Coyotes recall former Stanley Cup winner

The Arizona Coyotes have recalled forward Zach Sanford from their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners. In a corresponding move, the team has reassigned forward Ryan McGregor back to Tucson.

McGregor was recalled last week but did not end up skating in any games for the Coyotes. A 24-year-old 2017 sixth-round pick, McGregor is in his fourth season playing AHL hockey in Tucson and has yet to make his NHL debut. He has four points in 19 games to start this season.

Sanford, on the other hand, has done more than make a debut in the NHL: he’s a Stanley Cup champion and a veteran of over 300 games in hockey’s top league.

Sanford scored 16 goals and 30 points in 2019-20, but failed to build off of that breakout year in the following campaign. He was traded to the Ottawa Senators but couldn’t make an impact there, and has since bounced around the league a little bit. He was a depth forward for the Nashville Predators last season, scoring three points in 16 NHL games.

Sanford made more of an impact for Nashville’s AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, scoring 12 goals and 28 points in 45 games. Signed to a contract in the offseason to play a similar role for the Coyotes, Sanford has only managed four points in 16 AHL contests.

He has scored a point in his one NHL game for Arizona, though, and should provide the club with some experienced depth.