Sarah McLellan

azcentral sports

Despite having negotiations drag out almost the entire off-season, the two-year contract Coyotes winger Mikkel Boedker ultimately accepted days before training camp started last fall wasn't his top choice.

But before the Coyotes would willingly hand out more long-term security, and consequently more money, they needed to see better consistency from Boedker. And with Year 1 of that deal now in the books, Boedker only helped his case with the best offensive season of his career.

"Obviously, it's a weird feeling not signing until a couple days before camp, and it ended up being all right," he said. "I ended up signing two years, and I'm here now, so it ended up being good. But, obviously, you come in with some fuel in your system and want to prove to them it wasn't needed taking that long."

Boedker played in all 82 games and established career highs in goals (19), assists (32) and points (51). His consistency was also a marked improvement.

In 2013, Boedker had six goals and 18 points in the first 26 games of the season but only one goal and eight points in the final 22. That mismatch in output was likely one of the reasons the Coyotes were hesitant to offer more years in contract talks last summer, with Boedker instead accepting the two-year deal worth $5.1 million.

But this past season, he had 12 goals and 27 points through the first half and seven goals and 24 points in the second half.

"He took real positive steps," coach Dave Tippett said. "There's still steps for him to grow — his board work, his 200-foot game — there's areas of growth there. But he's gone from being a young player, a player who wasn't sure if he could do it, to a player who knows he can do it now, and he (has) good skill, committed, good teammate, all the things you like in a player."

The familiarity with center Antoine Vermette and captain Shane Doan seemed to help Boedker. The trio made for a powerful unit the last time the Coyotes were in the playoffs in 2012, and Tippett's decision to reunite that line for stretches this season was usually successful.

"We talk a lot on the bench," Boedker said.

"We try and help each other out as much as possible, and obviously Doaner's the big horse there. He's always trying to figure out ways we can make good plays, and Vermy is our working centerman, so it all fits in pretty well together."

When he lines up with Vermette and Doan, Boedker plays the left side, but he was very productive in the first half of the season when lining up as a right winger, his natural position.

Still, his versatility is an asset and another appealing quality he can sell in contract negotiations. The Coyotes can start hammering out an extension July 1, but Boedker could easily go the route of another short-term deal.

After next season, Boedker has only one more season of restricted free agency before he's eligible to become an unrestricted free agent. The lure of the open market may be tempting but for now, Boedker's focus continues to be on the ice.

"That 20-goal mark is definitely a goal of mine," he said. "So, yeah, some highs (this season) and some opportunities next year to come back and be even more hungry."