Coyotes spotlight: Mikkel Boedker

When thinking of the future of the Phoenix Coyotes Mikkel Boedker is one name that definitely comes to mind. Pronounced BOdeKer the Danish phenom is the highest ever drafted NHL player from his Country.

Jan 4, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Phoenix Coyotes left wing Mikkel Boedker (89) scores on Philadelphia Flyers goalie Steve Mason (35) during the second period at Jobing.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

He currently is tied with Martin Hanzal for the team lead in goals with 14. Top 5 in points tied for 3rd with 32 total. He has a tremendous offensive punch and is very skilled in the offensive zone. He is one of the fastest players in the game, and he uses his wheels to create plenty of havoc when he’s on the ice. He also displays sound two-way instincts and can play either wing position effectively. The biggest issue with “Bods” is he doesn’t shoot the puck enough. He is no Ribeiro in that department but with all his skating, dangling, and rushes it would be nice to see him place some more missiles on targets.

Boedker has everything you could want in a star NHL player. Talented, good looking, frame for the game, and with the right line he could explode. With points in 6 of his last 8 games including 4 goals and 4 assists, Mikkel is poised to make a push toward the forefront. The jump in production could be attributed to more shots, a directive issued to Boedker by the coaching staff. “If he can get time and space to shoot it, he’s a dangerous player,” Tippett said. A switch in position also has helped. “He’s our leading scorer five-on-five,” Tippett said. “He’s around a lot of the play. He’s quietly chipping in some points. I think the move from left wing to right wing has been good for him. It just seems like he’s more comfortable over there and has the ability to do more things with the puck.”

In the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Bødker had a great showing, scoring two straight over-time winning goals in games 3 and 4 of the first round series against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Coyotes would go on to a franchise record setting playoff run to the Western Conference Finals, where the Coyotes lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings in five games. Bødker scored four goals and four assists during the Coyotes playoff run. (Wiki)

Coyotes locked up one of their top young scorers just before the start of training camp, signing left wing Mikkel Boedker to a two-year contract that averages $2.55 million per season.

A front-line forward who can play either wing, Boedker did not file for arbitration as a restricted free agent this summer, believing a deal with the Coyotes would get done before the start of training camp.

“I thought it was a fair deal,” Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said on Saturday. “He still has something to prove, show that he’s producing for us. He does that, he’ll get paid a lot more money. I thought it was a good deal for a good young player for us.”

We hope to HOWL for #89 for many years to come! His brother Mads sat behind me at the WHITEOUT!