Coyotes sign first-round pick Joseph to three-year contract

The Arizona Coyotes have signed their first-round pick from the most recent draft, defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph, to a three-year entry-level contract.

Terms of the deal weren’t given.

Joseph is an 18-year-old left-handed-shooting defenseman whom Arizona took with the 23rd overall selection in June. He’s currently the captain of the Charlottetown Islanders and has three goals and 18 assists in 23 games this season.

“He’s got the full package. He thinks the game very well. He’s a good skater with good skills,” assistant general manager Steve Sullivan told Arizona Sports’ Craig Morgan after Joseph was drafted. “He’s just a tall, slight player so it’s just a maturity thing. There are no major holes to his game. He just needs time to put on the weight and strength and he’ll have that time.”

Over the course of three seasons in Charlottetown, Joseph has 10 goals and 56 assists in 132 games.

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