Steve Sullivan is in his first season with the Coyotes as the team’s Development Coach. He oversees all pro player development including working with coaches and players in the Coyotes’ minor league system. Recently, Steve spoke with ArizonaCoyotes.com to discuss the progress of the team’s top prospects:

Sullivan

PROSPECT: Tyler Gaudet

DRAFTED: Not drafted

CURRENT TEAM: Portland Pirates (AHL)

SULLY SAYS:



"Tyler Gaudet is a very smart two-way hockey player. He is a centerman, a big body, and very good on faceoffs."



"Tyler has come into his own a little later than most. He is a non-drafted hockey player that we signed out of Junior hockey. Talking to his junior coaches, they didn’t pick him up until his 18th year, so he is a little later and he is figuring out the game himself."



"He is so sound and structured with his defensive game and hopefully we can work on his offensive ability and scoring ability and get more chances for him. We are trying to work on his offensive side so he can become a great second line centerman and play against the other team’s top goal scorer and contribute on the offensive side. He has a little bit of work to do but it is great to see his development so far."

Tyler Gaudet. Photo by Getty Images.

"He is a player you can count on late in the game, and a great penalty killer. His hockey IQ is very high and he is definitely an NHL prospect and a player we will see in the NHL in the future."



"I watched his game when he was up in the NHL with us and I liked what I saw. He wasn’t quite ready yet to stick around, but I think it is just a matter of time. Like Henrik Samuelsson, they just need to go down and really learn the pro game and get a little more consistent. If they can do that at the American League level then they can stick around. It’s a big step from Junior to the American League and a much bigger step from the American to the NHL. It’s great he got a taste of it, and he understands what he needs to work on, and that the game is played at a much faster pace, but he is doing great so far."



"He is opening up doors and giving himself chances to improve himself because of the type of person he is. Whenever I am down at his practices, you see the time he is putting in to work on the craft and give himself a chance to be an NHLer."



