TEMPE, Ariz. -- Once in a while, the Arizona Coyotes' scouts get the chance to veer off the beaten path and watch games that don't attract a lot of attention. That was how Coyotes director of amateur scouting Tim Bernhardt discovered Patrick Kudla, who posted 13 goals and 66 points in 50 games with the Oakville Blades of the Ontario Junior Hockey League last season.
Sun Devils men's hockey coach Greg Powers had his own reasons for pursuing Kudla, a 20-year-old defenseman from Guelph, Ontario.
"When we were looking at building our program we knew we were going to have to find some older, uncommitted kids," Powers said. "In college hockey, they commit so young these days that it's hard to find those diamonds in the rough."
Powers' instincts were right with Kudla. The first night he watched Kudla play, Powers represented the only school in attendance. The next night, he had lots of company, and by the time the summer rolled around, the Coyotes had seen enough to select Kudla, 20, with their sixth-round pick (158th) overall.
"We couldn't believe how he controlled the play," Powers said. "The first night we watched him, he generated 26 good scoring chances. I offered him on the spot and I felt really good about our chances.
"Before I left Toronto, he had committed and that doesn't surprise me because he's a kid who knows what he wants and he genuinely wanted the opportunity to help build a program here."
Kudla will play with the Dubuque (Iowa) Fighting Saints of the United Stats Hockey League this season before enrolling at ASU for the 2017-18 season. Both opportunities have him brimming with excitement.
"The USHL is the best caliber of players you can get at the junior levels," Kudla said. "You see guys like (2016 first overall pick) Auston Matthews come out of that league and it's really the easiest transition from the USHL to college because of the style of play.
"With ASU, first and foremost, it's really cool that you can come in and be the tradition that players talk about later because it's a new program. Hopefully, they can put my name on the wall as one of the first guys that played an NHL game."
Aside from those eye-popping numbers Kudla put up last season, the thing that has Powers and the Coyotes most excited is Kudla's unknown ceiling. Kudla was a forward until two seasons ago so he is still learning the intricacies of the position.
"My first position was defense when I was like 5 or 6, but I wouldn't pass the puck enough so my coach said 'I can't have you back there,'" Kudla said, laughing. "I was a center most of my life, but I was mostly a shut-down guy who didn't put up many points so it helped to have that mentality when I switched to defense.
"It's kind of funny how my mentality has switched, though. As a defenseman, I have more of an offensive mentality. When the play is in front of me and I'm set up, I can visualize where everyone is on the ice and that really helps me create offense."
Kudla cites gap management, positioning in the defensive zone and trusting his backward skating as areas where he still needs improvement, but a strong early resume and an advanced emotional maturity brought on by difficult family circumstances have the Sun Devils and Coyotes brimming with anticipation.
"I think his ceiling is very high," Coyotes general manager John Chayka said. "He still needs to clean up some details in his game and this is a very hard position to play, but when you look at the progress he's made in just two years, you feel he was worth the gamble.
"A lot of times when you draft players in those rounds you might look for a safe pick that has a chance to play in the NHL, but I can find that type of player in free agency or in a trade. We're looking for big upside and we think Patrick Kudla has it."
Sun Devils men's hockey coach Greg Powers had his own reasons for pursuing Kudla, a 20-year-old defenseman from Guelph, Ontario.
"When we were looking at building our program we knew we were going to have to find some older, uncommitted kids," Powers said. "In college hockey, they commit so young these days that it's hard to find those diamonds in the rough."
Powers' instincts were right with Kudla. The first night he watched Kudla play, Powers represented the only school in attendance. The next night, he had lots of company, and by the time the summer rolled around, the Coyotes had seen enough to select Kudla, 20, with their sixth-round pick (158th) overall.
"We couldn't believe how he controlled the play," Powers said. "The first night we watched him, he generated 26 good scoring chances. I offered him on the spot and I felt really good about our chances.
"Before I left Toronto, he had committed and that doesn't surprise me because he's a kid who knows what he wants and he genuinely wanted the opportunity to help build a program here."
Kudla will play with the Dubuque (Iowa) Fighting Saints of the United Stats Hockey League this season before enrolling at ASU for the 2017-18 season. Both opportunities have him brimming with excitement.
"The USHL is the best caliber of players you can get at the junior levels," Kudla said. "You see guys like (2016 first overall pick) Auston Matthews come out of that league and it's really the easiest transition from the USHL to college because of the style of play.
"With ASU, first and foremost, it's really cool that you can come in and be the tradition that players talk about later because it's a new program. Hopefully, they can put my name on the wall as one of the first guys that played an NHL game."
Aside from those eye-popping numbers Kudla put up last season, the thing that has Powers and the Coyotes most excited is Kudla's unknown ceiling. Kudla was a forward until two seasons ago so he is still learning the intricacies of the position.
"My first position was defense when I was like 5 or 6, but I wouldn't pass the puck enough so my coach said 'I can't have you back there,'" Kudla said, laughing. "I was a center most of my life, but I was mostly a shut-down guy who didn't put up many points so it helped to have that mentality when I switched to defense.
"It's kind of funny how my mentality has switched, though. As a defenseman, I have more of an offensive mentality. When the play is in front of me and I'm set up, I can visualize where everyone is on the ice and that really helps me create offense."
Kudla cites gap management, positioning in the defensive zone and trusting his backward skating as areas where he still needs improvement, but a strong early resume and an advanced emotional maturity brought on by difficult family circumstances have the Sun Devils and Coyotes brimming with anticipation.
"I think his ceiling is very high," Coyotes general manager John Chayka said. "He still needs to clean up some details in his game and this is a very hard position to play, but when you look at the progress he's made in just two years, you feel he was worth the gamble.
"A lot of times when you draft players in those rounds you might look for a safe pick that has a chance to play in the NHL, but I can find that type of player in free agency or in a trade. We're looking for big upside and we think Patrick Kudla has it."