Arizona Coyotes Sign Craig Cunningham To Two-Way Contract
The Arizona Coyotes announced that they have re-signed forward Craig Cunningham to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2016-17 season.
One day ahead of the announcement of their new AHL team name, the Arizona Coyotes have re-signed veteran forward Craig Cunningham to a two-way contract.
The 25-year-old Cunningham will be a nice returning piece for the new Tucson AHL franchise in it’s inaugural season.
He will also provide a little bit of veteran forward depth for Head Coach Dave Tippett in Glendale.
Here’s the Arizona Coyotes press release on the Cunningham re-signing:
"Arizona Coyotes General Manager John Chayka announced today that the Coyotes have signed forward Craig Cunningham to a one-year two-way contract. As per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed."
"The 25-year-old Cunningham registered 0-1-1 and two penalty minutes (PIM) in 10 games with the Coyotes last season. The 5-foot-10, 184-pound native of Trail, BC also collected 22-24-46 and 20 PIM in 61 games with the Springfield Falcons (AHL). Cunningham has recorded 3-5-8 in 63 career NHL games."
"He was originally drafted by the Boston Bruins in the fourth round (97th overall) in the 2010 Entry Draft."
His presence in Tucson next season cannot be overstated.
Craig Cunningham has scored twenty or more goals in four different seasons in the American Hockey League. While that scoring touch has not translated to the NHL level, he was one of the few bright spots on a struggling Springfield Falcons team in 2015-16.
With the (presumed) Roadrunners looking at dressing several of the Arizona Coyotes’ top prospects, Cunningham is a proven scorer who can take some of the burden off of players who will be expected to perform immediately.
It’s likely we’ll see Brendan Perlini and Conor Garland in Tucson to start the season, and potentially Christian Dvorak as well. The team around Cunningham will likely be improved, but they’ll be better for having him there.
With the influx of young prospects to the professional level, it will be interesting to see if or when Mr. Cunningham is called up to Glendale.
One would presume Dave Tippett and General Manager John Chayka would look to break in the youngsters for a couple of games if an injury arises and the kids are doing well in the AHL, so that may leave Cunningham on the outside looking in when it comes to more playing time with the Arizona Coyotes.
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Regardless, with the forward on a one-year two-way deal worth just $600,000, it’s a solid move by the Arizona Coyotes front office.