Oct 10, 2008 - 1:36 PM
0 shoutsBy Zachary Ingraham PA SportsTicker Staff Writer
It takes a lot to impress "The Great One."
Rookie Kevin Porter did just that and, as a result, earned a spot on the Phoenix Coyotes' opening day roster.
The 22-year-old center should receive plenty of playing time, including some on the power play, when the Coyotes host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday in their season opener.
"He sees the ice so well," Phoenix coach Wayne Gretzky told the Arizona Republic. "He's good defensively, he's good offensively.
"I can play him at center or on the wing. We can use him on the point in the power play. He has so many intangibles that it just came down to being the right fit."
A fourth-round pick (119th overall) by the Coyotes in 2004, Porter comes to Phoenix with an impressive resume.
A University of Michigan product, Porter steadily improved during college and resisted the urge to leave early for the pros.
"I always wanted to play college hockey, and I knew Michigan was always the school," Porter said. "After my junior year, there was some discussion about turning pro, but I thought the right decision was to come back and go to school and finish my degree."
Porter's patience paid off. As a senior in 2007-08, he notched 33 goals and 63 points to capture the Hobey Baker Award, which is hockey's version of the Heisman Trophy.
"I think it worked out. I grew as a player. I became a lot better," Porter said. "I played center last year, so I think that helped my defensive game - my skating. So I think it was the right decision to stay four years."
Porter, who had four points - all assists - with a minus-3 rating in seven games with San Antonio of the American Hockey League last season, will have to continue improving for Phoenix, which is seeking its first playoff berth since 2002.
"It's one of those things where we know there are going to be growing pains with the inexperience," Coyotes general manager Don Maloney told the team's web site. "It's as much just the pace, tempo and strength as it is the cities and travel.
"Whether it's Kyle Turris or Kevin Porter coming out of a college season or Mikkel Boedker and Viktor Tikhonov being so young, we need them to be productive players. If they are, it's going to be a great season."
