Arizona Coyotes Kyle Chipchura 4th Line Specialist
Arizona Coyotes Kyle Chipchura defines “Pack” mentality
Chipchura, 29 will be playing in his fourth season with the Arizona Coyotes. He is a fourth line specialist, who is listed as a center, but can play left wing as well. He may need to change positions this upcoming season, since the team already has Martin Hanzal, Antoine Vermette, Steve Downie, Max Domi, and Joe Vitale at center ice.
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Let’s just say it’s a bit clogged at the center ice position this year. Add in the third overall draft selection of Dylan Strome, who will be vying for a roster spot in training camp next month, and someone will need to change positions.
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Kyle is a very versatile player, who can fight, score, and kill penalties. Just what Head Coach Dave Tippett loves in a player he coaches. Chipchura knows he needs to contend for ice time, and he also knows if he doesn’t come to play every game, Coach Tippett is not afraid of sitting him down. It happened last season when he was placed on waivers. No other team picked him up, and it definitely motivated his performance on the ice.
Upon his return, he played with the fervor his Yotes teammates knew he possessed. He is a good locker room guy too, and was selected as an alternate captain last season after the trade deadline, which involved Keith Yandle’s departure.
Chipchura will not back down from a fight, as exhibited by his 82 minutes penalty minutes last season, the highest of his career while with the Coyotes.
He may have Joe Vitale playing right-wing on his line, along with newcomer John Scott. That will be one tough line.
Chipchura is no big time scorer, but gets the job done. He has become more proficient at winning face-offs the last two seasons, coming in at a respectable .528 percentage.
He signed as a free agent on July 1, 2011. That wound up being a good year to join the then Phoenix Coyotes, as they went to the Western Conference Finals against the eventual Cup champ L.A. Kings.
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