Coyotes Re-Sign Andy Miele to One-Year Deal

The Phoenix Coyotes have announced that they have re-signed center Andy Miele to a one-year contract.  The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.  He was held pointless in seven games last season with the Coyotes.  He also appeared in 69 games with Portland of the AHL, scoring 16 goals and 38 assists for 54 points.  Not a bad depth signing for the Coyotes, as Miele has some offensive upside.  However, there's a good chance he will probably spilt next season between the Coyotes and the minors.

Coyotes Acquire Antoine Vermette from Blue Jackets

The Phoenix Coyotes added some offensive depth on Wednesday by acquiring center Antoine Vermette from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for goaltender Curtis McElhinney, a second round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft, and a fifth round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft. The fifth round pick can be bumped up to a fourth round pick if the Coyotes win a playoff series this year, while the second round pick originally belonged to the Ottawa Senators and was acquired in the Kyle Turris trade this past December. In 60 games this season with the Blue Jackets, Vermette had eight goals and 19 assists for 27 points. In two games with the Coyotes, McElhinney posted one win, a 1.67 GAA, and a .944 save percentage. He has also appeared in 25 games with Portland of the AHL, posting a 10-13-0 record, with a 3.07 GAA, and a .907 save percentage. A decent trade for the Coyotes, as Vermette will add a lot of two-way and offensive skill to their forward lines. He's also good on faceoffs and has lots of versatility, so he should be an excellent fit for the Coyotes. As for the Blue Jackets, they are now in rebuild mode and will likely be selling off more players in the future. McElhinney adds some experience in goal, but will not be a long-term solution, as he is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. The key for the Blue Jackets in this trade are the draft picks, which they will use to restock their team in what is expected to be a major rebuild.

Penguins Claim Cal O'Reilly Off Waivers from Coyotes

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Wednesday that they have claimed center Cal O'Reilly off re-entry waivers from the Phoenix Coyotes. He was acquired by Phoenix on October 28 from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. In 27 games this season with the Predators and Coyotes, he has two goals and four assists for six points. He also appeared in five games with Portland of the AHL, scoring one goal and one assist. Not a bad pick-up for the Penguins, as O'Reilly has some playmaking skill and offensive ability. He will provide some much needed depth at center with Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal both on injured reserve. Look for O'Reilly to play on either the third or fourth line.

Coyotes Claim Gilbert Brule Off Waivers from Oilers

The Phoenix Coyotes announced today that they have claimed center Gilbert Brule off re-entry waivers from the Edmonton Oilers. Phoenix will now be responsible for half of his $1.85 million salary. In 27 games this season with Edmonton's AHL affiliate in Oklahoma City, Brule has eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points. He has not appeared in an NHL game so far this season. Not a bad depth move for the Coyotes, as Brule has some playmaking ability and can play a physical game from time to time. However, inconsistency and injuries have dogged him throughout his NHL career and have kept from developing into the high-scoring forward he was projected to be when Columbus drafted him sixth overall in 2005. Perhaps the change of scenery can help Brule get his career back on track and improve his game.

Coyotes Re-Sign Kyle Turris to Two-Year Contract

The Phoenix Coyotes announced on Tuesday that they have re-signed center Kyle Turris to a two-year contract worth $2.8 million. The deal will pay him $1.2 million in the first year and $1.6 million in the second year. Turris, who had been a restricted free agent, and the Coyotes could not come to terms on a new deal this past summer, so the 22-year-old forward held out and refused to play this season. He had until December 1 to sign a new contract in order to be eligible to play in the NHL this season. It is rumored he was holding out for $3-4 million per season, but reportedly wants out of Phoenix. He had asked for a trade in late October, and at the time, Coyotes' GM Don Maloney stated that Turris would not be traded. In 65 games last season with the Coyotes, he had 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points. He also appeared in two games with San Antonio of the AHL, scoring one assist. More than likely, Turris is going to lose a great deal of respect from his teammates by holding out for so long and could end up on the trading block by season's end despite Maloney's desire to keep him. With only 46 points in 131 NHL games, Turris is not worth the $3-4 million he was reportedly asking for and wasted a lot of time and development by holding out for that much money. While he has the potential to become a scoring forward in the NHL, Turris will have to work very hard on the ice throughout this season and the next to show that he will be worth more money in two years.

