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PHOENIX - The title of "No. 1 center" was gifted to Mike Ribeiro upon his arrival last season, and although hierarchy and labels don't usually mesh with the all-for-one, one-for-all philosophy the Arizona Coyotes trumpet, it was an important distinction for a franchise that had tried for years to bolster its center-ice position.
But by the end of the season, the branding belonged to someone else.
Antoine Vermette was the team's best centerman, leading the Coyotes with 24 goals while being a two-way guru. And regardless of whether the Coyotes anoint him as such, Vermette enters this season as their top player up the middle.
"He's going to be a solid player this year," coach Dave Tippett said. "That's who he is — a solid player. He could be a 20-goal scorer and still have a good season, or he could be at 25 goals and have a good season, too. He does so many things other than score goals. It's wrong to assess him strictly on goal scoring."
The Coyotes' other centers can't be discredited. When healthy, Martin Hanzal can be a force offensively and defensively.
Sam Gagner, acquired via trade with the money the Coyotes saved by using a buyout on Ribeiro because of behavior issues, has the potential to be elite, and the likes of Joe Vitale and Kyle Chipchura fill important depth roles.
But Vermette has a proven track record, and as Ribeiro's effectiveness waned, Vermette's became magnified. He led all forwards in average ice time (19:12), and his 56.4 faceoff win percentage ranked in the top 10 in the NHL.
"I try to be consistent and have a positive impact," Vermette said. "It doesn't always translate to goals and points, but at the end of the day, you want to win and try and have an effect."
Expectations could amplify after a season like that, but Vermette isn't planning on changing his approach. He won't overthink what he's doing offensively, and his defensive responsibilities will remain a priority.
This workmanlike attitude also applies to his view on contract negotiations. Vermette is in the final year of the deal the Coyotes inherited from the Blue Jackets when the trade was consummated in 2012, and the Coyotes were allowed to work on an extension starting this summer.
If no deal gets done, Vermette will become a free agent July 1.
"It's cliche, but my job is to get ready and perform on the ice, and I certainly want to avoid that outside talk," he said.
But interest exists on both sides to hammer out a new contract. General Manager Don Maloney has been in talks with Vermette's agent, and Maloney expects communication to continue through training camp.
"It's early in the dialogue to see if there's a deal for us," Maloney said.
At 32, Vermette is still very much a member of the Coyotes, but his tenure in the league affords him options. Reliable and productive centers are hard to come by and could command a lucrative price tag.
But what also needs to be reconciled is the pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
Vermette wants to win, and the team's decision to strive for a playoff berth with this group instead of ushering in a youth movement matters to veterans like Vermette.
"For sure you want to hear those things, especially the stage of my career right now," he said.
The competition in the Western Conference hasn't made the Coyotes bid any easier, but their cause is better with Vermette in the mix. That impact isn't likely to shrink.
"He does a lot of things to help us win, and he feels like he's a valuable member of it," Tippett said. "A player feels like that, they usually respond. They usually play well."
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