Coyotes Sign Adrian Aucoin

[Thrillhouse]

GLENDALE, ARIZONA -- Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have signed defenseman Adrian Aucoin to a one-year contract.

“We are excited to add Adrian Aucoin to our team,” said Maloney. “He is a defenseman who played over 22 minutes per game in Calgary last season. He is an intelligent puck-moving defenseman who will help improve our power play and bring leadership to our locker room.”

Aucoin, 35, registered 10-24-34 with 46 penalty minutes (PIM) in 81 games with the Calgary Flames last season. He ranked second among team defensemen in goals (10), assists (24), points (34), shots (126) and time on ice (22:17).

During the 2007-08 season, Aucoin finished second amongst Flames defensemen in goals (10), assists (25), points (35), third on the team in plus/minus (13) and fifth in power-play goals (5).

The 6-foot-2, 212-pound Aucoin has appeared in 851 career NHL games with Vancouver, Tampa Bay, New York Islanders, Chicago and Calgary, collecting 108-228-336 with 627 PIM. He also recorded 6-11-17 and 22 PIM in 40 career playoff games. Aucoin was named the Chicago Blackhawks captain during the 2006-07 campaign, collecting 4-12-16 in 59 games.

The native of Ottawa, Ontario also represented the Islanders in the 2004 NHL All Star Game.

[paint huffer]

Wow, the Yotes needed more of a veteran presence, so I really like this signing for them. Aucoin has rebounded nicely in Calgary after his Chicago days that didn't go so well, for his sake I hope he keeps it up in the desert.

[canuck2]

They've lost some good defenseman so it's good to see this happen.

[JKidd]

****... I wanted to see Aucoin land in Minny.

Still has a howitzer from the back end, still plays with a physical edge and can still clear the front of the net.

Good to see him out of the NW...

[canuckfan]

Good to see Aucoin land somewhere - he's had a couple solid seasons here in Calgary and despite the fact he was horribly overpaid, he did a good job here and remained remarkably healthy. Still, its probably pretty smart the Yotes gave him just the 1 year deal - can't wait to see how much it's worth.

Good luck, Adrian!

[R.Middleton]

Feels good to wake up to a good move.

[Isles4life]

Pretty good signing by Phoenix to add a solid veteran defenseman to their blueline. Aucoin was great for the Islanders several years ago, and turned that into a big pay day when he became a free agent, at which point his game dropped off and he was a pretty big disappointment. He more recently started to show some of the strong play that earned him some of that money in the first place. I'd be interested to know how much Phoenix is paying him, although cap room is not an issue for them.

[IhateLindros]

Way to miss out on this one Garth. We coulda used ol Adrian back on hte Island.

[HordiBrusk29]

Not a bad signing at $2.25 million. The Coyotes desperately needed to improve their defense and they've done that since the draft.

[JKidd]

Originally Posted by HordiBrusk29

Not a bad signing at $2.25 million. The Coyotes desperately needed to improve their defense and they've done that since the draft.

For that price, it makes me even more pissed off that Chuck didn't take a stab at him...

[dumby]

Originally Posted by HordiBrusk29

Not a bad signing at $2.25 million. The Coyotes desperately needed to improve their defense and they've done that since the draft.

I was curious as to the money, being as he made 4 million last season.