For many of the Coyotes' young defensemen, it just got even harder to crack the club's Opening Night roster.
The Coyotes announced on Wednesday that they had signed defenseman Kevin Connauton to a two-year contract, essentially solidifying the club's blue line for next season.
The deal is worth $2.75 million, has an average annual value of $1.375 and is pending league approval, according to multiple NHL sources. Connauton would have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Connauton posted a career-high 11 goals last season and finished among the top 100 in points among NHL defenseman despite ranking in the 200s in average ice time.