Arizona Coyotes Assign Laurent Dauphin To Springfield
Arizona Coyotes general manager Don Maloney announced this morning that Laurent Dauphin was being returned to the team’s AHL affiliate in Springfield. The move is likely being made to make room for the return of Martin Hanzal.
The Arizona Coyotes announced today that center Laurent Dauphin would be returning to the Springfield Falcons after playing in his first three career NHL games.
Dauphin did not see a whole ton of ice time (9:20 per night average) in his brief stint in Glendale and it was clear that he had a bit of the nerves and some seasoning to do on the defensive front, but he did get his moment to shine.
On the whole, though, Dauphin’s first trip up to the big show should do him a wealth of good as he has now seen up close and personal what is expected of him and his peers during the grind of the regular season.
To top off getting to skate on NHL ice for the first time, Laurent Dauphin scored his first NHL goal in Monday night’s 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks.
His goal was also assisted by fellow Springfield Falcons call-up Louis Domingue, which was also Domingue’s first NHL point. There was also this wonderful goal celebration:
I’d say it’s possible Flippers will have a little extra pep in his step the next time he walks into MassMutual Center.
The Return of Martin Hanzal
The other immediate takeaway from the move is that this almost surely means Martin Hanzal will return to the Coyotes lineup tomorrow night.
It’s hard to quantify how much the Arizona Coyotes have missed Martin Hanzal.
Though they have actually scored more goals per game with Hanzal on the shelf, his departure also saw a dip in production from several of the Coyotes prominent young players.
If Hanzal can get back on the ice and pick up anything resembling the pace he started the season with, it feels like a safe bet for the Coyotes to maintain their lofty position in the top 10 in the NHL for goals scored per game.
Next: What Is Martin Hanzal's Impact On Max Domi And Anthony Duclair?
Beyond the offensive jumpstart, both Hanzal and Boyd Gordon returning means the Yotes are once again dressing the four centers they started the season with for the first time since December 19th.
For an Arizona Coyotes team that has struggled in recent weeks with depth at the position, having #11 and #15 on the ice again is a welcome sight.