Sarah McLellan

azcentral sports

Coyotes brass seemed to be watching the action at this week's prospect development camp as much as the rosters that detailed the names and numbers of the 39 participants.

The three-day camp, which wrapped up Thursday at the Ice Den in Scottsdale, is much more about becoming familiar with new faces to the organization than grading the actual performances on the ice.

But the standouts were clear, and that reassured management that a small contingent of young players will be able to contend for roster spots in the fall at main training camp.

Winger Henrik Samuelsson is included in that group.

"He's got great hands," coach Dave Tippett said. "You watch him out there, hands-wise he's the most talented guy out here handling the puck, shooting the puck."

But the Coyotes have never had to worry about Samuelsson's offensive instincts. Actually, it's more likely that his skating that will determine how quickly he reaches the NHL.

This isn't news to Samuelsson. The Coyotes knew this would need to be an improvement in Samuelsson's play when he was at training camp last year, and when they shipped him back to Edmonton of the Western Hockey League, Samuelsson had that feedback ringing in his ears.

"I worked on it a lot this year," he said. "The coaches in Edmonton helped me out a lot, to keep on it and keep working at it. I feel like my skating improved quite a bit this year. If I want a spot on the Coyotes next year, I'm going to have to improve a lot more."

The Coyotes were impressed by Samuelsson this week, noticing how he seemed to be stronger on the puck. Because most players have yet to start their offseason training or are just at the beginning of it, Samuelsson still has plenty of time to progress even more.

That'll be a must for him to still be in the roster conversation come September.

"He's going from the boys league to the men's league," Tippett said, "and that'll be a big step for him."

Mix and match

Tippett hasn't started mulling line combinations just yet, but he has considered moving players from their natural positions.

Sam Gagner, acquired in a trade last month to fill the hole at center left by Mike Ribeiro after a buyout, actually could end up on the wing.

Asked who would become the team's fourth centerman, Tippett identified the ever-versatile Kyle Chipchura as a possibility.

"I watched two games on the flight down here (Monday), and Chip was one of our best players both games," Tippett said. "He was good. I'm not saying he's going to be the guy, but he could be an option."

Should he make the Coyotes roster, center Tyler Gaudet could be another player on the move to the wing.

"I've seen it happen before," Tippett said. "A player's a center his whole life, and he shows up to the NHL and is a winger. It happened to me, so I have a good memory of that."

Salary debate

Restricted free agent Brandon McMillan filed for salary arbitration last week, and General Manager Don Maloney said the dispute is over how much McMillan would make in the American Hockey League.

Last season, McMillan started the season with Portland but finished the season with the Coyotes, playing 22 games and tallying two goals and four assists, after a call-up in late February.

"We're going to sign him on a two-way contract," Maloney said. "It's just a little quibbling over how much we have to pay him in the minor league, so we expect that to get resolved."

Ice chips

The Coyotes hired former defenseman Nick Boynton to be the team's radio color analyst for the upcoming season.

Boynton played 11 seasons in the NHL and was with the Coyotes from 2006-08. He won a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010.

-Former Coyotes player Cale Hulse is also rejoining the organization, working as senior adviser for business development and alumni relations.