Arizona Coyotes assign Michael Bunting to Tucson Roadrunners

Feb 15, 2019, 10:59 AM

Buffalo Sabres forward Johan Larsson (22) and Arizona Coyotes forward Michael Bunting (58) battle for position during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, in Buffalo N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

(AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

BY MATT LAYMAN

Arizona Sports

The Arizona Coyotes announced Friday that forward Michael Bunting was reassigned to the Tucson Roadrunners, a day after forward Brad Richardson was activated from IR and played in a game against the St. Louis Blues.

Multiple reports indicated Thursday that Bunting was placed on waivers. He is not waivers exempt, so he needed to clear waivers before the Coyotes could move him to their AHL affiliate.

Bunting, 23, has played five NHL games this year with one goal and no assists, averaging 9:33 time on ice.

In Tucson this season, the fourth-round pick in 2014 has appeared in 29 games and scored 11 goals with 15 assists and a plus-14 rating.

Richardson had been out with an injury since Jan. 10 but played 13:30 on Thursday night in his return. He registered two shots on goal and 1:29 on the penalty kill. He won 54 percent of his faceoffs as the Coyotes fell 4-0.

“You’re just trying to get back in there. It’s never easy,” Richardson said. “I’ve been skating for a month straight but it’s never easy when you’re getting back into game pace this time of year. So you’re just trying to get back in it. After the first, I felt pretty good. I’m still not where I want to be but hopefully in the next few games I get back up to speed.”

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St. Louis Blues defenseman Joel Edmundson (6) sends the puck past Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) for a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Blues defenseman Joel Edmundson (6) celebrates his goal against the Arizona Coyotes with center Ryan O'Reilly (90), right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91), left wing Zach Sanford (12), left wing Mackenzie MacEachern (62), center Ivan Barbashev (49), and center Robert Thomas (18) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) makes a save on a shot by Arizona Coyotes right wing Conor Garland (83) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) makes a save on a shot by St. Louis Blues left wing Pat Maroon (7) as Coyotes defenseman Kevin Connauton (44) applies pressure during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) sends the puck past Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper, left, for a goal as Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) watches during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) makes a save on a shot by Arizona Coyotes center Clayton Keller (9) as Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo (41) and center Ryan O'Reilly (90) try to block the shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson (4) sends St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) to the ice during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) celebrates a shutout win against the Arizona Coyotes with defenseman Robert Bortuzzo (41) and center Ivan Barbashev (49), after an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. The Blues won 4-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) gets hit on the helmet by St. Louis Blues left wing Alexander Steen (20) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. The Blues won 4-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper tries to get back up after being hit on the helmet by St. Louis Blues' Alexander Steen during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. The Blues won 4-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes right wing Conor Garland (83) tries to clear the puck as St. Louis Blues center Oskar Sundqvist (70) sits on the ice near Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper, back, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. The Blues won 4-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo (41) celebrates his goal against the Arizona Coyotes with left wing Pat Maroon during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. The Blues won 4-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes defenseman Kevin Connauton, front, sends St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn, back, to the ice during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. The Blues won 4-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Blues defenseman Vince Dunn (29) passes the puck as Arizona Coyotes center Jordan Weal (10) defends during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. The Blues defeated the Coyotes 4-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

St. Louis Blues left wing Jaden Schwartz (17) battles with Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun (6) for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. The Blues won 4-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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