"Puck after puck, Coyotes forward Wojtek Wolski swiped his stick over the red dot, working on faceoffs during the summer.

He was preparing for a move to center, something the Coyotes coaching staff suggested after the departures of Matthew Lombardi and Robert Lang.

But with a jump in the depth chart at the center position near the conclusion of the summer, Wolski may start the season exactly where he ended it - at left wing.

"I don't really have a preference," Wolski said. "Doesn't matter. Wherever they put me, I have to make sure I play well. Whatever happens, I'll make the best of it."

When Lombardi signed as a free agent with the Nashville Predators on July 2 and the Coyotes opted not to bring back the veteran Lang, Wolski seemed like the obvious choice to transition to center if the Coyotes weren't successful in luring in a centerman via free agency or a trade. Not only has Wolski played center in juniors and sparingly with his former team, the Colorado Avalanche, but he adds a punch of skill that the Coyotes would like to feature on their first line.

In true Don Maloney fashion, the general manager plucked a steady, experienced center from the bed of free agents, signing Eric Belanger at a bargain price four days before camp officially started and adding former Vancouver Canucks center Kyle Wellwood on a tryout.

With Martin Hanzal and Vernon Fiddler already in the mix and youngster Kyle Turris garnering looks, a healthy competition ensued at training camp."