Coyotes Sign Martin Hanzal to Five-Year Extension

The Phoenix Coyotes have announced that they have signed center Martin Hanzal to a five-year contract extension worth $15.5 million. The deal will average out to $3.1 million per season. In two games so far this season, he has one assist. In 61 games last season with the Coyotes, he had 16 goals and 10 assists for 26 points. Not a bad signing for the Coyotes, as Hanzal brings lots of two-way skill to the team at center. He also brings plenty of size, grit, and rugged play to the forward lines. His offensive game is still taking shape, so look for it to improve over the course of the contract.

Jets Claim Brett MacLean Off Waivers from Coyotes

The Winnipeg Jets have announced that they have claimed right wing Brett MacLean off waivers from the Phoenix Coyotes. He is pointless in only one game so far this season with the Jets. In 13 games last season with the Coyotes, he had two goals and one assist for three points. He also appeared in 51 games with San Antonio of the AHL, scoring 23 goals and 27 assists for 50 points. Not a bad pickup for the Jets, as MacLean has plenty of potential to become a scoring winger at the NHL level. He has plenty of two-way and scoring upside and is versatile enough to play at center. Look for him to stick with the Jets throughout the season.

Coyotes Sign Paul Bissonnette to Two-Year Extension

The Phoenix Coyotes announced on Wednesday that they have signed left wing Paul Bissonnette to a two-year contract extension worth $1.475 million. He would have been an unrestricted free agent next summer. In 48 games last season with the Coyotes, he had one goal and 71 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth signing for the Coyotes, as Bissonnette is a hard-working player on the ice who plays with lots of grit and toughness. Look for him to continue to fill the enforcer role over the next few seasons.

Coyotes Acquire Marc Cheverie from Panthers for Justin Bernhardt

The Phoenix Coyotes have announced that they have acquired goaltender Marc Cheverie from the Florida Panthers in exchange for center Justin Bernhardt. In 15 games last season with Rochester of the AHL, Cheverie posted a 2-7-1 record, with a 3.91 GAA and a .888 save percentage. He also appeared in 30 games with Cincinnati of the ECHL, posting a 13-9-5 record, three shutouts, a 3.11 GAA, and a .896 save percentage. Bernhardt played in 47 games last season with Las Vegas of the ECHL, scoring six goals and 19 assists for 25 points. This is really just a depth trade for both teams, as Cheverie and Bernhardt will likely spend all of next season in the minors.

Coyotes Acquire Daymond Langkow from Flames

The Calgary Flames announced today that they have traded center Daymond Langkow to the Phoenix Coyotes pending a physical. It is not known at this time what the Flames will receive in return. It will be his second stint with the Coyotes, where he played from 2001 to 2004. Langkow has one more year left on his current contract at $4.5 million. In four games last season with the Flames, he had one assist. He missed 78 games due to a fractured vertebra and was a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey this past season. In 1017 career NHL games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, and Calgary Flames, he has 259 goals and 383 assists for 642 points. For the Flames, this is really just a salary dumping move and will give them some salary cap space to help make trades throughout the upcoming season if needed. For the Coyotes, Langkow will bring some two-way skill and veteran depth to the club up the middle.

EDIT

The Calgary Flames will receive right wing Lee Stempniak in return if Langkow passes his physical. In all 82 games last season with the Coyotes, Stempniak had 19 goals and 19 assists for 38 points. He has one more year left on his current contract that will pay him $2.3 million. Stempniak will bring some offensive skill to the forward lines, especially on the power play, as well as some speed. Despite being a little inconsistent in his scoring, he should be a solid second or third line option for the Flames.

