Defenseman Adam Clendening has signed a deal with the Arizona Coyotes. He will earn $650,000 on a one year, one-way deal. Clendening has spent his young career with the Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers, and the New York Rangers.
Confirming #Coyotes have signed defenseman Adam Clendening to a one-year, $650,000 deal. This is a one-way contract.
— Sarah McLellan (@sarah__mclellan) July 1, 2017
Adam Clendening Signs with Arizona Coyotes
Adam Clendening was left un-signed by the New York Rangers this off-season after an uneven performance for the Blueshirts. Clendening earned 11 points in 31 games for the Rangers as they struggled to find functional defensive pairs all year long.
Clendening voiced his frustration about being scratched for call-up Steven Kampfer against the Tampa Bay Lightning back in March.
“Just when I thought I was getting my chance and looking to take advantage of my opportunity because of the couple of injuries—that you never want to see, but happen — I had the game Saturday where I think the stat line looked worse than it actually was,” said Clendening to the New York Post’s Larry Brooks on March 6th.
Clendening would continue to fight for his place all season. Clendening’s biggest game was January 7th. He scored two goals in a contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets, elevating the Rangers to a 5-4 victory. Clendening also stepped up when veteran defenseman Dan Girardi suffered a lower body injury late in the regular season. Clendening played a career-high of 31 games with the Rangers in the 2016-17 season.
The Western New York native earned 33 points in 38 games in his Sophomore year at Boston University. He signed with the Blackhawks after the NCAA season wrapped up. Two equally impressive years with the Rockford Icehogs, earning 46 and 59 points respectively, followed by a call-up from the Blackhawks.
Clendening’s two previous standard contracts were one year each and paid him $761,250 and $600,000 respectively.
Clendening has struggled to find his place in the NHL since playing his stellar years for the Boston University Terriers and the Rockford Icehogs. Bouncing to five teams by the 2015-16 season, Clendening’s problem could be his skating. Despite his ability to expertly move the puck, the NHL’s speed caught up with him quickly. Clendening must make skating a top priority as he works to improve this off-season.
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