Coyotes sign Boyd Devereaux

Joe Moore · July 5th, 2004, 02:27 PM

Coyotes sign winger

David Vest
The Arizona Republic
July 5, 2004

The Coyotes have signed free-agent left wing Boyd Devereaux, the sixth overall pick in the 1996 draft, to a one-year contract plus a club option. Devereaux said his salary for next season will be $650,000. The deal also includes performance-based bonuses that could end up paying him $1.6 million over the two years.

Devereaux, 26, played the past four seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, including the 2001-02 season when they won the Stanley Cup. He has played 431 NHL games with Detroit and Edmonton, the team that drafted him. He has scored 38 goals and notched 71 assists in the league.

"Detroit is a very veteran-laden team and I enjoyed playing with all of those guys and learning from them and winning the Cup," Devereaux said. "'But Phoenix really appealed to me because of the youth of the team and the direction they’re going. I’m looking forward to being more vocal in the locker room than I’m accustomed to.”

Devereaux (6-feet-2, 195 pounds) has also played center while in the league.

"We believe that Boyd can take on a more expanded offensive role with our hockey club after having played alongside many future Hall of Famers in Detroit," Coyotes General Manager Mike Barnett said in a statement.

Devereaux’s best offensive season came in 1999-2000 when he set career highs in assists (19) and points (27) in his final season with Edmonton. He signed with the Red Wings in August of 2000.

krepitch · July 6th, 2004, 06:54 AM

Any rumors on who the defenseman to be signed today is?

Cland · July 6th, 2004, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krepitch

Any rumors on who the defenseman to be signed today is?

Sean Odonnell was signed to a 3 year deal. Great addition to our blueline. Hopefully he can do what just about no one has been able to do consistently in Phoenix...clear the front of the net.

krepitch · July 6th, 2004, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cland

Sean Odonnell was signed to a 3 year deal. Great addition to our blueline. Hopefully he can do what just about no one has been able to do consistently in Phoenix...clear the front of the net.

Thanks, Cland!

Cland · July 6th, 2004, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krepitch

Thanks, Cland!

No problem. I'm kind of surprised the Yotes have been this active before the CBA. This signing immediately addresses a huge weakness on our blueline though. And Devereaux is a solid 3rd/4th line grinder...and we got him to take a 50% pay cut.

Joe Moore · July 6th, 2004, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cland

Sean Odonnell was signed to a 3 year deal. Great addition to our blueline. Hopefully he can do what just about no one has been able to do consistently in Phoenix...clear the front of the net.

This is a very good signing. With the puckhandlers we have. We need a body to clear guys in front of the net. If he does his job this will greatly improve our defense. Good signing

KingLouieLouie · July 6th, 2004, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Moore

This is a very good signing. With the puckhandlers we have. We need a body to clear guys in front of the net. If he does his job this will greatly improve our defense. Good signing

I agree that it was a solid signing......I project O'Donnell to be paired with
Tanabe since the opposition wouldnt know how to counter that type of match-up......

Perhaps Morris/Hulse and Mara/Spiller will be the other defensive combinations...

And noone should underestimate the signing of Devereaux... I project if he receives 20+ minutes a game (and on the 3rd line) that he'll generate 15 goals and 40 assists....

All of this obviously is moot though until they resolve the CBA conflict

Cland · July 6th, 2004, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Moore

This is a very good signing. With the puckhandlers we have. We need a body to clear guys in front of the net. If he does his job this will greatly improve our defense. Good signing

I agree. We also moved Suchy today to Columbus for a higher pick in 05. That clears some room for Ference (not sure why) or even Ballard. Our defense is getting better, but still has a ways to go.

krepitch · July 6th, 2004, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingLouieLouie

I project O'Donnell to be paired with
Tanabe since the opposition wouldnt know how to counter that type of match-up......

How is Tanabe doing, anyway?

I hate when speed guys tear up their knees!

krepitch · July 6th, 2004, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cland

No problem. I'm kind of surprised the Yotes have been this active before the CBA. This signing immediately addresses a huge weakness on our blueline though. And Devereaux is a solid 3rd/4th line grinder...and we got him to take a 50% pay cut.

O'Donnell is an old Roadrunner!!! I knew that name sounded strangely familiar.

Alan · July 6th, 2004, 10:18 PM

I remember him now...

http://www.rgj.com/news/stories/sports/970121097.php

Cland · July 7th, 2004, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan

I remember him now...

http://www.rgj.com/news/stories/sports/970121097.php

I can't say I remember this incident. But I do remember Drake knocking out Devereaux a few years back when he was a Yote and Devereaux was an Oiler. Not surprisingly, a big knock on him is that he is unable to keep his head up and prone to taking big hits.

Cland · July 7th, 2004, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krepitch

O'Donnell is an old Roadrunner!!! I knew that name sounded strangely familiar.

Nice to see roadrunner fans still around. Plenty of guys from that 94 team in the NHL now.