GLENDALE – Prospect Connor Murphy underwent a knee scope in the Valley on Monday afternoon to repair a torn meniscus he suffered last week during the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp In Lake Placid, N.Y.

Murphy, who will stay in Arizona for a few days to begin rehabilitation, is facing between two to four months of recovery time before he can resume playing.

The Coyotes selected Murphy, a defenseman, with the 20th overall pick the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and signed him to an entry-level contract earlier this month. He is slated to play the 2011-12 season for Sarnia of the Ontario Hockey League.

• The Coyotes have hired John Slaney, who played 55 games for Phoenix in 1997-98, to be an assistant coach for the Portland Pirates, the team’s new affiliate in the American Hockey League.

In addition to playing 268 NHL games, Slaney played more than 600 games in the AHL – including 37 for Portland from 1993-95 – after being picked ninth overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals. Until surpassed by Bryan Helmer last season, Slaney was the AHL’s all-time leading scorer among defensemen.

“This job is really exciting for me because I helped develop young players late in my playing career and now I get to do it full-time as an assistant coach,” Slaney said. “I’m excited to help young players get to the next level, and help them to understand that if they do get sent down (to the AHL) that it’s not the end of the world it’s just that they have to work a little harder to get back to where they want to be.”

Slaney spent the past four seasons playing in Europe.

“With his instincts and experience I think he will be a great addition to our staff in Portland,” Coyotes Assistant G.M. Brad Treliving said. “He’s got a wealth of information to share with our young players.”

• With a month to go before training camp starts, the Coyotes continue to negotiate new contracts with restricted free agent forwards Kyle Turris and Mikkel Boedker.

• The Coyotes are very close to completing an affiliation agreement with an ECHL team located back east. Look for an official announcement soon.

• Once again, the Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings will play a pair of rookie games as part of next month’s rookie training camps for both teams. This year’s games will be played in El Segundo, Calif. Complete details will be announced soon.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Reach Dave Vest at thedesertdogblog@phoenixcoyotes.com and follow him on Twitter @davest4yotes.
For information on upcoming Phoenix Coyotes games, please visit http://coyotes.nhl.com

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