Coyotes sign defenseman Jordan Oesterle to 2-year extension
Feb 20, 2019, 8:15 PM | Updated: Feb 21, 2019, 10:05 am
Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jordan Oesterle (82) and Columbus Blue Jackets center Riley Nash battle for the puck in the first period during an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
The Arizona Coyotes have signed defenseman Jordan Oesterle to a two-year contract extension, the team announced Wednesday.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the extension is worth an average annual value of $1.4 million.
Oesterle would have been an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
According to CapFriendly, Oesterle has a $650,000 cap hit this season.
“Jordan has been a great fit for our organization on and off the ice,” general manager John Chayka said in a press release. “His mobility and playmaking from the back end has really complemented our style of play well and we’re excited to have him committed long-term.”
The left-handed defenseman is on pace to set a career high in games played this season and has a career-high six goals with five assists in 51 contests this year.
Oesterle joined the Coyotes in an offseason trade from the Blackhawks that sent Marcus Kruger, Andrew Campbell, prospects Mackenzie Entwistle and Jordan Maletta and a 2019 fifth-round pick to Chicago. Arizona also acquired Vinnie Hinostroza and a third-round draft pick in that deal.
The 26-year-old has benefited this season from increased minutes as the Coyotes have been without defensemen Jakob Chychrun and Jason Demers at times.
The extension means that of the eight defenseman who have played almost all of the minutes on the blue line for the Coyotes this season, all are under contract through at least next season except for Ilya Lyubushkin, who is set to become a restricted free agent.
