.
He’s a gritty, power forward-type presence on the ice and gets right in the face of opposing players without taking unnecessary penalty minutes, of which he has zero.
The still super-young undrafted 22-year old looks to be playing himself into a permanent spot up in the big league on the final year of his entry level contract.
He’ll definitely need to bring his all on a nightly basis to stay though.
Tyler Gaudet(32) Arizona Coyotes
Arizona Coyotes‘ undrafted rookie center Tyler Gaudet(32) has been proving he’s got sauce since he first laced ’em up.
He began as an 18-year old in the QMJHL with Gatineau Olympiques but was dropped back when he failed to produce as a youngster.
The unassumingly large 6’3″ 205 lbs. forward played a couple half seasons in the CCHL with Pembroke Lumber Kings working on his game and eventually signed with Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds a year after his demotion.
He was slow to start but picked it up big in his second campaign with the team scoring 26 goals and 35 assists in 65 OHL games with a +25 rating and continued his hot streak into 9 playoff contests with a pair of tallies and 6 helpers.
Despite earlier uneven play he managed to land himself on the radar of the Coyotes and was signed to a three-year entry level deal before turning pro at the end of 2013/2014.
Arriving for his first development and training camps, the 21-year old showed the big club he was ready to go with an impressive, accountable two-way style game he was developing.
He was reassigned to Portland Pirates at the start of the season and picked up right away.
In 29 AHL games he’s grabbed 4 goals and 4 assists with a +2 plus/minus while helping keeping the club in the picture.
His consistent play has earned him a recall to the NHL.
In his debut he skated 12 even strength shifts for 9:20 of total ice with one shot on net, one hit and was a -1 in the team’s 4-2 victory.
If he can land a spot on the roster, he is easily the type of player that can be great on the penalty kill and help out on the offense too.