Coyotes' Nagy Awarded One-Year Contract

[BGDDYKWL]

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Michael Barnett announced today that Coyotes left wing Ladislav Nagy has been awarded a one-year, $3.0 million contract by Arbiter Edwin H. Benn. Nagy will receive $3.0 million for the 2006-07 season.

"This means that Ladi will be in camp on time and ready to go,” said Barnett. “He's a huge piece of our club. At some point we'd like to lock him up on a multi-year deal, but for now this one-year award will work for both sides."

Nagy, 27, led the Coyotes with 41 assists in 2005-06 despite missing the final 29 games of the season with a knee injury. Following his last game of the season on Jan. 29, Nagy ranked 5th in the NHL in assists. The native of Saca, Slovakia also registered 56 points which was 3rd most on the team and one point short of a career high. The Coyotes compiled a record of 26-22-3 when Nagy was in their lineup last season.

Nagy was a runner-up for the NHL’s Offensive Player of the Month for December last season after posting 5 goals, 15 assists, and 20 points in 15 games during the month. The 5-foot-11, 192-pound forward recorded 5 points including 3 goals in an 8-4 Coyotes’ win over the future Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes on Dec. 3rd. The game marked both Nagy’s 2nd career hat trick and his 200th NHL career point.

Nagy was named to Team Slovakia for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, but was prevented from participating by his injury.

The Coyotes acquired Nagy from the St. Louis Blues along with Michal Handzus, Jeff Taffe and a 1st round choice in the 2002 Entry Draft (Ben Eager) in exchange for Keith Tkachuk on Mar. 13, 2001.

In 317 career NHL games with Phoenix and St. Louis, Nagy has compiled 94 goals, 136 assists, and 230 points.

Nagy was selected by St. Louis in the 7th round (177th overall) of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.

[BGDDYKWL]

Wow, as a Yotes fan, I'm very happy with this. Pretty good deal for them. As we all know, Briere was awarded $5 mil, and he's had 123 points over the past 2 seasons (130 games). Nagy's had 108 points in 106 games over that same span. I was afraid he'd be awarded much more than this. Now that the dust has settled, the Yotes were able to sign Comrie and Nagy for a mil more than Gomez alone. Good move IMO.

[Isles4life]

Ok, so Dumont and York only got a little bit less than Nagy who has been emerging as a top sniper? I really don't get these arbitrators.

[doaner]

I don't understand how people are puttting Nagy with Briere and others. Nagy has had two season ending injuries and has not completed a full season in a while. This is a fair ruling for Nagy. I wonder who we are going to trade now, though. The team is 3 mil higher then they wanted to be. Time will tell.

[HordiBrusk29]

Phoenix got extremely lucky here. I figured Nagy would get $4 million at the absolute minimum. Can't complain with this at all.

[canuck2]

I agree with the other signings I am suprised with his amount. Good for the Yotes. Nagy needs to stay healthy to put up bigger numbers.