Arizona Coyotes prospect Christian Dvorak an emerging talent

One of the Coyotes' scouts from Chicago first tipped them off.

"This guy's a pretty good player," he said. "Make sure you have a look at him."

So early in the 2013-14 season when members of the organization took in London Knights games, they kept an eye on the rookie center playing limited minutes in a fourth-line role.

"You didn't get to see him much but when you saw him, you could see how smart he was and competitive he was and you could see some real good foundation in his game," Director of Amateur Scouting Tim Bernhardt said.

The knowledge the Coyotes banked on Christian Dvorak turned out to be invaluable.

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In December 2013, Dvorak tore his anterior cruciate ligament and the knee injury sidelined him until the following May, a cruel blow on the brink of his draft year.

But Dvorak impressed enough in those first few months of the season to warrant a second-round selection (58th overall) in 2014, and the Coyotes have yet to regret the decision.

"We didn't know he was going to be this good," Bernhardt said. "He's exceeded even those expectations. He's a very smart hockey player. It'd be a pretty good argument to say he's the smartest player in the entire Ontario Hockey League."

Had Dvorak remained healthy the entire 2013-14 campaign, Bernhardt believes he'd have been a first-round pick.

But after hearing a pop following an awkward hit in a Dec.14 game against the Erie Otters, Dvorak's career dipped in a different direction. He felt disappointment, for sure, about embarking on a lengthy rehab when he should have been increasing his draft stock, but he didn't mope.

He got to work.

"I didn't want to drag my head," Dvorak said. "I wanted to be motivated to come back as early as possible and as strong as possible, and I think I did that."

Dvorak rejoined the Knights in time for the Memorial Cup and had a strong showing last season, amassing 109 points (41 goals) in 66 games.

To the hockey world, he might not attract as much attention as some of the Coyotes' other prospects but Dvorak doesn't mind.

"I've always been more kind of a quiet person, so that's kind of why I like being under the radar a little bit," the 19-year-old said. "So I think that's where it comes from on the ice. I just try to play my game."

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Work ethic and commitment have been staples of Dvorak's approach since he started with the sport. As a 5-year-old, the Frankfort, Ill., native would wake up at 5 a.m. and skate at a nearby rink with his dad before going to school.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the details of the game are his strength. No doubt he can be a dynamic presence in the offensive zone, but he also has the hockey IQ to be responsible in his own end.

And after showing his progress this week at the Coyotes' annual prospect development camp, which wrapped Thursday, Coyotes followers can throw him in the category of up-and-comers vying for a roster spot.

Better yet, call him the dark horse.

"I don't think there's any major thing he has to work on," Bernhardt said. "He just needs experience. That's the main thing. He didn't play a lot of games that year (he was injured). He got a full season last year, but he's still a young kid that needs to experience and just keep playing against better competition so he can get better and better, which I'm fully confident that he will."