Arizona Coyotes Recall Cunningham, Assign Gaudet
The Arizona Coyotes have recalled Craig Cunningham from the Springfield Falcons of the AHL. They have also assigned Tyler Gaudet back to their Springfield affiliate.
The Arizona Coyotes made a lot of roster moves yesterday beyond the trade’s involving Mikkel Boedker and Sergei Plotnikov.
One such move was the promotion of forward Craig Cunningham from their AHL affiliate in Springfield.
Due to Cunningham’s call-up, center Tyler Gaudet was returned to the Springfield Falcons in the transaction.
Gaudet had been filling in on the fourth line in place of Boyd Gordon who went down with an injury sustained from blocking a shot.
Here is the Arizona Coyotes’ press release:
"Arizona Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have recalled forward Craig Cunningham and assigned forward Tyler Gaudet to the Springfield Falcons, the club’s American Hockey League affiliate (AHL). The 25-year-old Cunningham has registered 17-17-34 and 16 penalty minutes (PIM) in 42 games with the Falcons this season. The 5-foot-10, 184-pound native of Trail, B.C. tallied an assist and averaged 9:58 of ice time in nine games with the Coyotes this season in three previous stints with the team. Cunningham was originally drafted by the Boston Bruins in the fourth round (97th overall) in the 2010 Entry Draft. The 22-year-old Gaudet has scored 1-2-3 in 14 games with the Coyotes this season."
Craig Cunningham was in the lineup for the Arizona Coyotes last night as they fell 6-0 to Pittsburgh in a very ugly affair. Cunningham skated on Kyle Chipchura‘s wing opposite new Coyotes’ acquisition Sergei Plotnikov on the fourth line.
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Cunningham was given only 11:08 of ice time in the loss to the Penguins, though he did deploy him for nearly a minute on the penalty kill.
The demotion of Tyler Gaudet implies that Boyd Gordon may be ready to return to the Coyotes’ lineup soon.
Tyler Gaudet has been talked about as the heir apparent to Gordon’s role as 4th line centerman. Gaudet’s 6’3 frame and younger legs will be allow the Coyotes to move on from Gordon whose contract expires at the end of this season.
It’s also worth noting that while Gordon makes $3M to play as a 4th line center for the Arizona Coyotes, Gaudet makes just $925,000 and is a restricted free agent at the end of 2015-16.
Next: Coyotes Trade Boedker To Avs For Tanguay And Prospects
In the meantime, it’ll be interesting to see if Cunningham remains in the lineup.
I would imagine he is very likely to lose his spot to Alex Tanguay on Thursday night at Gila River Arena.