Last season, Keith Yandle scored the third most points of any defenseman in the NHL, registering 11 goals and 48 assists. The Phoenix Coyotes are going to reward him for it.
Yandle and the Yotes have agreed to a five-year contract that will pay Yandle a total of $26.25 million. Phoenix General manager Don Maloney confirmed the deal.
Yandle has spent his entire NHL career with the Coyotes after being picked in the fourth round in 2005. In 283 career NHL games, Yandle has 32 goals and 144 points.
Phoenix fans consider Yandle to be "arguably the best U.S. born defensemen in the NHL right now." Many even feel that he would be captain of the team if not for Shane Doan being ahead of him. With Tandle signed, Coyote fans can breathe easy knowing Yandle will be leading power play charges for them instead of someone else.
For more on what Yandle's signing means to the Phoenix Coyotes, check out Five For Howling.