New York Rangers' Keith Yandle returns to Arizona with fond memories of Coyotes

Only minutes after he was quarterbacking a power play – like he’s done so many times before inside Gila River Arena – Rangers defenseman Keith Yandle sat on the bench and peered up to the video board.

Highlights of his time with the Coyotes, goals and enthusiastic celebrations that spanned parts of nine seasons, flashed in a tribute to Yandle in his first game back in Arizona since he was traded to New York last March.

“Just being on this side of the rink is a little different,” Yandle told the media before the game.

Yandle, 29, crammed in plenty of memories in 558 regular-season games and another 27 in the playoffs. He twice led the team in points (2013 and 2013-14) and was the Coyotes’ top assist man three times (2010-11, 2013-14 and last season).

“He’s a great guy, and I think everybody misses him a lot," defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson said. "Obviously, that’s the sad part about getting traded and that’s part of the game, too. Obviously, I would love to have him on my team.”

Among defensemen in team history, Yandle ranks sixth in goals (65), fourth in assists (246) and fourth in points (311).

But individual accolades aren’t exactly what stand out now that he’s with another team.

“I remember playoffs in particular really being a crazy time,” Yandle recalled. “Even when we played Detroit two years and we lost, I remember the excitement around the building. It was amazing. Obviously, my first game here – I remember my last game. There’s so many memories, everything from the people that work here to the players. Everything.”

Before taking on the Coyotes, Yandle led all New York defensemen in points with seven while tying for the overall team lead in assists with six.

“He’s been playing well,” Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. “He’s coming along as far as defensive awareness and defensive responsibility. Not to take anything from Dave (Tippett) – Dave’s a great coach – but every team sometimes plays a little differently. It took Keith a little time to adjust to how we’re playing.

“I think he’s coming along fine with the puck and on our power play, he’s been picking it up. I think he’s only going to get better as we move forward.”

On a roll

After going pointless in four of his first five games, winger Mikkel Boedker has contributed in five of his last seven games entering action Saturday.

During that seven-game span, Boedker has nine points – four of which are goals. Against the Avalanche Thursday, he chipped in two assists.

“(Thursday) night was one of those games where you know he had some chances but after you go and watch it again, he was a good player,” Tippett said. “He continues to play well, and we need him to play well.”

Early impact

Defenseman Nicklas Grossmann’s two-goal performance Thursday wasn’t just the first two-goal game of his career. It was also the first time he’s scored two goals in the same month.

Grossmann has appeared to have had a seamless transition to the Coyotes since an offseason trade from the Flyers – not just on the ice where he’s averaging more than 18 minutes a night as one of the team’s premier shutdown defensemen but also in the locker room among his teammates.

Grossmann’s defensive partner, Connor Murphy, isn’t surprised.

Murphy’s dad, Gord, is an assistant with the Flyers and told Murphy what to expect from the 30-year-old Grossmann.

“My dad said nothing but good things about him and how much the guys liked him there,” Murphy said. “That made it easy for me to be able to approach him and talk to him before the season. He’s such a nice guy with everyone in the room. You would never guess that he just came here this year because he gets along with everyone.”

Reach the reporter at sarah.mclellan@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8276. Follow her at twitter.com/azc_mclellan.