ARIZONA COYOTES
Coyotes sign forward Mario Kempe to one-year, two-way contract
May 28, 2018, 2:37 PM
Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard (35) stops a Arizona Coyotes right wing Mario Kempe, of Sweden, (29) shot as Nick Jensen (3) defends in the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The Arizona Coyotes announced Monday that they have signed forward Mario Kempe to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2018-19 season.
“We are pleased to re-sign Mario to a one-year extension,” Coyotes general manager John Chayka said in a release. “Mario is a versatile player with good speed and skill. We’re looking forward to a competitive training camp for the upcoming season.”
The 29-year-old Kempe was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the fifth round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, but spent the majority of his career in Sweden, where he was born.
Kempe was signed by the Coyotes in May of 2017, starting the season with the Tucson Roadrunners before he was recalled to the Coyotes in October.
The 6-foot, 185-pounder scored four points in 18 games in his first season in the NHL, but was sent back down to the Roadrunners to finish the season.
Kempe accounted for 37 points in 47 games for Tucson, and ranked fifth on the team in scoring.
In the Roadrunners’ nine playoff games, Kempe scored seven post-season points, which was the second-most on the team.
Per club policy, the terms of Kempe’s new contract with the Coyotes were not disclosed.
