Coyotes' Tippett on Sam Gagner: 'We're hoping a change of scenery will do him good'

Sam Gagner may be better served by a jolt to his ego, but the Arizona Coyotes are hoping a new city will suffice in steadying his reclamation project. 

Head coach Dave Tippett believes that despite being discarded twice within a matter of hours last month, the Coyotes were left with a talent. 

"He's obviously a skilled player. He had a tough year, a couple of tough years, and we're hoping a change of scenery will do him good," Tippett told the Coyotes website. 

"He's got to come in and hopefully will establish himself as a real good NHL player, to use his skills to the best of his ability and play a real tight-checking game."

The 25-year-old will be playing for his sixth different NHL coach this season, but an entirely different one in Tippett. If he can acclimate to Arizona's check-first style, Gagner may be able to re-discover his scoring touch - much like the diminutive Ray Whitney did after being let go by the Carolina Hurricanes.