Coyotes will give Galchenyuk chance to play center

The Arizona Coyotes will give Alex Galchenyuk every chance to thrive at his natural position this season.

Last year, the 24-year-old failed to cement himself as a full-time center with the Montreal Canadiens.

However, Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet is prepared to give Galchenyuk the opportunity to play up the middle this season.

"I've communicated with Alex and he said he'd like to play center," Tocchet said, according to ArizonaCoyotes.com's Dave Vest. "I have no problem with a player who'd like to try something if he backs it up. So, I want to give him a chance at center if he wants to play it, and our coaching staff will try to give him the best possible help to play that center position. We'll see how that goes."

Galchenyuk noted that he's been preparing this offseason for such an opportunity.

"That's where my head is and what my goal is," Galchenyuk said. "I'm training really hard and preparing myself for it. I can't wait to get it started."

Despite the Canadiens' down 2017-18 campaign, Galchenyuk put up admirable numbers with 19 goals and 51 points in 82 games. The question now is: will a move to center help get him back to putting up 30 goals a season?