Coyotes acquire defenseman Vili Saarijarvi for Eric Comrie

Eric Comrie’s time with the Arizona Coyotes has come to an end. After being claimed off waivers, Comrie wouldn’t get any ice time with the Coyotes, playing only in four games on a conditioning stint for the Tucson Roadrunners.

The Coyotes acquired Comrie early in the season when they were concerned about the health of goaltender Antti Raanta. Those feels would prove to be unfounded, and while the Coyotes have been without Raanta due to illness, he hasn’t had to struggle with injuries. Raanta and Darcy Kuemper have been one of the NHL’s best tandems.

In exchange for a player they got for free, the Coyotes received AHL defenseman Vili Saarijavi. The Finish blueliner was drafted 73rd overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and after splitting the 2017-18 season between the AHL and ECHL, he has been playing in the AHL.

In 125 games in the AHL, Saarijarvi has 2 goals and 26 assists. With team Finland, he won gold at the U20 WJC and silver with the U18 WJC and was named to the U18 WJC All-Star Team.

With the Niklas Hjalmarsson being sidelined with a leg injury, Aaron Ness has played 12 games and has an assist. It’s possible that the Coyotes wanted to help sure up the Roadrunners defense.