Top 25 under 25: Christian Dvorak is just getting started at #4

4- Christian Dvorak- Center

Where Did He Come From?

Drafted 58th overall (2nd Round) in 2014 by the Arizona Coyotes, with the pick acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for David Rundblad and Mathieu Brisebois.

Rank in last year’s 21 under 21? 1

Has He Played in the NHL?: Yes

About Dvorak:

Christian Dvorak got off to a slow start in his first year in the NHL. In fact he was supposed to be sent to the Tucson Roadrunners twice. In both cases he was recalled before playing an AHL game, when veteran Coyotes centers Martin Hanzal and Brad Richardson were injured on November 1st and November 17th, respectively. By the end of the season Dvorak had come into his own, leading the team’s rookies in games played, goals and assists. In his last 39 games Dvorak was averaging 17:30 minutes a night on the top line and he was also playing in all situations. He even managed to break a franchise record by winning a face-off against the player who held that record for 10 years.

Dvorak is no stranger to slow starts. When he first joined the London Knights he only scored 14 points in an injury-shortened season of 33 games. But over the next two seasons he scored 230 points was named co-captain of the team, won an OHL championship, the Memorial Cup and was a coin flip away from being named MVP. It would be premature to expect similar results in his sophomore season in the NHL, but one thing that can be counted on is that Dvorak is working on getting better. He admitted as much in an end of the season article by AZCentral reporter Sarah McLellan.

What does the future hold for Dvorak?:

Dvorak is considered one of the bright spots in the Coyotes future. He plays a critical position at center and has the potential to be a great two-way center. At the moment it’s unclear if he’ll be in the top six or the middle six. No matter where he land in the line up he’ll be able to handle it. In just one season he’s displayed defensive responsibility, an aptitude for winning face-offs, and he can actually score.

Now that he has proven he can be successful at the NHL level there should be little doubt that he will be part of the core of players that will lead the team in the next few years. The only question is just how high in the depth chart will he be able to climb?