Coyotes place Adam Clendening on waivers, Dakota Mermis to make debut
Nov 2, 2017, 9:30 AM | Updated: 11:28 am
Detroit Red Wings left wing Justin Abdelkader (8) drives past Arizona Coyotes defenseman Adam Clendening (5) in front of Coyotes goalie Antti Raanta (32) in the first period during an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
The Arizona Coyotes have placed defenseman Adam Clendening on waivers, according to 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s Craig Morgan.
Coyotes have placed defenseman Adam Clendening on waivers.
— Craig Morgan (@craigsmorgan) November 2, 2017
Additionally, defenseman Dakota Mermis — who was called up on Wednesday — will make his NHL debut on Thursday night against the Buffalo Sabres.
Coyotes D Nik Hjalmarsson will not play tonight vs. Buffalo. With D Adam Clendening on waivers, D Dakota Mermis will make his NHL debut.
— Craig Morgan (@craigsmorgan) November 2, 2017
Mermis has one goal and two assists in seven games with the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners this season.
Because Clendening is on a one-way contract, he is not eligible to go to the AHL until he clears waivers.
Clendening, 25, has played in five games with the Coyotes this season, notching two assists and no goals with a -1 plus-minus rating. He has averaged 15:56 TOI and played with defensive partners that have included, at times, Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
His contract is reportedly for one-year at $650,000.
The Coyotes are already missing defensemen Niklas Hjalmarsson (day-to-day, upper-body) and Jakob Chychrun (IR — knee) to injuries. In the wake of Hjalmarsson’s injury earlier this week, the Coyotes recalled defenseman Joel Hanley, and on Wednesday re-assigned Hanley and recalled Dakota Mermis.
The Coyotes mark Clendening’s sixth NHL team in parts of four seasons. He’s previously played for the Blackhawks, Canucks, Penguins, Oilers and Rangers.
