As he peers down the bench in front of him left and right, surveying his options, Aaron Schneekloth goes with his gut.

No matter the situation, the Colorado Eagles coach knows No. 10 is the best man for the job.

“Zabs, you’re up.”

Casey Pierro-Zabotel hops the boards and does what’s expected of him. A coach’s best friend and the backbone of Colorado’s hockey club through the first month of the season.

“He’s every bit the player we thought he was,” Schneekloth said. “He plays in every situation, and essentially he’s the first guy over the boards for power play, penalty kill, when we need a goal, when we’re protecting a lead. He’s done a great job.”

Pierro-Zabotel has been the Eagles’ best player through the first 13 games of the season, as well as their steadiest, helping earn him player of the month honors from the league in October.

The veteran centerman ranks fifth in the ECHL with 17 points (four goals, 13 assists), but impresses his new club more with the workload he handles as its go-to player in each zone as well as at the face-off dot.

Doing everything well is a seemingly strange byproduct for a player whose mission each night is to do as little as possible.

“I think I just play a pretty simple game,” he said. “I like to control the puck and make good plays, and I play in the corners. I try to play a good, smart two-way game. It keeps me coming back every year.

“I just love the game, love playing hockey every day. This league gives me a chance to keep playing. I’ll play as long as I can. As long as my body lets me.”

A veteran of seven professional seasons, Pierro-Zabotel has no reason to change his formula. It’s a proven winner. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound center has 361 points in 419 career games in the ECHL, as well as an All-Star selection to his credit in 2013 when he produced 75 points in 66 games with Gwinnett.

Last season was the pinnacle of his career to date, helping lead the Allen Americans to another championship with 47 points in 58 contests, but 16 (seven goals) in 24 games during the postseason.

“He’s just a reliable player and an all-around impact player that you can count on,” said Eagles defenseman Matt Register, who helped Pierro-Zabotel and Allen win the Kelly Cup in 2016. “That’s really rare. He’s got a full package. He’s a responsible player and that’s a guy you love to have on your team. He’s a great teammate and a great guy as well. We’re happy he’s here because he makes an impact for us every night.”

Colorado general manager Chris Stewart and Schneekloth were familiar with Pierro-Zabotel’s career and ability and jumped at the chance to bring him to the Eagles, an organization he said he’d always been intrigued to play for, saying it has “exceeded expectations.”

Beyond his ability to perform on the ice, Schneekloth is hoping to benefit intangibly from Pierro-Zabotel’s presence on the team as well when it comes to the playoffs, where the club has yet to push beyond the first round of the postseason since moving to the ECHL in 2011-12.

“I’ve played in quite a few playoff games now, and I think I can bring that knowledge of what it takes to make it through every round,” Pierro-Zabotel said. “Every round is different and you have to adapt and battle through and hope for the best.”

Intangibles are really just part of the package with Pierro-Zabotel. He wears an “A” as an alternate captain for the Eagles despite this being his first year with the club, offering a calming influence to a team full of young players.

“Guys are very comfortable talking to him, whether it’s outside of hockey or something with our team,” Schneekloth said. “That’s why he’s got a letter on his jersey. He’s been great.”