Arizona Coyotes re-sign restricted free agent F Lawson Crouse
Jul 2, 2019, 10:03 AM | Updated: 10:06 am
Lawson Crouse #67 of the Arizona Coyotes reacts after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the first period of the NHL game at Gila River Arena on January 16, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Arizona Coyotes have re-signed restricted free agent forward Lawson Crouse to a three-year deal, the team announced Tuesday.
Crouse was one of a handful of restricted free agents for the Coyotes this offseason but the only regular member of the NHL roster from last season who was tendered a qualifying offer. The others were forwards Nick Cousins and Josh Archibald. They remain unsigned.
“We are very pleased to sign Lawson to a multi-year contract,” said GM John Chayka. “He had a very good season last year and really established himself as an NHL power forward. We look forward to having him in our lineup.”
Crouse played in his third NHL season last year, appearing in all but one of the Coyotes’ games and scoring 11 goals with 14 assists in the process. He averaged 12:57 time on ice in a bottom-six role but proved to be a responsible and physical forward on the wing. He had 288 hits, which was far-and-away the most on the team, as were his 67 penalty minutes.
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The 22-year-old was previously playing on his entry-level contract, which had a cap hit of $894,167, per CapFriendly.
The signing means the Coyotes have 12 forwards under contract for the 2019-20 season. A team would typically carry 13 or 14, so if 2018 first-round pick Barrett Hayton makes the roster out of training camp, there is likely only one roster spot left. That could perhaps be filled by one of the two forwards that were signed to two-way contracts on Monday, the first day of NHL free agency.
