Sarah McLellan

azcentral sports

ST. PAUL, Minn. – He had been with one organization — his first NHL address — for seven years before he was traded.

And although he had been a productive player before, the move didn't illicit immediate results.

Actually, he was with his new team for two weeks and hadn't contributed a single point.

This aptly describes center Sam Gagner's back story and transition to the Coyotes, but it also applies to coach Dave Tippett.

As a player, Tippett started his career with the Hartford Whalers, and a trade to the Washington Capitals wasn't an overnight fit.

"(General Manager) David Poile, after about two weeks, sat me down and said, 'Tip, just play,'

" Tippett recalled. "'You're thinking a lot. Just play.'"

The former player in Tippett certainly can empathize with Gagner's journey, but the coach is also eager to embrace some tangible contributions. So is Gagner, who enters Thursday's road game against the Wild on the heels of what he considered his best performance so far in a 4-3 shootout loss Tuesday in Nashville to the Predators.

He was held off the scoreboard, but his line, with wingers Martin Erat and Lauri Korpikoski, was active in the offensive zone — even adding a third-period power-play goal.

"It's the first time I've been through this before," Gagner said. "I feel like it's coming and dealing with the injury in preseason was a little frustrating for me and kind of took a little wind out of my sails. But I'm feeling better and better. I feel like our line was creating last game and building some chemistry. Hopefully we continue to find that (Thursday) and find a way to help us win a game."

The Coyotes, Tippett especially, understand that it'll take some time for Gagner to fully acclimate to the style and structure that the team expects, and Gagner has been particularly mindful of that because he believes a detail-oriented approach all over the ice will boost his two-way game.

But goals and assists are the barometers that have measured Gagner's success when he was with the Edmonton Oilers, and the Coyotes are waiting for that production to materialize.

"He's trying to figure things out, how he's going to be used, so is there an adjustment period? Yes there is," Tippett said. "But that being said, we're relying on him to be a good player for us, have an impact on games and we're hoping that he has more impact than he's had so far."

Surrounded by a slew of bonafide goal scorers in Edmonton, it was easy for Gagner to be the set-up man, and he's always had a tendency to look for the pass first. While the Coyotes are hoping to capitalize on that playmaking ability, they also want him to be on the finishing end of some plays.

With only nine shots through the first five games, Gagner recognizes he can be a little more selfish with the puck.

"You can create a lot of chances off just getting the puck to the net," he said. "It's something I've got to focus on, getting around the net and shooting the puck."

Five games is too short a span to make any lasting judgments. Still, Gagner expects to deliver and the fact he isn't shying away from that responsibility should be encouraging to the Coyotes.

"That's where my head's at now," Gagner said. "I've got to figure out a way to produce and just continue to create chances — and when you create, the numbers come. So I think that's the focus for me."

Ice chips

Captain Shane Doan took a maintenance day Wednesday and did not practice but is fine to play Thursday, Tippett said.

•Center Martin Hanzal, who is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, has not joined the team in Minnesota and has not skated yet, Tippett said.

Thursday's game

Coyotes at Wild

When: 5 p.m.

Where: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minn.

TV/radio: FSAZ/KTAR-AM (620).

Wild update: This is only the second home game of the season for the Wild and their fifth game in 15 days. Minnesota last played Sunday in Los Angeles, a 2-1 loss to the Kings. The team's 1.00 goals-against average is tops in the NHL, and goalie Darcy Kuemper has a 0.67 goals-against average and .972 save percentage. He'll get the start against the Coyotes. Up front, winger Zach Parise has two goals and two assists. After scoring eight goals in their first two games, the Wild have managed only two in their past two.