Arizona Coyotes sign Niklas Hjalmarsson to two-year extension

The Arizona Coyotes have officially signed defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson to a two-year contract extension, the team announced Sunday.

The deal had been verbally agreed upon last week, but it could not be signed until Sunday, the official start of NHL free agency per the CBA.

“Nik is an elite defenseman and a true professional on and off the ice,” Coyotes general manager John Chayka said in a release. “He has a great work ethic and is an excellent role model for our younger players. We’re thrilled to have him signed for the next three years.”

Hjalmarsson still has one-year remaining on his current contract that will provide a cap hit of $4.1 million.

But with the extension, he will earn an average annual salary of $5 million and will be under contract in Arizona through the 2020-21 season.

“I’m very happy about the contract extension,” Hjalmarsson said in a release. “We have a very good nucleus of young, talented players in Arizona and I’m looking forward to helping these players continue to grow and develop.

“The Coyotes have a very bright future and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Hjalmarsson, who had a shortened 2017-18 season due to injuries, played in 48 games, scoring nine points (one goal and eight assists).

The 31-year-old joins fellow defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who signed an eight-year contract extension on Sunday.

The signing of both means the Coyotes have all six of their defenseman under contract from last season.

Along with Hjalmarsson and Ekman-Larsson, the Coyotes will sign free agent winger Michael Grabner to a three-year deal worth $3.35 million annually, according to 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s Craig Morgan.

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