Western New York native Adam Clendening is heading to the desert. On Saturday the unrestricted free agent defensemen from Niagara Falls signed a one-year, one-way deal with the Arizona Coyotes worth $650,000.
"Depth wise the fit seems to be right," Clendening said over the phone on Saturday. "There's an opportunity there with the way they play."
Can confirm WNY native Adam Clendening is heading to Arizona (as @FriedgeHNIC reported).
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) July 1, 2017
Clendening, 24, spent last season with the New York Rangers, appearing in 31 games. Despite the limited playing time, Clendening finished the year with two goals and nine assists, along with a plus-three plus/minus rating.
"They're [Arizona] a very analytic team and my numbers are pretty good," Clendening added.
Arizona will become Clendening's seventh team since he was drafted in the second round of the 2011 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. In 81 career games, Clendening has four goals, 18 assists, and 22 points. For Clendening, it's another move, but it's one he's excited about.
"[It's an] opportunity to try and play every night and really take the next step in becoming an everyday player," Clendening said. "I think I can help the blue line and produce offensively for a team with a lot of young talent, that wants to keep the puck and make plays and their style of play seems to be a good fit."
Clendening will return home when the Coyotes take on the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