Coyotes Re-Sign Mikkel Boedker and Viktor Tikhonov

The Phoenix Coyotes have announced that they have re-signed right wing Mikkel Boedker to a two-year contract worth $2.2 million and left wing Viktor Tikhonov to a one-year, two-way contract. Boedker's deal will have an annual salary cap hit of $1.1 million, while the financial terms of Tikhonov's contract were not announced. In 34 games last season with the Coyotes, Boedker had four goals and 10 assists for 14 points. He also appeared in 36 games with San Antonio of the AHL, scoring 12 goals and 22 assists for 34 points. Tikhonov played in 60 games with San Antonio, scoring 10 goals and 23 assists for 33 points. He last played in the NHL during the 2008-09 season. These aren't bad signings for the Coyotes, as both players still have enough upside to secure at least top-nine roles with the team. Boedker has lots of speed, plenty of offense and two-way upside, and is versatile enough to play as a left wing, while Tikhonov has some two-way upside and scoring potential. However, both players were rushed to the NHL after they were drafted and have struggled as a result. After playing much of the past two seasons in the AHL, Boedker should be ready for a full-time spot on either the third or fourth line. Tikhonov will likely start the 2011-12 season in the minors, but could be among the first players called-up if injuries start to occur.

Coyotes Sign Patrick O'Sullivan to One-Year Deal

The Phoenix Coyotes have announced that they have signed left wing Patrick O'Sullivan to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay him $625,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level. In 31 games last season with the Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild, he had two goals and six assists for eight points. He also appeared in 36 games with Houston of the AHL, scoring 19 goals and 29 assists for 48 points. This is an okay depth signing for the Coyotes, as O'Sullivan will add some offensive depth to the forward lines. However, he has struggled with consistency in recent seasons and doesn't play with a lot of heart on the ice. More than likely, he will have to compete for a roster spot at training camp, and if he does secure a spot with the Coyotes, it will likely be on the fourth line.

Coyotes Add Oystrick, Arsene, Re-Sign Watkins

The Phoenix Coyotes have announced that they have signed defensemen Nathan Oystrick and Dean Arsene to one-year, two-way contracts and re-signed left wing Matt Watkins to a one-year, two-way contract. The financial terms of his deal were not disclosed, while Oystrick and Arsene will make $600,000 and $725,000, respectively. In nine games last season with the St. Louis Blues, Oystrick had one goal and two assists for three points. He also appeared in 61 games with Peoria of the AHL, scoring 15 goals and 30 assists for 45 points and 125 penalty minutes. Arsene played in 77 games last season with Peoria, scoring one goal and 10 assists for 11 points and 137 penalty minutes, while Watkins had 15 goals and 20 assists for 35 points in 64 games with San Antonio of the AHL. These are really just depth signings for the Coyotes, as all three players will likely spend all of next season in the minors. Although, it is possible Oystrick could see a little NHL action as an injury replacement on the Phoenix blueline.

Coyotes Sign Keith Yandle to Five-Year Contract

The Phoenix Coyotes have locked-up an important part of their future by re-signing defenseman Keith Yandle to a five-year contract worth $26.25 million. The deal will average $5.25 million per season. In all 82 games last season, he had 11 goals and 48 assists for 59 points. This is an excellent signing for the Coyotes, as Yandle has made great strides in his development over the past few seasons. He has excellent offensive skills on the blueline, is a very mobile player on the ice, plays with some grit, and is great on the power play. Look for him to get even better on the Phoenix blueline over the next five seasons.

Coyotes Sign Alexandre Bolduc to One-Year Contract

The Phoenix Coyotes have announced that they have signed center Alexandre Bolduc to a one-year, two-way contract worth $575,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level. In 24 games last season with the Vancouver Canucks, he had two goals and two assists for four points. He also appeared in 26 games with Manitoba of the AHL, scoring six goals and nine assists for 15 points. He missed 23 games early in the 2010-11 season with an ankle injury and 29 games later in the season with a shoulder injury. Not a bad depth signing for the Coyotes, as Bolduc will add some two-way skill and grit to the forward lines. Although, he will likely have to fight for a roster spot at training camp in September.

Coyotes Sign Radim Vrbata to Three-Year Deal

The Phoenix Coyotes have announced that they have re-signed right wing Radim Vrbata to a three-year contract worth $9 million. The deal will pay him $3 million per season. In 79 games last season, he had 19 goals and 29 assists for 48 points. Not a bad signing for the Coyotes, as Vrbata brings plenty of offensive depth to the wing. He has had a lot of success in Phoenix and has always put up decent numbers with the club. Look for him to continue to be one of the team's more reliable scorers over the next three years.

