Boedker closes in. . . .
August 29th, 2008 by thewordbirdThe Coyotes have amassed an amazing dearth of up-and-coming talent. Mikkel Boedker, a newly drafted winger is poised to put himself ahead of the class and join the Phoneix front lines.
17) (LW) Mikkel Boedker – Phoenix Coyotes (5’11”, 201 lbs)
The Phoenix Coyotes set out to the 2008 Entry Draft with some very specific and realistic players in mind to engage. Most of the scouting services out there foretold that the likes of Mikkel Boedker would be around when Gretzky would take the stage in Ottawa. The native of Brandby, Denmark was beaming as he was interviewed by the press afterwards, but so was Gretzky. “He has an opportunity to play for the Coyotes next year….he’s a character guy who will fit in nicely with our organization.” GM Don Maloney was once a Kitchener Ranger himself and was present at many Kitchener games, scouting. The International Scouting Service had an assessment of Boedker, “….good puck pursuit, takes away time and space of the man with the puck well - takes a good angle on the man. Shifty and very agile – moves well in all directions. Moves the puck hard – finds the open man and gets the puck to him.”
Boedker kept the Kitchener Rangers’ (OHL) fans out of their seats last year with a constant forecheck and a gritty style of play that enhanced his outstanding passing and scoring abilities. Peter DeBoer, General Manager and Head Coach of Kitchener have likened Boedker’s spirit second only to Mike Richards in the character department. Most often on the second line for the OHL’s supreme team, Boedker deflected interest away from the top line and was instrumental in the team making the Memorial Cup Final. The young Dane’s 29 goals, 73 points and only 14 penalty-minutes during his only season in Kitchener were impressive, as were his 35 playoff points in 20 games.
Despite being added to a very deep prospect pool in Phoenix, the Coyotes’ Brass certainly feel that Mikkel can jump in right away and contribute. Playing with excellent talents up front and issuing Gretzky’s forecheck pursuit with two men in deep, things look bright for Boedker as a desert dog.
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Add this kid to a list that includes Hobey Baker winner Kevin Porter, Kyle Turris, Brett Maclean and Nick Ross. Coyotes fans should be excited for both now and the future.
Robin Keith Thompson
29 August 2008
