One of my favorite players in the NHL is Antoine Vermette. In addition to having one of the cooler names in sports Vermette also looks a lot like Mike Kelso from the TV series That 70’s Show. What caught my attention about Vermette though was a video clip I saw of him during the Ottawa Senators skills competition.

Granted, if you go to a professional hockey practice and watch the individual skill, you will wonder why players like Matt “the Paralyzer” Hendricks scored only four goals and not 70 last season. The difference is, when you put nine other players on the ice that can skate just as fast, the one-on-one breakaway skills aren’t as useful.

Instead of becoming Rob Schremp and whining about playing defense and fore-checking, Vermette became one of the better two-way players in the league. You won’t find him among the league leaders for scoring, but he is always among the leaders in face-offs won, and seems to have found a good home in Phoenix.

After watching his career start spiraling downward in Columbus, Vermette was the Coyotes leading scorer during their improbable playoff run to the Western Conference Finals. Excellent on his skates, Vermette will feature prominently on all of the Phoenix special teams, and will look to replace some of the scoring lost with Ray Whitney signing in Dallas.

Vermette can be a legitimate offensive threat and is only a couple of years removed from a 27-goal, 65-point season in Columbus.  He will be a first or second line center and should get plenty of time with the top end players on the Coyotes. As an eight year veteran, Vermette will be counted on for his leadership in addition to his production on the ice.

Don’t expect an Art Ross trophy from the 30-year old Quebec native, but if you need to bump up some faceoff numbers, with a side helping of some solid offensive numbers, Antoine Vermette is your guy.