Following swift ascent, Coyotes' Perlini isn't slowing down

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- As Arizona Coyotes left wing Brendan Perlini got off the bench for his first shift Tuesday against the Kings, he saw a stark contrast in his linemates.

To his right: fellow 20-year-old rookie Christian Dvorak. To the far right: Shane Doan, 40, who broke into the NHL before Perlini and Dvorak were born.

While Doan has long been the face of the franchise, Perlini and Dvorak represent the future of the Coyotes. Dvorak has been a mainstay with the NHL club throughout his first season, but Perlini's emergence has been more explosive. After he started the season with the AHL's Tucson Roadrunners, Perlini quickly used his goal-scoring ability to earn a December call-up. Outside of a quick trip down I-10 during Arizona's bye week, he's stuck around since.

"It's not even like shock, really, but sometimes during the day you go like, 'Wow,'" Perlini of his NHL transition. "I still don't think it's really sunk in that I get to come to the rink and play hockey for a living every day."

He's tallied eight goals -- just three off the team lead. The Coyotes need the scoring punch, as Radim Vrbata and Tobias Reider's team-leading 11 goals each mark the lowest goal total for a team leader in the NHL.

Entering Wednesday, only the Colorado Avalanche, with 94 goals, have fewer goals scored than the Coyotes (106).

Perlini's eight goals eclipse Doan's total for his entire rookie season in 1995-96 with Winnipeg (in 74 games). Doan didn't score double-digit goals until he registered 26 in his fifth season.

Perlini's developed so well that he recently moved to the second line. His confidence remains high even as he works to figure out the game at his highest level.

"I realized these guys in the league are humans," Perlini said. "The best players, they're normal people like you. They're nothing special. Once you get that through your brain, you treat it like a normal game. I think I can be better than some of these guys, and that's the way you have to think."

Perlini said the main adjustment comes at the practice rink. In the AHL, there tends to be more time for practice than in the NHL. To combat this, he spends extra time after each practice working on an aspect of his game. His biggest focus? Skating.

"I think you can never be a good enough skater," he said. "The league is so fast now. If you're not working on your skating, you'll fall behind."

Coyotes assistant coach John Slaney said he's encouraged by Perlini's progress thus far.

"There's no question he has quickness to get away from traffic," Slaney said. "If there is a 1-on-1 battle, he's quick enough to get away from it and that helps. That's the way the game is going. If he can work on maintaining his possession deep in the offensive zone, that'll really help his game.

"The biggest thing with these guys right now is just being able to move their feet. You have to be active in the game, and if you're not, you're going to get exposed."

The pairing of Perlini and Dvorak began in the minors. After excelling in the juniors, each were called up for a crucial playoff run with the AHL's Portland Pirates -- then the Coyotes' affiliate -- in 2015.

Slaney, then an assistant coach with the Pirates, remembers it well.

"You couldn't really tell that they came from juniors, which was nice," Slaney said. "Then (Dvorak) had a really nice year last year, and it's carried over. They're 20 years old and playing against men, so it's really nice to see them come up from the minors and turning them into pros."

Unlike in basketball or baseball, hockey allows players to flow easily between pro teams and developmental (junior) teams. After the playoff run, Dvorak spent the last season with the OHL London Knights. Perlini spent last season with the OHL Niagara IceDogs.

Perlini, along with Dvorak, has received mentorship from Doan, in his 21st NHL season.

"It's important for Shane to help out with the young kids, and he's done a great job of that over his career," Slaney said. "Shane is such a great guy, and he just loves the game of hockey. He's 40 years old, but he wants to pass the game on."

Doan joined the franchise two decades ago as a young, talented winger.

The Coyotes hope Perlini follows a similar career trajectory.