Arizona Coyotes sign forward Jean-Sebastien Dea to 2-year, 2-way contract
Jul 14, 2022, 11:44 AM
Jean-Sebastien Dea #15 of the Buffalo Sabres skates during an NHL game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on February 1, 2020 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)
(Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)
The Arizona Coyotes remained active in the free agency market on Thursday.
Arizona announced the signing of forward Jean-Sebastien Dea to a two-year, two-way contract.
The acquisition marks the eighth new Coyote in a two-day span after the team signed six free agents — half of which were two-way contracts — and traded for another player on Wednesday.
The Coyotes brought back forwards Laurent Dauphin and Bokondji Imama in addition to signing goaltender Jon Gillies to two-way contracts.
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Arizona also signed free agent forward Nick Bjugstad and defensemen Josh Brown and Troy Stecher to go along with acquiring defenseman Patrik Nemeth and two draft picks in a trade with the New York Rangers.
Dea, 28, has 33 games of NHL experience spread across six seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins (2016-19), New Jersey Devils (2018-19) and Buffalo Sabres (2019-21) after going undrafted and signing with the Pens in 2013.
The 5-foot-11, 174-pound forward has totaled seven points on five goals and two assists to go along with 14 penalty minutes in that span.
In the AHL, the 28-year-old Canadian has posted 130-161-291 and 316 PIM in 450 games.
Last season, Dea posted 26-26-52 and 42 penalty minutes in 70 regular-season games in addition to four goals and four assists (eight points) and six penalty minutes in 15 playoff games.
The forward’s 26 goals and his 52 points ranked first and second on the team, respectively.
Dea also has familiarity with Coyotes head coach Andre Tourigny, as he played under Tourigny from 2011-14 with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
