{"id":26611,"date":"2018-04-06T15:35:09","date_gmt":"2018-04-06T19:35:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=26611"},"modified":"2018-04-06T15:35:09","modified_gmt":"2018-04-06T19:35:09","slug":"arizona-coyotes-sign-antti-raanta-to-contract-extension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2018\/04\/06\/arizona-coyotes-sign-antti-raanta-to-contract-extension\/","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Coyotes Sign Antti Raanta to Contract Extension"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Arizona\u00a0Coyotes<\/a>\u00a0announced today that they have signed goaltender Antti Raanta<\/a><\/strong> to a three-year contract extension worth $12.75 million. It carries an AAV or cap hit of $4.25 million per season, and runs through the 2020-21 season.<\/p>\n

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Antti Raanta<\/a>\u2019s three-year extension with ARI has an AAV of $4.25M.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) April 6, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Antti Raanta Signs Contract Extension With the Arizona Coyotes<\/h1>\n

The Coyotes acquired Raanta, along with Derek Stepan<\/a><\/strong> in a 2017 Draft Day trade<\/a> with the New York Rangers<\/a>. They gave up the seventh overall pick in the draft as well as defenseman Anthony DeAngelo<\/a><\/strong>. When the Coyotes dealt Mike Smith<\/a><\/strong> to the Calgary Flames<\/a>, Raanta became their number one goaltender. It was the first time he was granted such a role, after stints as a back up in New York, and with the Chicago Blackhawks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Raanta went 21-16-6 for the Coyotes, while putting up a 2.24 goals against average and .930 save percentage in 46 games this season. Over his five-year NHL career, he has gone 68-39-15 with a 2.30 goals against average, and a .922 save percentage. Raanta was originally signed by the Blackhawks as an undrafted European free agent, prior to the 2013-14 season. The Finnish native previously played for Assat Pori.<\/p>\n

Raanta\u2019s agent, Kevin Epp, told Arizona Sports<\/a> last month there was interest on both sides to get a deal done rather than test the market.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen they traded for him it was to be the No. 1 and then obviously the injury and the setback was difficult for everyone,\u201d Epp said. \u201cIt\u2019s easy for teams and organizations to sour on a guy because they are not getting the results but it\u2019s not really based on merit. Getting injured, I don\u2019t think anybody planned that. It\u2019s great that they stuck with him and it\u2019s even better that he\u2019s come back strong and healthy and almost started like it was a new season.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking Ahead<\/h2>\n

Raanta is likely to split the net next season with Darcy Kuemper<\/a><\/strong>. The Coyotes made a trade deadline day move to acquire Kuemper from the Los Angeles Kings<\/a>\u00a0and also signed him to a contract extension.\u00a0 The moves mean that the Coyotes are set between the pipes for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>