Desert Rat

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP)—Daniel Carcillo, who led the NHL in penalty minutes as a rookie last season, was re-signed to a two-year contract Tuesday by the Phoenix Coyotes.

Carcillo, a 23-year-old left winger, had 13 goals, 11 assists and 324 penalty minutes in 57 games.

He became the first rookie in NHL history to have more than 300 penalty minutes and 15 points in one season.

Carcillo, a third-round draft pick of Pittsburgh in 2003, was acquired from the Penguins in February 2007.

He had five goals in the season’s final two games, including a hat trick against Dallas on April 4.

Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said Carcillo “is a key member of our team who brings a unique combination of toughness, speed and skill to the lineup.”

That is a relief. I was fearing some team would swoop in and snatch the RFA away, but Daniel Carschnitzel will be back. The initiative to make him more of a goal scorer makes ya wonder a little. It's like trying to train a pit bull to be a seeing-eye dog.

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