Coyotes Sign Raffi Torres, Boyd Gordon, Mike Smith

The Phoenix Coyotes announced a trio of signings on July 1 by inking left wing Raffi Torres to a two-year contract worth $3.5 million, center Boyd Gordon to a two-year contract worth $2.65 million, and goaltender Mike Smith to a two-year contract worth $4 million. Torres will be paid $1.75 million per season, Gordon will get $1.325 million each season, and Smith will make $2 million per season. In 80 games last season with the Vancouver Canucks, Torres had 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points and 78 penalty minutes. Gordon played in 60 games last season with the Washington Capitals, scoring three goals and six assists for nine points. In 22 games last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Smith posted a 13-6-1 record, one shutout, a 2.90 GAA, and a .899 save percentage. He missed 18 games with a knee injury. These aren't bad depth signings for the Coyotes, as all three players will bring plenty of depth to their respective positions. Torres brings some offensive skill to the team, as well as plenty of grit and toughness and some skill to the power play. He should be a good addition to the team. Gordon is a decent defensive forward who is excellent on the faceoff and is versatile enough to play on the wing. He doesn't have a lot of offensive ability and isn't a consistent scorer, so he will likely play on the third or fourth line next season. Smith brings plenty of veteran depth in goal, as well as lots of size, but is terribly inconsistent and prone to playing bad stretches of hockey. With Smith and Jason Labarbera set to be the goaltending tandem in Phoenix next season, the team is likely to struggle in goal given the consistency issues of both goalies.

Coyotes Sign Mathieu Beaudoin to One-Year Contract

According to the hockeynews.com, the Phoenix Coyotes have re-signed right wing Mathieu Beaudoin to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 63 games last season with San Antonio of the AHL, he had 21 goals and 30 assists for 51 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. This is really just a depth signing for the Coyotes, as Beaudoin will likely spend all of next season in the minors once again.

Coyotes Acquire Marc-Antoine Pouliot from Lightning

The Phoenix Coyotes announced on Saturday that they have acquired center Marc-Antoine Pouliot from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a seventh round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. The Lightning used the pick to select center Matthew Peca. Pouliot will be eligible for restricted free agency on July 1. In three games last season with the Lightning, he had no points. He also appeared in 69 games with Norfolk of the AHL, scoring 25 goals and 47 assists for 72 points. Not a bad depth move for the Coyotes, as Pouliot has some defensive skill and scoring upside despite struggling offensively at times. He could be a decent fourth line center for the team next season if he is successful in securing a roster spot.

Flyers Acquire Negotiating Rights to Ilya Bryzgalov

The Philadelphia Flyers announced on Tuesday night that they have acquired the negotiating rights to goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for the negotiating rights to right wing Matt Clackson, Philadelphia's third-round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft, and a conditional draft pick. The conditional pick will likely depend on whether the Flyers sign Bryzgalov to a contract or not. The move will now give Philadelphia negotiating rights to a new contract with the 30-year-old Russian goaltender until he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Coyotes will have the same opportunity with Clackson, as he will be a Group Six unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 68 games this past season with the Coyotes, Bryzgalov posted a 36-20-10 record, seven shutouts, a 2.48 GAA, and a .921 save percentage. Clackson appeared in 62 games this past season with Adirondack of the AHL, scoring one goal and three assists for four points and 118 penalty minutes. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. Not a bad trade for the Flyers if they can get Bryzgalov signed before July 1, as he will bring lots of depth, size, and talent in goal to the team. However, signing him to a contract will likely create salary cap problems for the team, which could require a trade to solve the problem. Also, signing Bryzgalov would make him their starting goalie, which will push Sergei Bobrovsky down the depth chart. It is possible Philadelphia could bring in Bryzgalov short-term to serve as a mentor to Bobrovsky so that he could potentially take over the starter's position in a couple seasons, but if he is signed long-term, it could result in an eventual trade of Bobrovsky down the road. Only time will tell if the Flyers will actually sign Bryzgalov or let him hit the free agent market on July 1. As for the Coyotes, if they sign Clackson, he will bring lots of grit and toughness to their lineup, but he doesn't really have a lot of offensive upside. Only time will tell if Phoenix will sign him to a contract.